We continue in the Ecclesiastes series: Searching for Meaning covering verses 4:1-16. 

Changing seasons remind us of the cyclical nature of creation: the leaves fall in fall and the flowers spring forth in spring. The changing seasons and times of our life, however, often come at us more unexpectedly and with results that can leave us wondering what it all means. The Preacher gives a most memorable reminder that amidst the changing seasons of life, God remains the same and that in His sovereignty we can trust him to redeem the time for His glory and our good.

The search for meaning and joy is sought through the gaining of wisdom, the accumulation of wealth, the experience of pleasure, the accomplishments of work, the creation of beauty, the value of right living. Here we meet a man who sets his heart to travel all these roads to their fullest only to find they all wind up at the same dead end. Hear from the experience of the Preacher about the emptiness of living life to the fullest apart from God, who is the only source of true meaning and joy.

As adults we can be good at pretending that our lives have meaning and significance because of what we know, have, or do. If we're honest, we know that life is not all that it appears to be on people's social media pages. The book of Ecclesiastes comes at us like a shock wave of reality, giving voice to what we often feel, but are afraid to say: it all seems meaningless. But is that really true? Here we learn hard but helpful wisdom from one man's search for meaning in life.