Sunday, March 10, 2013

What is the point to living?

Solomon asked this same question in Ecclesiastes chapter 1.  Everything is vanity, which means "emptiness".  If everything is empty, then why are we here. Why are we living?  what is the point of our living?

The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity. What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun? One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever. The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose. The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to his circuits. All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again. All things are full of labour; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing. The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us. There is no remembrance of former things; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those that shall come after. I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem. And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith. I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit. That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered. I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem: yea, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge. And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit. For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.

If you think about what Solomon was saying, life seems empty. You work all your life for what? To pass your worldly goods down to the next generation who then pass their goods to the next and so onYou have maybe 80 to 100 years tops to do what? "(One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh" )  Babies are born, people live and die, life moves on and people are forgotten, even legends fade away. So WHY ARE WE HERE? 
Stuff? Money? Relationships? Experiences? When will it make you happy?

Tennis star Boris Becker was at the very top of the tennis world -- yet he was on the brink of suicide. He said, "I had won Wimbledon twice before, once as the youngest player. I was rich. I had all the material possessions I needed ... It's the old song of movie stars and pop stars who commit suicide. They have everything, and yet they are so unhappy. I had no inner peace. I was a puppet on a string." -  Vanity

Not even fame or fortune?

Becker is not the only one to feel that sense of emptiness. The echoes of a hollow life pervade our culture. One doesn't have to read many contemporary biographies to find the same frustration and disappointment. Jack Higgens, author of such successful novels and The Eagle Has Landed, was asked what he would like to have known as a boy. His answer: "That when you get to the top, there's nothing there."  - Vanity

"...when you get to the top, there's nothing there."  - This phrase boils down the whole subject. Nothing outside of God will bring contentment.


As one theologian once said :) ...
  • No God No Peace
  • KNOW GOD KNOW PEACE
 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.- Phil 4:7 (Peace - keeping your heart and mind focused on God)

What is the point? The point is to know God, to have a daily relationship with Him. 
Ps. 55:17 Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.

To tell the world about HIM so that others will have peace and contentment.
  • "Go ye therefore into the highways," - Mathew 22:9
  • "And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled." Luke 14:23
  • "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature" - Mark 16:15
In doing this, you will bring glory and honor to the One worthy of it and bring yourself closer in relationship to him. The point is Jesus! Our point to living is Jesus's point to dying.  (John 3:16) 
- rejoicing in the present.  




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