ODJ: Meaning Mirage

September 30, 2016 

READ: Ecclesiastes 12:9-14 

Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty (v.13).

In 2015, Essena O’Neill dropped out of social media. After building a popular persona on Instagram (700,000 followers) and YouTube (260,000 subscribers), she wrote: “I spent five years wishing I was this perfect person online and I spent three years every day working really hard at it.” She went on to say that at age 19 she realized her aspirations were misguided, stating, “I think the reality is quite sad.” So Essena left social media behind. One reason? She wanted to be a better role model for her 14-year-old sister who had also been trying to find meaning and identity in projecting a perfect image.

Solomon could relate to what Essena discovered—meaning found in anything other than God is a mirage. He wrote, “It is all meaningless—like chasing the wind” (Ecclesiastes 1:14). The sage sought to find meaning in knowledge (v.17), pleasure (2:1), wine (v.3), and creating and possessing things (vv.4-8). But nothing satisfied him; nothing brought purpose.

In the epilogue of his book, the king pointed to a higher authority as the means to true meaning in life. “Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty” (12:13). As we worship God in reverent fear and follow His wise instructions—made possible by His grace—real life and purpose is attained. Solomon wrote, “God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad” (v.14).

It’s inspiring to see a self-aware person like Essena O’Neill coming to grips with where meaning can’t be found. But how much more important it is to know that our loving God is observing our ways and knows the false strivings and true meaning hidden in our hearts (Jeremiah 17:10).

May we find our meaning in Him.

—Tom Felten

365-day plan: Luke 24:13-43