Friday, April 24, 2009

The Meaning of Life



What is the Meaning of Life?
I could not remember when I asked myself this question.
But I am glad that I have asked myself this question.
Surprisingly, many people don't.

Reflections on Ecclesiastes

Money:
Whoever loves money never has money enough;
whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income.
This too is meaningless.

Wisdom:

Then I applied myself to the understanding of wisdom, and also of madness and folly, but I learned that this, too, is a chasing after the wind.
For with much wisdom comes much sorrow;
the more knowledge, the more grief.

Pleasure:
I denied myself nothing my eyes desired;
I refused my heart no pleasure.
My heart took delight in all my work,
and this was the reward for all my labour.
Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done
and what I had toiled to achieve,
everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind;
nothing was gained under the sun.

Toil:
A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment? To the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.



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