Thursday, February 24, 2022

Is Everything Meaningless?

Prayer ~ Lord, please show me what is really meaningful in life.

"Everything is meaningless," says the Teacher, "completely meaningless." Keep this in mind: The Teacher was considered wise, and he taught the people everything he knew. He listened carefully to many proverbs, studying and classifying them. The Teacher sought to find just the right words to express truths clearly. The words of the wise are like cattle prods—painful but helpful. Their collected sayings are like a nail-studded stick with which a shepherd drives the sheep. But, my child, let me give you some further advice: Be careful, for writing books is endless, and much study wears you out. That's the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone's duty. God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad. Ecclesiastes 12:8-14

 

Meditate. What is the meaning of life…of fearing God?

 

Solomon concluded that we should fear God and obey his commands. It is about the same thing that Jesus said.

I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father's commandments and remain in his love. John 15:9-10

To fear God is to respect or love Him. We do that by obeying Him—doing what He has commanded us to do. Once again that is simply to love God and love our neighbor as ourselves. Love is the key.

 

God will ultimately judge us for everything we do. Whether others see what we do or not…God see it.

So whatever you say or whatever you do, remember that you will be judged by the law that sets you free. There will be no mercy for those who have not shown mercy to others. But if you have been merciful, God will be merciful when he judges you. James 2:12-13

James is writing about the same judgment that Solomon wrote about—but at a different angle. Be merciful. Being merciful is showing love—to others and to God. If we are merciful to God’s creation—other people created in His image—then James is telling us that God will be merciful to us. Isn’t that what we all want in life? Love and mercy. I’d say that gives meaning to our lives. Do you think, like Solomon, that everything is meaningless?

 

West Richland, WA with Candy Mountain
Gaze down on the earth below.

Salvation will last forever.

Verse of Salvation ~ Look up to the skies above, and gaze down on the earth below. For the skies will disappear like smoke, and the earth will wear out like a piece of clothing. The people of the earth will die like flies, but my salvation lasts forever. My righteous rule will never end! Isaiah 51:6

 

Memory Verse of the Week ~ For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard. Romans 3:23

 

Happy Birthday – Debbie J.

May God continue to bless you! Love & Prayers~

 

© 2022 Text, photos and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved. 

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted. 

New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. 

Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm

 

 

Books by Mickey M. Hunacek

Parenting Day By Day - Daily Devotional for Building Character

Coins of the Bible: New Testament Stories

Available as e-books or paperbacks at Amazon.com

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