when life feels meaningless
is there even a point to all this?
Quick note - This post was inspired by the insights I got while studying Ecclesiastes last month.
It’s one of the biblical books of wisdom and I believe its knowledge can applied by anybody, regardless of their beliefs or background.
- Ebun.
"Vanity upon vanity," says the Preacher.
"All is vanity. For what has been is what will be, and there is nothing new under the sun."
- Ecclesiastes 1:2,9.
Some days, I genuinely question the point of this life we’re living.
I get overwhelmed by work or relationships or just how shitty the world is
and then the riches, the impact, the success and everything else that I dream of doesn’t seem to hold any substantial value.
What is the point of all of that?
You’ve probably felt the same way too.
When your life feels like an endless loop, with the same things repeating themselves every single day.
You are not alone.
Solomon is acclaimed as the wisest man to have ever lived.
In his time, he was the richest, most sought-after man on the planet.
He had it all: a rich kingdom, wisdom, power and women. Lots of women.
He built a magnificent temple for God in Jerusalem and another for himself.
Yet, as he got closer to the end of his life, he began to question the true purpose of all he had built and achieved.
Solomon is believed by many to be the author of Ecclesiastes
and one thing I love is how he’s true to his feelings in his reflections.
He’s brutally honest with himself:
I have lived a pleasurable and successful life, full of joy and laughter. I have lacked nothing I wanted, yet it is all for nothing.
The Cycle of Life: Everything is Temporary
One of the recurring themes in Ecclesiastes is the idea that everything under the sun is temporary.
"A time to be born, and a time to die."
This cycle repeats itself endlessly, generation after generation.
It’s the same things happening to different people at different times.
Seasons change.
People come and go.
Time remains the same.
No matter how much wealth, power, or knowledge a man accumulates, he cannot escape the fact that one day, he will die and it will all fade away.
Then the same thing will happen to someone else after him.
In today’s world, we can equate this endless cycle to the way we chase after things.
We’re all chasing something:
The next promotion. The next income. The next relationship. The next 1k followers. The next set of clothes. The next trend.
There’s always a “next” thing for us to channel all our energy into getting.
We believe it will satisfy us and make us feel good.
And maybe it does, for a while.
Then, almost immediately, another thing takes its place.
A bigger and more desirable “next”.
Then we start the chase all over again.
It’s a race that has no finish line.
It’s no crime to have ambitions or strive for improvement,
but when we put things in perspective,
we’ll realise just how temporary these things are.
The Futility of Wealth and Pleasure
Solomon had everything the average human desires: unimaginable wealth, power, wisdom, and every indulgence life could offer.
As he put it:
I built houses for myself and planted vineyards. I made gardens and parks and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them.
I also owned more herds and flocks than anyone in Jerusalem before me.
I amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces.
Despite this, Solomon concluded that it was all vanity, meaningless, akin to "chasing the wind."
The original Hebrew word used in place of “Vanity” was “Hevel” and it translates to “Smoke” or “Vapour”.
All the material possessions he had accumulated had no meaning to him.
How often do we see this play out today?
We devote our lives to stacking money, chasing status symbols, and indulging in every pleasure we can find, hoping they can permanently satisfy our soul.
If the wisest man, with all his riches, could conclude that wealth, pleasure, and material success do not bring lasting happiness,
then it’s something for us to consider.
The keyword here is “lasting.”
We’ve heard countless stories of millionaires and people we view as "having it all" admitting to the fact that they’re still unhappy.
They struggle with sadness, restlessness and every other human problem that “regular” people like you and I face.
Why?
Because nothing ever truly satisfies the human soul.
The thrill of a new purchase, a promotion, or a fleeting moment of fame fades quickly, leaving us back where we started.
Now, let’s be clear:
There’s no condemnation of having money and the other good things.
I too desire to be rich enough to buy whatever I want, whenever I want it.
The problem comes when we start to tie our sense of meaning to wealth or pleasure.
It’s inadvertently signing up for disappointment and a lifetime of chasing endless “next’s”.
As we grow and work and build.
We must learn that:
True satisfaction does not come from external things, only from within.
The Illusion of Control
Life is unpredictable.
We plan, work hard, and do everything right, yet we have no control over what happens next.
The righteous suffer while the wicked prosper.
Our loved ones die and our enemies live.
Bad things happen to good people.
Sometimes, life just doesn’t make sense, no matter how much we try to figure it out.
Modern philosophies teach an illusion of control.
They say that if you hustle hard, save enough money, and make every right decision, you can steer your life exactly where you want it to go and influence everything that happens to you.
Unfortunately, life doesn’t work that way.
One unexpected event; a health crisis, an economic downturn, or a personal tragedy, can upend everything.
Then we realise just how little control we have.
Why is life this way?
Ecclesiastes doesn’t offer any concrete answers.
It’s just one of those things we have to live with.
But we’re encourages us to let go of that illusion.
There are many things we can’t control, so our focus should be on what the things we can.
Our actions. Our attitudes. Our choices.
The way we treat the people around us.
No amount of planning or worrying will change the unpredictable nature of life.
There’s no need to fight it.
Enjoy the Present
That’s all that is left for us to do.
Once we’ve accepted the transient nature of life and the futility of trying to control everything, we are free to enjoy the present moment.
Solomon repeatedly encourages us to “eat, drink, and find joy in our work” because those small pleasures make life worth living.
Even in the bleakness of life, the little things that make us happy are what give our life texture, and depth.
Whether it’s conversations with friends, reading a novel, or listening to music.
Whether it’s spending time in nature, burning calories in the gym or meditating in spiritual exercises.
It doesn’t have to be glamorous.
It’s about balance.
Ambition isn’t bad, but when it starts to consume us, we miss out on the very things that make life meaningful.
Find your happiness in the moment you’re living right now.
Life is a Paradox
The paradox encapsulated in Ecclesiastes is that in accepting the meaninglessness of life, we can find meaning.
When we stop chasing grand purposes, elusive goals and material satisfaction, we can focus on the things that truly matter:
being alive, love and the simple joys of everyday existence.
In today’s world, we are constantly told to do more, be more, and achieve more.
But maybe we should slow down and recognise that the pursuit of more is not always the answer.
The impermanence of life is a gift that allows us to appreciate what we have, while we have it.
The truth is that: no matter the circumstances, you and I will always have something to be grateful for.
Even if it’s just the “mere” fact that we’re alive.
Finding Peace in the Meaninglessness
Your life does not have to be grand or extraordinary to be meaningful.
Not that there’s anything wrong in desiring a life that’s extravagant and elaborate.
But it’s in the mundane, everyday moments, that we, as humans, can find our greatest sense of purpose.
And now, the final and most crucial point of Ecclesiastes:
"Fear God and keep His commandments,
for this is the duty of all mankind."
What does that even mean?
Fearing God, in this context, simply means living life with a deep sense of reverence and humility.
It’s recognising that, despite our efforts
to control,
to accumulate,
and to plan,
we are not the ultimate authors of our lives.
There’s someone much larger than us who is in control, and acknowledging that gives us peace.
It reminds us that we do not need to have all the answers.
And because we’re conscious of the existence of a higher power that will,
one day,
hold us accountable for all our actions,
we become much more careful of the things we do.
We live with kindness, respect for others, and the understanding that our actions have consequences, not just for us, but for the world around us.
We become morally grounded on a foundation that holds us steady as we navigate life.
The meaninglessness of life is not a reason for us to despair.
As daunting as it might be sometimes.
Instead, it reminds us to focus on the things that truly matter and,
for those of us who believe,
to root our whole lives in the wisdom of fearing God.
In all of life’s vanity, He is the only thing that never fades.
And this should give us peace.
We don’t need to chase after the wind.
Embrace the present,
find joy in the small things,
and recognize that while life may seem meaningless,
there is wisdom,
peace,
and safety
in knowing that we aren’t in control of everything.
READ NEXT -
I know I promised something else for today, but this post is much more similar to the mood I’ve been feelng lately.
I hope you learned something new or you spirit was encouraged.
See you soon.
There’s something about the cycle that almost funny.
It’s how we try so hard to achieve the things we think would bring us the most joy. Trying so hard to have a better status, a bigger bank account. While I’m not disputing the importance of these things as they are in fact very necessary, my hill I’m willing to die on is that nothing brings joy (happiness, pleasure, whatever word you choose) as knowing your Purpose.
That’s where the true meaning of (your) life stems from. Knowing exactly what you were placed here to do.
And I think the reason we feel so lost so often, is because it seems so out of reach for us. There’s too many distractions, too many limitations.
It’s almost funny because the things we think will bring us closer to meaning are sometimes the things that take us father from it.
This is truly inspiring.