"Everything is meaningless." That discouraging refrain is at the heart of the Teacher's message in Ecclesiastes 1-3.  

Solomon looks at life "under the sun," apart from a knowledge of God, and concludes that life has no meaning. It is only when we recognize that there is a life above the sun, an eternal life in Christ, that we see meaning for this life.

Solomon’s goal was not to leave us in despair, but to lead us away from the false gods of wealth or pleasure or success. May this sobering reflection on life serve to challenge us to keep our focus on that longing for eternity that God has placed into our hearts (Ecclesiastes 3:11).

In the next few days, I encourage you to find a time to read through the 12 chapters of Ecclesiastes in one sitting to better appreciate the many ways Solomon helps us understanding that it is only by remembering the Creator (chapter 12) that this life has real and lasting meaning. 

The meaningless of life is also illustrated in 2 Corinthians 10  as Paul must defend his apostolic ministry among the very people who came to faith through his ministry. Again, find the time over the next few days to read 2 Corinthians 10-13 in one sitting. It is all about the sacrifices Paul made for the Corinthian congregation and their indifference to those sacrifices. How discouraging that must have been for him!

When discouragement wars against our soul, may we take comfort that we "belong to Christ" (2 Cor 10:7) and with the Spirit's help "take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ" (2 Cor 10:5). There is a life beyond the sun where we shall understand our Savior's rule of our lives and of this world. It is that truth that makes all we do infinitely meaningful.