“Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Everything is meaningless!” (Ecc. 12:8)
I remember clawing the wooden beam and refusing to let go. The ropes course instructor assured me I was safe. I did not feel safe. I was convinced if I let go of the beam I would fall. That beam meant everything to me. The instructor calmly explained, “Everything but the rope is meaningless right now; you’re holding onto the wrong thing, bud.”
The Teacher’s cry serves as a potent warning that we can hold things too tightly without proper purpose—like a beam below us instead of a lifeline above. We grasp at the world to gain security, prestige, or something else. Keep in mind that the Teacher in this passage is King Solomon, who arguably has no human equal in splendor, pleasure, and success. However, Solomon set the measure of meaning against all that he had gained and found it wanting. Much like holding onto a beam instead of the rope that will get you safely down, without proper purpose all the gain of the world remains meaningless.
Consider the possessions, relationships, and other elements in your life that hold meaning to you. Think of them intimately, line by line. Then consider: How will each impact your eternity? Have you leveraged everything to be meaningful for the benefit of God’s kingdom? Or, is everything in danger of being meaningless?
Commit the entirety of your life to God; hold nothing back.
Paul Zeller is an adult discipleship pastor who enjoys reading history and science-fiction—looking for theological movements in stories. He believes that faithful imagination opens doors for Jesus.
© 2021 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
