meaningless

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

Solomon, known as the wisest man on earth, given wisdom by God in addition to riches and peace in the land during his reign.

Yet despite that, he looked back at the end of his life and saw so much of it was meaningless; lacking any apparent purpose.

He had it "all" but it still wasn't enough.

He had
money
possessions
relationships (700 wives/300 concubines)
wisdom
knowledge
peace in his country
prosperity

but he wasn't content - still was not fulfilled

still questioned his purpose, the meaning of life

saw it all

good people suffering
wicked people prospering

saw death come - the finality of it

realized we are born naked, we die without taking what we toiled so hard for, leaving it behind to someone who might not even appreciate it, but surely didn't earn it

he sums it up - to eat, to drink, to be satisfied with one's work, to be glad, then joy will accompany him in the days God has given him

to simply be content with what God has given him and to be grateful for it

and his final conclusion that I believe one must burn into their mind, heart and soul

Fear God (honor him, revere him, respect him, glorify him)

keep his commandments (his laws, precepts, word)

for this is the whole duty (purpose) of man (me)

Without doing so

one's life is meaningless (lacking any apparent purpose, empty, worthless, futile)

no matter what we achieve in fame, fortune, possession or the good we may even do for others

because all of that will be forgotten after we die, subsequent generations will not know us or remember us

but where we stand with God

what we think of him

whether we accept Jesus as our Savior

that has eternal worth, that has meanting, that has purpose and that is how we should live

loving Jesus and making Jesus known

in our days under the sun, of which there really are so few of them

no matter how many years we live.

May I live a meaningful life Lord, for your glory.