Daily Devotional | Is Everything Meaningless?

At first glance, the book of Ecclesiastes may seem to have a pessimistic outlook on life. Why would a whole book in the Bible say that everything is meaningless? But certainly, many of us can identify with the feeling. When life is hard, we may ask ourselves: “What is the point?” or “What am I here for?” But the message of Ecclesiastes is this: Life with God is not meaningless.

The word translated “meaningless” is hebel in Hebrew; it appears nearly 40 times in Ecclesiastes. It’s been translated negatively since Jerome used vanitas (“vanity”) in his Latin Vulgate. But in Hebrew it means “breath” or “vapor” and is used metaphorically to refer to things that do not produce their intended results. Interestingly, the name “Abel” is also derived from the word hebel. In Genesis 4, we see an early example of the “upside-down world” in which we now live. Righteous Abel received the curse of wickedness—a short life, no family, no land, no wealth. While his brother Cain, acting with wickedness, received the blessing of righteousness—a long life, a large family, land, and wealth.

This upside-down world is what the Teacher refers to when he calls something hebel. Life has been turned upside down by sin. We’ve all experienced this. Sometimes the fastest runner doesn’t win the race (Eccl. 9:11). Sometimes there is wickedness where there should be righteousness (Eccl. 3:16). And physical death is coming for all of us, sinner or not (Eccl. 9:2).

Every time you see the word “meaningless” in Ecclesiastes, try inserting the phrase “like Abel.” Ecclesiastes is an honest assessment of life “under the sun.” It is also a robust theological reflection on how to navigate this world—through living in right relationship with God and enjoying His gifts.

Go Deeper

Read Abel’s story in Genesis 4. What has been “like Abel” in your own life?

Pray with Us: Is everything meaningless? In this world marred by sin, it may seem so. But Your Word, Lord God, gives us encouragement and great joy—that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us and gave us life, peace, and freedom. Hallelujah!

BY Dr. Russell L. Meek

Russell Meek teaches Old Testament and Hebrew at Moody Theological Seminary. He writes a regular column on understanding and applying the Old Testament at Fathom Magazine, and his books include Ecclesiastes and the Search for Meaning in an Upside-Down World and the co-authored Book-by-Book Guide to Biblical Hebrew Vocabulary. Russ, his wife, and their three sons live in northern Idaho.