The search for meaning, regardless of how profound one deems that meaning to be, is influenced by the multitude of philosophical perspectives that arise from living in a pluralistic society. The comment that truth is relative describes the point. However, the definition of relativity applied to truth cannot withstand the rigors of philosophical standards when confronted with Socratic logical thinking. Thus, using the book of Ecclesiastes for this response will help any sincere truth seeker find a place to begin their search for meaning.
One point that needs addressing is the definition of religious belief. Because the nature of religion differs across various cultures, a common understanding of religion necessitates a shared and agreed-upon definition of the word. Thus, in this perspective, religion means the following.
“Religion is a
comprehensive system of belief and worship that involves a community expressing
shared beliefs through myths, doctrines, ethical teachings,
rituals, and exceptional experiences. It fundamentally involves belief in and
reverence for a supernatural power recognized as the Creator and ruler of the
universe, typically organized with specific doctrines, behavioral patterns, and
forms of worship. A religious belief comprehensively includes understanding
God’s existence, recognizing divine revelation, acknowledging human obligation
to divine commands, believing in reward and punishment, and practicing moral
duties. Importantly, true religion is not just about theological
principles, but also about practical piety and moral conduct.
A religious person’s character is one of faithful devotion to a deity,
adherence to religious observances, and conscientious faithfulness. Notably, as
illustrated in the New Testament, genuine religious faith is inseparable from
actions; thus, faith without deeds one could consider another’s religion
lifeless.”[1-4]
However, one point must come to light: evil and the behaviors of works of the flesh, as described in Ephesians and Galatians, have come to have such an ungodly influence in the lives of many that those who practice the works of the flesh have allowed themselves to succumb to the delusion that they are following a religion. Debauchery, hedonism, and the like all describe those who have chosen to follow the works of the flesh and make the lust of the flesh their religion.
The Biblical Definition of The Above Is As Follows
We Are To Be Doers—Not Hearers Only
“Therefore,
lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness
the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word,
and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the
word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror;
for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he
was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but
a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. If anyone among
you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own
heart, this one’s religion is useless.
Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans
and widows in their trouble, and to
keep oneself unspotted from the world. James 1:21-27 (NKJV).
“For I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me” Matthew 25:35-40 (NKJV).
Where Individuals Seek Meaning
and Purpose In Their Lives!
Secular approaches suggest that purpose is something individuals must decide and achieve entirely on their own.
Ecclesiastes counters this autonomy by asserting that purpose emerges from divine appointment amid life’s vanities. In Ecclesiastes 3:1, it declares, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens,” underscoring that human endeavors find meaning only within God’s ordained rhythms, not self-imposed designs.
Humanist perspectives argue that meaning is not discovered externally but created by individuals, who find fulfillment through their own actions and by helping others.
The text of Ecclesiastes reveals that true fulfillment arises from receiving and stewarding God’s gifts, rather than attempting to fabricate meaning through effort. Ecclesiastes 2:24-25 states, “A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their own toil. This, too, I see, is from the hand of God, for without Him, who can eat or find enjoyment?” Thus, actions gain purpose as responses to divine provision.
Without a divine framework, however, life can appear meaningless; humans are merely an evolutionary accident destined for inevitable extinction, which can lead to a profound sense of hopelessness.
Ecclesiastes confronts this apparent futility head-on, affirming inherent value through the Creator’s eternal imprint. Ecclesiastes 3:11 observes, “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end,” offering hope against extinction by rooting existence in God’s timeless beauty and mystery.
Atheist philosophers are divided, with some suggesting that meaning can be found through individual choice, while others emphasize the existential angst of facing life’s ultimate meaninglessness.
Ecclesiastes unifies this tension by directing beyond choice to reverent submission, transcending angst through God-centered living. Ecclesiastes 12:13 concludes, “Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind,” resolving division by establishing obedience as the antidote to vanity’s despair.
Some secular approaches define self-fulfillment through pursuing personal peace (avoiding personal disturbance) and increasing material affluence.
Ecclesiastes critiques such pursuits as illusory, advocating contentment in God’s sustenance over accumulation. In Ecclesiastes 5:18-19, it advises, “This is what I have observed to be good: that it is appropriate for a person to eat, to drink, and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given them—for this is their lot. Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and honor... this too is from the hand of God,” prioritizing divine-granted peace.
In contrast, a biblical perspective offers an alternative: finding purpose through a relationship with a personal God, where life’s meaning comes from understanding one’s created identity and divine calling, which can transform existence into a dynamic, inspirational enterprise.
Ecclesiastes embodies this relational dynamic by urging enjoyment of life as communion with the Creator, infusing vanity with purpose. Ecclesiastes 9:7 exhorts, “Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful heart, for God has already approved what you do,” portraying existence as an engaging response to God’s approving presence and eternal judgment (Ecclesiastes 12:14).
[1] Partridge, Christopher, and Tim Dowley, eds. 2013. Introduction
to World Religions. Second Edition. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press.
[2] Youngblood, Ronald F., F. F. Bruce, and R. K. Harrison,
Thomas Nelson Publishers, eds. 1995. In Nelson’s
New Illustrated Bible Dictionary. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, Inc.
[3] Webster, Noah. 2006. In Noah
Webster’s First Edition of An American Dictionary of the English Language.
Anaheim, CA: Foundation for American Christian Education.
[4] Merriam-Webster, Inc. 2003. In Merriam-Webster’s
Collegiate Dictionary., Eleventh ed. Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster,
Inc.
