The Fulfilled Life

As we continue to look at the book of Ecclesiastes we learn so many truths about life. Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, was not without his faults, but being wise doesn’t mean being perfect. True wisdom comes to those who learn from failure and reflect on life in such a way that leads to growth and maturity.

Ecclesiastes is a book where an aged Solomon looks back at all the pursuits of his life and shares the lessons he learned. He remembers being caught up in the temporal and immediate desire for pleasure, power and wealth. Yet the cost was great and he experienced the consequences for pursuing fleeting goals.

Nearing the end of the year, Solomon’s words of wisdom help us examine our own lives, particularly the events of this past year, in hopes of walking closer to God in the coming world. This week I want to look at two of our biggest problems and the solution to our problems.

Loneliness

The holiday season can be a great mask to cover some underlying struggles. There are parties and dinners to look forward to, but sometimes that’s not even enough. Perhaps the hardest struggle to overcome is the despairing sense of loneliness.

Have you ever been in a sea of people and felt like no one can see you? There are times we are with our closets friends and family and yet deep in our gut we feel alone. After all, the Triune Creator made us as He is, relational beings. Even before the Fall of man, God said that it is not good for man to be alone.

The deepest longing of our hearts is to know and be known. Yet most of us never want to acknowledge this truth to others. We want to be known, but we fear being vulnerable will cause others to withdraw from us.

Think through this past year. How often did you feel lonely?

You see we all feel it. The brokenness of this world magnifies our pain. Solomon felt it too. Look at what he writes in chapter 4:9-12. He remembers being alone and without help. “Woe to him who is alone…” and has nobody to get his back. It’s a terrible place to be in, but one we all find ourselves in.

Once I heard a good definition for ministry: “Ministry can be defined as helping someone feel less alone in this world.” What could be more impactful then helping someone with one of the most basic human needs?

Solomon hits on something more in this passage then companionship. He says, “a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” I believe this to be pointing to healthy relationships with Christ at the center.

If we are not careful, our desire to not be alone could cause us to use people for our own purpose. But when we follow Christ, He brings ultimate healing and companionship to us. We are never alone when we belong to God (Hebrews 13:5).

When you find fulfillment and happiness in Christ, your friendships and relationships take on so much more. You can share the love of Christ with others and watch God build strong relationships that are not easily broken. It takes both parties pursuit of Christ to build the strongest and most authentic friendships.

Think again through this past year. Who are your closest friends? What are your most rewarding relationships like? How do you keep Christ at the center?    

Failed Expectations

Solomon also understood the problem of failed expectations. Read 4:9-14. Here he remembers back to a time when he “had nothing and a fresh start.” Innocence and ignorance led to less stress. Later he has “everything” but the burden gained from getting everything robbed him of joy.

What failed expectations did you have this year? Did you get the position you longed for and found out it wasn’t what you expected? Did you make the team and realize that you didn’t get the respect you thought you were going to get? Did you finally get into the relationship you wanted only to find out the person is a disappointment?

Yes, Solomon felt those pains too. His encouragement is to remember how to take advice. Always be learning and look for ways to improve. Don’t get to the place where you are cynical and skeptical. Don’t allow the pain of the present to rob you of finding joy in the future.

When we place a high expectation on what we can achieve for ourselves, we will find it leaves us empty. Pursuit of Christ and seeking His Will leads us to fulfillment in this life and the next.

Authentic Worship

Solomon teaches about so many other areas in our life that we fail at and have problems in. Yet in this book, what can seem depressing and sorrowful, are nuggets of wisdom and joy when we look for them. He knew and experienced the lowest of lows, of loneliness and of failed expectations. But he also experienced a closeness to his Creator. He knew that nothing in this life could compare to worshiping God.

Solomon knows that our tendency is to go through the motions and allow the frustrations of life to rob us of intimacy with our Creator, so He gives us some clues on how not to allow our worship to be meaningless.

Be Prepared

Do you ever get prepared for worship? Do you take some time Wednesday before youth group to ask God to meet you in worship? Sometime on Saturday night or Sunday morning do you pause and reflect to ask God to speak to you during service?

Probably not. I know that it doesn’t happen much in your life, because I don’t do it enough in my life. But Solomon is telling us to be prepared for worship if we want it to be authentic.

He says, “Guard your steps when you go to the house of God.” This seems reminiscent of God telling Moses to “take off your shoes for this is holy ground.” We get prepared by remembering that God is holy. Prepare your mind and heart to encounter the living God. Remember who you are, where you came from and what He has forgiven you from. Confess any sins that may bar you from worship.

He also says, “draw near to listen…” Think of Mary sitting at the feet of Jesus. Martha was so upset that Mary wasn’t helping with the chores, but Jesus said “Mary has chosen the better thing.” That is to draw near and listen to the truth from God’s Word. This action understands he authority that we submit to. It recognizes the authority God has in our life and in this world.

Let Your Words Be Few

Often our words are full of selfish praise and self-seeking attention. We want to be seen and heard. Pagan religions are full of meaningless words and repetitions, which is why Jesus tells us in Matthew 6 to not use vain repetition as the pagans do.

Instead, our encounter with God should cause a sense of holy awe and wonder. When we see Jesus’ love for us, we should be speechless. It’s not that he is saying don’t say a word, but choose your words wisely and with reverence. Ponder on the person of Christ and speak in a way that reflects your understanding of who He is.

How have you encountered God this past year? Have you been too busy or were you talking so much that you missed out on opportunities? How can you learn to be silent before God and experience Him in the New Year?

When we pause for authentic worship, we will learn the truth that we are never alone, for God is with us. We will never have failed expectations, because God is overwhelmingly good to us. When we worship we will be changed and we will bring about hope to those around us.

Listen to the words of wisdom, from a wise old man reflecting on his life, friends are important, but a friendship with Christ is the most important. Ambitions in life can leave you empty, unless you seek to learn more about God throughout life. Pausing to acknowledge the holiness and goodness of God will lead to intimacy with Him. These are truths that will lead to a fulfilled life.