Questions Never Answered

The book of Ecclesiastes is one that is often pushed by the wayside. I've even heard Christians state that it is a depressing book or that they don't spend time studying it. That it a bit of downer is certainly true if you look at it from a worldly perspective. However, when we look closer there are some very precious and uplifting messages to be gleaned for the believer. 

In the book, Solomon seeks the answers to questions that are still being asked today. Three thousand years later, we are still asking the same questions that Solomon asked: What is the meaning of life? What brings joy? What happens when we are gone? What is wisdom?

These are questions that scholars and philosophers still ask today. Mankind still seeks these answers that we could know if only we turned to God's word. 

Solomon, one of the wisest and richest men to have ever lived, indulged every desire of his heart. He built the fanciest buildings, married the most women, had the best of everything. Yet, at the end of his life, even he tells us that it didn't bring joy. It didn't bring meaning.  At the end of his life, after pursuing every possible means of pleasure, Solomon concludes that it meant nothing. So what brings meaning to life? 

Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. Ecclesiastes 12:13

If only we could hear the words of Solomon and listen. Too often we have to find out things by doing them ourselves. Instead, let us listen to one of the wisest men who ever lived, who experienced more than we ever could, and hear his warning: remember your Creator in the days of your youth (Ecclesiastes 12:1)! 

Let us not wait until we are old like Solomon to realize that is the only thing that can bring meaning to our lives.