Searching for Meaning

It wasn’t in the folly of their youth when they had indulged in these illicit drugs, but as adults as they continued to search fun, escape and meaning.

Ecclesiastes 2:1-26

Reference: v.11 Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun. (TNIV Bible)

Explore: A couple of my friends were chatting the other day about their pasts.  They were open and honest enough to say that they had gone through a time in their lives where they had taken drugs.  It wasn’t in the folly of their youth when they had indulged in these illicit drugs, but as adults as they continued to search fun, escape and meaning.  While they were never fully addicted to these substances, they could see how easy it would be to come to rely on them, so they both, in their different ways, stopped taking them.  It reminded me that we never really stop exploring and searching for deeper meaning and greater purpose in our lives.

Application: The writer of Ecclesiastes searched for meaning through many different vices, and we may be the same.  It doesn’t have to be an illegal substance that becomes our avenue of addiction, but maybe our work, our social status, our children, our belongings… There are many things we can pursue in the search for meaning, but many of these avenues end up at the same destination – meaningless.  No matter what our age, we must continue to search for things which have true value and eternal meaning.

Prayer: Lord, there is so much in our world that looks worthy and desirable, but not all that glimmers is gold.  Help us to look to you for true meaning. Amen.

Where have you searched for meaning?

drugs, Ecclesiastes, meaning, search