A lesson learned is a process

Ecclesiastes 1:1-2

The words of the Teacher, son of David, king in Jerusalem,

"Meaningless! Meaningless!"

says the Teacher.

"Utterly meaningless!

Everything is Meaningless!"

Now I am going to be honest I would probably not think to start my book in this way. I can say that I usually go to books believing there is a purpose and therefore meaning in them. For a book to start off by saying everything is meaningless brings out the cynic in me and I say "Well if everything is so meaningless then why read this book!" Maybe I am crazy, but I don't think my reaction is that different than most people's when begin reading this book. Like all good things though this book takes some time to get to know. Thankfully I am going into this book with a group of guys and we keep one another accountable to the consistent reading of maybe the hardest book I've ever undertaken. After illustrating the meaninglessness of human activity through illustrations of natural events that surround us the Teacher concludes the first half of chapter 1 with these words, "No one remembers the former generations and even those yet to come will be forgotten by those who follow" (Verse 11). If ever one needs to be put in their place after stepping on to a pedestal greater than their human hubris one needs only to turn to these first eleven verses of Ecclesiastes. However, I am not interested in only humbling myself and neither is the author. The Teacher as he is called is interested in the tragedy of man.

Wisdom only brings more sorrow, because more knowledge means more grief. (1:18 annotated)

"I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My Heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor." Conclusion, meaningless (2:10-11)

2:12-16 Wisdom vs. Folly: same fate will overtake the fool and wise man and both will be forgotten.

2:17-23 Toil is meaningless too because it does not prevent fate from overtaking anyone and the fortunes it brings are not enjoyed by the one who achieves them and abused by those who inherit them. Meaningless.

If you're still reading awesome! Something happens at this point that makes reading all the earlier passages meaningful. In 2:24-25 the Teacher writes, "A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too I see, is from the hand of God for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?" Given the previous passages the only answer to this question the Teacher asks is no one can eat or find enjoyment without God. This can only be because something is so intrinsically different about God's nature as compared to that of man.

God alone provides satisfaction to all of man's needs. Man needs food and God provides. Man needs drink God provides. Man needs satisfaction and God fulfills. Nowhere better are these needs fulfilled than in the Lord Jesus Christ.

In Mark 14:22-26, Matthew 26:26-30, and Luke 22:14-20 we are given the account of Jesus breaking bread and sharing wine with his disciples. He calls the bread his body which is broken for you, and the wine his blood of the covenant which has been poured out for many (Mark passage used). Jesus sacrifice is necessary and intentional. The covenant which brings salvation to God's people has always demanded a sacrifice. Exodus 12 gives account of the first passover. The angel of death PASSOVERed those houses which had the blood of a lamb on the door posts thereby giving salvation to all the occupants. Jesus blood is given in the same way so that those who have received his blood may be delivered. Jesus blood fulfills the need of sacrifice. His body fulfills the hunger of man. The body is the Church.

The Church as I have said before is made up of many parts working together (like a body). These parts only find satisfaction in their work when they work together as a body for a common purpose. This purpose is the confession, annunciation, and the bringing forth the reality of God in the community at large. It is here and only here that man or woman has meaning.

So yes without Christ it all is meaningless.

Blessings in Christ!