The world has a skewed view of the purpose of life. “Why are we here?” and “What is the meaning of life?” are some frequently asked questions. These questions are considered by many to be unanswerable. While considering the difficulty of such a question, many redirect the focus to physical satisfaction. For them the obvious the purpose of life is to accumulate as much enjoyment as possible. They believe this because they see nothing in this life beyond what we physically behold. Even if some say they disagree with this idea, the life they live proves otherwise. They profess to serve God and keep their minds on spiritual things, however, worldliness is manifest in their lives. Whether they claim to be spiritually minded or not, most people have a vain mindset of this life on earth. The focus of the majority of this world is undeniably set on physical gains.

However, I suggest to you that there is a higher purpose to life. There is instruction about how to live life and the goals we are to have. King Solomon wrote a book explaining the meaning of life. Solomon asked the Lord for “wisdom and knowledge” (2 Chr. 1:10) and the Lord granted it to him (2 Chr. 1:12). Through this wisdom and knowledge granted Solomon, he was able to see the vanity of life lived for physical satisfaction. It is know that the Lord blessed Solomon with “riches and wealth and honor, such as none of the kings have had who were before you, nor shall any after you have the like” (1 Chr. 1:12). If there was ever anyone that could be pleased with a mere quantity of riches, it would have been Solomon. He was wealthier than any of the rulers of that time and for all times to come. And yet Solomon knew all his possessions were temporary.

Solomon wrote about the vanity of his physical possessions in the book of Ecclesiastes. He wrote that he “made his works great” (Ecc. 2:4) and that he “became great and excelled more than all who were before me in Jerusalem” (Ecc. 2:9). Solomon “searched in his heart how to gratify his flesh” (Ecc. 2:3) and yet he declared “I looked on all the works that my hands had done and on the labor in which I had toiled; and indeed all was vanity and grasping for the wind. There was no profit under the sun” (Ecc. 2:11). No matter how wealthy Solomon was, or how many possessions he had, he recognized it all as being void. It is the same today. People set goals in life to become popular and wealthy. It is the dream of many to become famous. There are those who seek happiness in lower places, such as living a quiet life out in the country. There is nothing wrong with being successful in this physical life, or even obtaining these things. However, we must keep our focus on the more important spiritual things.

“The dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it. ‘Vanity of vanities,’ says the Preacher, ‘All is vanity.’” (Ecc. 12:7-8). It is understood, even by those who deny the Lord, that we will eventually die and our body will decay. “The Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground” (Gen. 2:7) and man shall “return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for dust you are, and to dust you shall return” (Gen. 3:19). Our body is a temporary dwelling and will return to the earth. After our body dies our physical life is over and we will not return to it. We also know that the Lord “breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being” (Gen. 2:7). God gave us a spirit. This is something that is eternal and will never cease to exist. After Solomon says we will return to the dust of the earth he also says “the spirit will return to God who gave it” (Ecc. 12:7). And so we see that the physical body will come to an end, yet the spirit will continue to exist. God will “render to each according to his work” (Psa. 62:12). Whether our spirit remains for eternity in hell or heaven is ultimately up to us. The Preacher recognized the vanity of life under the sun. He recognized the temporal nature of our physical life.

King Solomon came to a conclusion through all that he had known and seen in his life. “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil” (Ecc. 12:13-14). Solomon saw the temporal nature of this life. It is understood that man is “appointed to die once, but after this the judgment” (Heb. 9:27). So it is clear that our focus in this life should be on the eternal things to come. If we place our focus on the physical aspect of life we are missing the point.

In the Gospel of Luke in chapter 12 we read of  “a certain rich man.” This parable spoken by Jesus shows the foolishness of “laying up treasure.” The rich man “yielded plentifully” and had “no room to store his crops” (Luke 12:16,17). The rich man then built new barns that were greater and there he stored all his crops and goods. This satisfied the rich man and so he said “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry” (Luke 12:19). Little did he know that night his soul would be required of him. So Jesus reveals that “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God” (Luke 12:21). The rich man was focused on physical things. Instead he should have been laying up for himself “treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal” (Matt. 6:20).

Solomon saw the vanity in life and understood God would “bring every work into judgment” (Ecc. 12:14). He understood that man’s focus should be on fearing the Lord and keeping His commandments. Jesus commands us to have a focus on spiritual things. He also understands that there is worry that comes with living life on the earth and so he made a promise. “And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things. But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you” (Luke 12:29-31). God gives us material blessings, and there is nothing wrong with enjoying them. However, we must have our focus on spiritual things. If we continue to “seek the kingdom of God” we are promised the things that are necessary to thrive on the earth.

So there is an answer to the frequently asked question, “What is the meaning of life?” The meaning of life is to “fear God and keep His commandments” (Ecc. 12:13). We must have a love for God rather than a love for physical things. We are told the first and great commandment, to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Matt. 22:37). “With all” leaves no room for the love of physical things. We are not to love God with most of our heart, soul, and mind, but with ALL. If we are truly obeying this first and great commandment then we will not have time in our lives to seek earthly treasures that will fade away. Clearly our focus must be on God. Our focus must be on spiritual things. There is much vanity under the sun, so we must watch and be careful that we do not get lost in these things. Remember our focus. Remember who we are in relation to God. Remember our purpose. Remember what is “man’s all!”