July 31, 2016

The theme of today’s three Bible readings is about the meaning of life. As a conclusion, the meaning or purpose of our life is to live as a Christian.

But first, we are confronted with the reality that many people feel that their life is meaningless and pointless. Many people suffer depression and sadness and loneness and constant pain and worry and fear. This leads some people to violence, some to withdrawl, and others to suicide. This leads some people to give up and others to live for the moment.

The Bible book of Ecclesiastes talks about this. Our English title for this book comes from the Greek, “Ekklesiastes” which means “assemblies” or the person who addresses the assembly, namely, the Preacher. And this Preacher will now share his wisdom of how to live as a believer in God. But first, a Hebrew Language grammar lesson. In English, to express a superlative adjective, we add “-est” to the end of a word or add “most” to the beginning of the word. E.g., big – biggest, wonderful – most wonderful. In Hebrew the superlative is expressed like “big of bigs” or “blue of blues.” The Jerusalem Temple had two rooms, the Holy Room and the “Holy of Holies:” the Holy Room and the Most Holy, or Holiest Room. So, when the Ecclesiastes Preacher says “Vanity of vanities” in English we could say, “It is the biggest of all vanities, the most vain.” Now, the Hebrew word (hebel) here translated “vanity” basically means “breath” or “vapor” something that you cannot see or hold onto, like air or the wind, and so it means something that is empty or futile or in vain. The Good News Bible translates it as “useless, life is useless.” You could also translate it as saying “life is meaningless,” or a frustrated young person would say, “stupid, stupid, life and everything is utterly stupid.” It is like trying to catch the wind in your hands. And even if you do gain something, when you die someone else will enjoy it, not you.

And likewise, Jesus tells the Parable of the Rich Farmer. He builds barns to hold his crops so that he can retire in ease. The Farmer says, “I have ample goods laid up for many years: relax, eat, drink, be merry.” And then that very night he dies. You cannot take it with you to heaven, so someone else will enjoy what he has saved up. Jesus said, “So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.” Jesus also said, “Life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.”

Modern people are like the Farmer. We save for our retirement. We put our money in special retirement funds or mutual funds, but before we can use the money, the market might collapse or we might die soon. Vanity of vanities. It is a lot of work done in vain.

And so the Preacher of Ecclesiastes gives this advice, 2:24ff. “There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God, for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment? For to the one who pleases him God has given wisdom and knowledge and joy.” The Farmer in the parable said, “relax, eat, drink, be merry.” In a good way of thinking, this is trusting God for our lives. It is trusting God when we pray the Lord’s Prayer, “give us this day our daily bread.” That is being “rich toward God” because it lives in the richness of God. Jesus said, “Life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.” If so, then what does life consist of? What is the meaning and purpose of life?

As an answer, let’s look at the words of the great preacher in the New Testament, St. Paul. Let’s read again today’s Second Reading.]

Colossians 3:1–11 [“Put on the new self.”]

“Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.”

Life has a new meaning because we have a new life. It is not based on the things of this earth, but on heaven. “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” We have died with Christ, and our new life is safe in Christ. St. Paul the Preacher says we should put to death and destroy all the idolatry in our lives, all those evil things that are in our hearts and lives. St. Paul tells us to change our clothes, to change our uniform, to change our lives. He says, “you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.”

The new life is the life of the Christian. The new life has meaning because Christ died on the cross to destroy all those old things. He has forgiven our old sins. In his resurrection he has given us new life. This new life has meaning because it is in and with Christ. This new life has great meaning because it is eternal. We are not living just for today, but for eternity. And so life has infinite meaning. We are not living in vain, life is not meaningless or futile. Why? Because God loves us. He thinks we are important. How important? Important enough to die for. Important enough to rise from the dead and live forever for.

As a conclusion, the meaning or purpose of our life is to live as a Christian.

Amen.

Michael Nearhood, Pastor
Okinawa Lutheran Church

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