Does that make sense?
The world is open to young people. They have a large part of their lives ahead of them. What is worth living for? This question is not only asked by young people, but by everyone. For what is it worth investing one’s life? People look for supposed fulfilment in three areas. We look for meaning in what we do, in what we own, or in what others think of us. Although all of these things are common and widely accepted today, they can never definitively answer the question of meaning. Followers of Jesus have a different perspective. They do not seek confirmation in these three things. So their faith is shown in what they do. They realise that God’s grace is all they need. Furthermore, they know that they are God’s beloved children and this is all the recognition they need.
Personally, I grew up in a family for whom faith in Jesus Christ and following Him was very central. So I also went to a youth group where I got to know Jesus more closely with my peers. I basically liked going there, but there were sometimes encounters that hurt me very much. I was and still am a very fun-loving person. I like to be with people and occasionally act like a clown. I love to laugh for life and yes, usually very loudly. Unfortunately, my manner was not always well received and I was often reprimanded in the youth group. I shouldn’t laugh so loudly, I shouldn’t attract attention, I should just be quieter. This hurt me a lot and unfortunately also gave me the image that following Jesus has only limited to do with joy. But in the meantime I know and am convinced that following Jesus can be a lot of fun.
1. Rejoice and enjoy your life!
Ecclesiastes 11:9 says the following: «Rejoice in your youth, young man, and live carefree in your young years! Take the path your heart is drawn to, and do what pleases your eyes». (Ecclesiastes 11:9a NLB). The author of Ecclesiastes is the Israeli King Solomon. King Solomon is considered one of the wealthiest men in the Bible. He had great possessions and influence. But Solomon was not only a king, he was also a poet. Among other things, he wrote the book of Ecclesiastes. The Book of Ecclesiastes gives advice on life. The basic tenor of the book is that life is pointless and meaningless. There is nothing beyond life that is worth fighting for, living for or dying for. Therefore, the one piece of advice keeps coming out: rejoice and enjoy your life! Young people in particular should rejoice in the face of the meaninglessness of the life that still lies ahead of them and enjoy every day.
Perhaps this may seem a little paradoxical, that in the face of a hopeless world, the conclusion is drawn that one should enjoy one’s life to the fullest. But this motto «rejoice and enjoy your life» is also today, at least in Western culture, the great ideology that determines life. We, too, live in a world in which many things go haywire. The outlook for the future is no longer all sunshine. Many things are uncertain. Climate change, increasing warlike activities in Europe, family break-ups, extremely harsh policies. All this and much more would give enough reason to pause. But our western world has also, by and large, found an answer: Enjoy your life, do what you want and what is good for you.
This idea is also referred to as a philosophical doctrine called hedonism. The definition of hedonism is a «philosophical doctrine founded in antiquity, view according to which the highest ethical principle is the pursuit of sensual pleasure and enjoyment, private happiness is seen in the lasting fulfilment of individual physical and psychological pleasure». (Oxford Languages definition). Do what you want and you will be fine and this will give meaning to your life. This sounds similar to the definition of Ecclesiastes. This is the inner drive for everything we do. We want to give meaning to our lives. This may look different, but we want our lives to make sense. The question of meaning drives us.
The message of Ecclesiastes does not stop here, but continues. Earlier I withheld from you the second part of the verse. There it says «But do not forget that you have to answer to God for all your deeds». (Ecclesiastes 11:9b NLB). Solomon introduces an authority here that ultimately considers the meaningfulness of all my deeds. This is expressed a little differently in 1 Corinthians. «Everything is allowed for me. But not everything is good. Everything is allowed to me, but I don’t want to be ruled by anything» (1 Corinthians 6:12 NLB). The God of the Bible has created us wonderfully. He has willed each and every one of us and this God desires nothing more than for us to have Him first. We are allowed to rejoice and enjoy life, but should always be free to stop dead in our tracks in everything because it does not define us. Life is always in this tension between doing what I myself want and taking responsibility for my actions.
2. Three (supposedly) rewarding life tasks!
In order for our lives to make sense, we invest a lot. In the process, there are three life tasks that can quickly capture us and supposedly give our lives meaning. These may make sense at first glance, but if they drive our lives to the last, then the whole thing becomes perverted.
The first promising search for meaning is called: I am what I do. The definition runs through what I do. What defines me is what I can achieve. My performance is at the centre. If this drives life, then I am perceived as diligent and conscientious. Yes my deeds shine and everyone is proud of me. As an employee, people appreciate me because I do everything conscientiously and my performance is top notch. But if I base my life on my performance, then at some point this can also have negative effects. In order to achieve top performance, I stand on the toes of others and block their way. I do this consciously, even when they are better at something than I am. I do everything so that I can maintain my status, and thus also the meaning of my life. People who define themselves by doing are faced with a shambles of a life when they lose their job or, at the latest, when they retire. Because the meaning is gone.
The second strategy to give meaning to one’s life is that I define myself by my possessions. I am what I possess. Thus wealth and possessions are seen as a goal in life. The goal is to have a house, of course as beautiful, big and extravagant as possible. A car that everyone always looks at me for, or anything else that gives my life meaning. Other people see that I am successful. They admire me for what I have achieved. People might even look at me a little jealously. But the problem with this strategy is that I attach my heart to my possessions. At some point, it’s all about having more. But when I have more, I always want more. This can mean that I literally walk over dead bodies, as I don’t care about the feelings and needs of others, as long as I can only accumulate more status symbols.
The third way in which I can seek meaning for my life is by defining myself by what others think about me. I am what others think about me. What matters is what people, even strangers, think of me. Suddenly followers on social media become a source of meaning. I am worth as much as people emulate me. If this is life’s search for meaning, then I always treat people courteously. I treat people with love and do things to make them like me. But the difficulty is that I am like a flag in the wind. As long as people like me, I do everything. I twist the truth, I pretend to be something that is not. The main thing is that others like me. I try as hard as I can to keep people away from my innermost self. Because if they really knew me, I’m afraid they wouldn’t like me any more.
All three strategies seem very good and desirable on the surface. In our environment there are enough role models who live out one or more of these tasks. What is wrong with being successful at work, raising children, doing sports or going to school? What is wrong with having the same things that many others do? Why shouldn’t I be popular with people instead of everyone being upset with me? The challenge with these things is not that they are bad per se, but that I attach my heart to them and try to give meaning to my life through them. Although people admire me for it, these things cannot fill my inner hole. The question remains, what makes me tick?
3. bear responsibility!
Each person is responsible for his or her own life goal and what is considered important. On this day, the three of you will not only receive many gifts and spend time with your families over a good meal. From this day on, you are religiously mature. You may decide for yourselves how you want to answer the question of meaning in your lives. You have several options. You can choose one of the different religions or you can say that you don’t want to have anything to do with any religion. If you choose this path, you will probably follow one of the previous three life tasks in order to give meaning to your life. You can also decide to be a Named Christian. This would mean that you act culturally and in certain decisions as it is written in the Bible. Maybe you also attend a church service, read the Bible and pray from time to time. But faith has no great meaningful function in your life, you just stick with it out of tradition. Or you decide not to follow a religion, but Jesus Christ himself. You decide to follow Jesus in your life. My wish for you three, but also for all other people, is that you choose this path. This is because I am convinced that it solves the question of meaning and also offers three good counter-designs to the three very common ways of life of our time. All of them arise from the relationship with Jesus Christ. All three intertwine and belong together.
The first is that discipleship shows itself in good deeds. A follower of Jesus Christ is a doer of good. «It is not enough just to have faith. Faith that does not lead to good deeds is not faith – it is dead and worthless». (James 2:17 NLB). Followers of Jesus should be conspicuous by their good work. Diligence and conscientiousness is good. But in doing so, I do not walk over others. I see myself as part of something bigger and support others and, perhaps most difficult, I help others to do things even better than I can.
Furthermore, a follower of Jesus is not dependent on any possessions. The only thing that is important and counts is the grace of God. «Each time he said, «My grace is all you need. My power is shown in your weakness.» And now I am content with my weakness so that the power of Christ can work through me.» (2 Corinthians 12:9 NLB). The grace of God is shown in the fact that he loves me as I am. God wants me to care about him too. People who engage with God and want to live their lives for him do not do everything well or even better than others. But they are better off. Because where they are weak, God’s strength is revealed.
In contrast to seeking approval from people, followers of Jesus Christ seek their approval from God. In the search for meaning, we humans repeatedly take paths that are not meant to be taken. But man is designed to find his meaning with God. Man was created in the image of God and aims to have communion with God. But seeking meaning in things other than God is what the Bible calls sin. God desires that we follow him completely. Faith in him is all it takes to be accepted by God. «And Abram believed the Lord and the Lord declared him righteous because of his faith». (Genesis 15:6 NLB). To declare righteous means that God forgives us for not looking to him for the meaning of life. The faith of Abram described here was shown by the fact that his faith was shown in trusting and acting towards this God.
It is not through any action that I am accepted before God. But by grace alone. By believing in him, that is, by acknowledging that I alone am not able to satisfy the question of meaning in my life. This shapes my life and is reflected in my actions.
Yes, it can always be that you three have possessions in your life, have careers and people like you. But all this can never fill the question of meaning in you. But a life with Jesus at the centre is definitely worthwhile. And not only when you have grey hair. «Think of your Creator while you are young. Don’t wait until you are old, the days become burdensome for you and the years come of which you have to say: «I don’t like them! (Ecclesiastes 12:1 NLB). A life as a follower of Jesus is worthwhile. It is worthwhile in that it gives meaning to your life. You no longer have to be the best, you no longer have to have the most, you no longer have to be the most popular. You can just be a follower and go on your way. Have joy in your life, in a life that makes sense.
Possible questions for the small group
Read the Bible text: Ecclesiastes 11:9–12:1
- Do you have a motto for your life? What drives you?
- Are you attracted to the concept of hedonism? What in particular makes this ideology interesting for you?
- Which of the three (supposedly) rewarding life tasks spurs you on? (I am what I do; I am what I own; I am what others think of me). Why?
- What makes it so difficult for you that, instead of following Jesus Christ completely, you prefer to pursue this life task?
- Where is it in your life to get a different perspective? Definition about doing (Read James 2:17). Definition about possession (Read 2 Corinthians 12:9). Definition about what others think of me (Genesis 15:6).
