讓生命富有意義並不永遠都是容易的！傳道者面對這個難題時，總是藉著自己所看見、所經歷的加以深思。他所著手的每一個計畫──從獲取智慧到積聚財富──到頭來卻是一場空！一旦他專注於日光下、生命中無用的事務時，或忽略了只有上帝才能把生命的點滴凝聚成完整的意義時，他的洞察力就會減弱褪色！

        想一想你的同學、同事或鄰居，列出三個你認為「最接近成功」的人。然後分析一下是什麼原因使你選出他們，是他們富甲一方？才智俱全？還是位高權重？
        如果舊約人物也能膺選為成功的候選人的話，所羅門應當之無愧！上帝以智慧、財富、地位、能力和威望厚賜給他，他擁有人想要有的一切！且看他對這一切的評估：「喜樂……是虛空；嬉笑是狂妄；金銀、智慧……我手所經營的一切事……都是虛空，都是捕風，在日光之下毫無益處。」(傳2：l－11)
        這豈不是一幅令人沮喪的景象？也許！但不要忽略了傳道書二章二十四節，當所羅門以上帝的觀點察看生命中的事件與努力，以及生命中「出於上帝的手」的美好事物時，他的生命就承擔起意義與目的。列一個清單，舉出來自上帝手中，也是你今天能夠享有的美好事物，如：健康、工作、家庭、教育等等。

黃金中的銀線
        傳道書中最動人的經文：一是衰老過程的比喻(傳12：l－7)，了解到老年的悲苦會臨到每一個人之後，傳道書的作者勸勉他的讀者說：「趁著年幼衰敗的日子尚未來到……當記念造你的主」(傳12：1)，對任何年齡的人來說，沒有比這更好的忠告了！

「生命的意義為何」的答案，不取決於「事情」，而取決於「上帝」！

English

        Making sense out of life is not always easy. This is the problem facing the preacher of the book of Ecclesiastes as he thinks his way through what he has seen and experienced in life. Even' enterprise he has undertaken—from acquiring wisdom to amassing wealth—has ended in emptiness. In a sudden burst of emotion the preacher realizes that God does indeed appoint the times and purposes of life. But his insight fades as he focuses on the futility of life under the sun, and he overlooks the One who alone can put life together into a meaningful whole.

        Think about the people in your school, office, or neighborhood, and select the three you would consider "Most Likely to Succeed." Now analyze what it is that caused you to select them over other possible candidates. Is it their money .,. intelligence ... position ... possessions?
        if any Old Testament character was ever a candidate for success, Solomon was the one! Blessed with wisdom, wealth, status, power, and prestige, he had everything a man could want—or did he? Look at his evaluation of it all: "Pleasure ... is vanity ,,. laughter.,, is mad ... silver and gold ... wisdom ... the labor that I had labored to do ... all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun" (2:1-11).
        A depressing picture? Perhaps. But don't miss verse 24. As Solomon sees the events and endeavors of life from God's perspective and the good things of life as gifts "from the hand of God," his life takes on meaning and purpose. Make a list of the good things you are enjoying today that come from the hand of God: health, employment, family, education, etc.

Silver Threads Among the Cold —
        One of the most moving passages in Ecclesiastes is the figurative description of the aging process (12:1-7). Realizing that the afflictions of age will catch up with everyone, the writer of Ecclesiastes counsels his audience: "Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not" 02:1). There's no better advice for anyone at any age!

The answer to the question, "What is the purpose of life?" is not a "What" but a "Who."