meaning

“meaning”

the wrong places to find meaning:

the wrong places to find meaning: The things of this world


Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless. As goods increase, so do those who consume them. And what benefit are they to the owner except to feast his eyes on them?


. . . I have seen another evil under the sun, and it weighs heavily on men: God gives a man wealth, possessions and honor, so that he lacks nothing his heart desires, but God does not enable him to enjoy them, and a stranger enjoys them instead. This is meaningless, a grievous evil.Ecclesiastes 5:10-6:1


For the world offers only the lust for physical pleasure, the lust for everything we see, and pride in our possessions. These are not from the Father. They are from this evil world. And this world is fading away, along with everything it craves.1 John 2:16-17

the wrong places to find meaning: The wisdom of this world


4 philosophical systems:



#1 — Fatalism



#2 — Pessimism



#3 — Optimism



#4 — Hedonism



#4 — HedonismNo one can comprehend what goes on under the sun. Despite all his efforts to search it out, man cannot discover its meaning. Even if a wise man claims he knows, he cannot really comprehend it.Ecclesiastes 2:12-18



#4 — HedonismIn Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.Colossians 2:13

How a relationship with Jesus brings meaning to life:

How a relationship with Jesus brings meaning to life:It gives me an eternal perspective on life.

God has set eternity in the hearts of men.Ecclesiastes 3:11

How a relationship with Jesus brings meaning to life:It gives me confidence in God’s sovereignty.


When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider: God has made the one as well as the other.Ecclesiastes 7:14


God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all.1 John 1:5


“Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.Job 1:21-22

How a relationship with Jesus brings meaning to life:It gives me hope in light of my mortality.

No man has power over the wind to contain it; so no one has power over the day of his death.Ecclesiastes 8:8


For the living know that they will die. . . Ecclesiastes 9:5


. . . no man knows when his hour will come. Ecclesiastes 9:12


Now that 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.Ecclesiastes 12:13


Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”John 6:29

meaning

Spiritual

wrong places

evil world

treasures of wisdom

world4 philosophical

fear god

work of god

gods sovereignty

man wealth