Of all the books in scripture, there might be none as relevant to our lives today as the book of Kohelet, also known as Ecclesiastes.
The author of Kohelet — most scholars attribute the work to King Solomon — seems to have every trapping of success. He has amassed great wealth, he has taken many wives, built palaces, and is the King of Jerusalem. He also has wisdom and knowledge. He has money, power, wisdom and companionship. His success is well-rounded.
Yet he is miserable. His constant refrain throughout the book is that all is “hevel.”
“Hevel” is a word that has no direct translation into English. Literally it means a short and shallow breath. More broadly, it’s as if he is saying that everything is meaningless.
Kohelet is a man in search of meaning.
He suffers from the epidemic of our time: achievement without fulfillment.
The more he pursues his desires, the emptier his life becomes. He laments that what he has he cannot take with him when he dies; even wisdom cannot be passed on to others. We must earn our wisdom for ourselves.
Kohelet could have been written today. We live in a time of great technological advancement, with every conceivable convenience. We can research anything from the computers in our pockets. We can have almost anything delivered to us within a couple of days. Without even lifting a finger, we can call a friend on the other side of the globe and have a face-to-face conversation.
And yet our stress levels are high, and suicide rates are increasing. Kids shoot up schools. We’re more connected online, but lonlier than ever. Chaos reigns supreme.
How did we get here, and where do we find meaning?
How We Got Here
Kohelet suggests that we got here by working hard to build something that will last beyond our time here on earth. The struggle against the reality of mortality is the cause of much of man’s suffering. We are not always conscious that our actions are motivated by a desire to leave a legacy.
As Kohelet points out, we don’t get to see what happens to our work after we’re gone. We don’t control our legacy.
Where We Find Meaning
Kohelet suggests that we find meaning in in three ways:
(1) Presence
Being in the present moment, finding joy there. And sharing it with others.
This is one of the crucial differences between happiness and joy. Happiness is internal to a person. Joy is shared.
(2) Service
Taking care of the poor, or those who are alone. Our suffering is found in solitude and self-absorption. When we get outside ourselves and serve the needs of others, we feel greater happiness and joy.
(3) Simplicity
Meaning is found in the simple things in life. Enjoying a good meal with friends. Being in nature.
Creating simple rituals to celebrate the joy of being alive in any moment.
[…] book of Kohelet, known in English as Ecclesiastes, which we read on Sukkot, ties this together for […]