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Today I listened to a sermon about Ecclesiastes. Interestingly, I was also reading The Great Gatsby for my literature class. Writing helps me draw connections between different texts. The search for meaning is an age-old human pursuit. Surprisingly, these two very different works—_Ecclesiastes and The Great Gatsby_—offer similar insights. Despite being written thousands of years apart, both confront the sobering reality. They show that the things we pursue most fervently often leave us unfulfilled. Wealth, beauty, status, and achievement seem alluring, but they are fleeting. When those fade, we’re left pondering a deeper question:
Where does true meaning come from?
BOOKS AND RESOURCES ON THE GREAT GATSBY
In Ecclesiastes, the Teacher begins by proclaiming: “Vanity of vanities… all is vanity.” The Hebrew word hevel, meaning vapor or breath, reflects how fleeting human endeavors are. Despite experiencing every pleasure, success, and acquiring great wealth, the Teacher found that none of it brought true fulfillment. Life’s rewards are momentary, slipping away like mist.
Similarly, Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby presents Jay Gatsby as someone who amasses a fortune. He hosts extravagant parties and shapes his life around ambition. Yet, beneath the dazzling surface is emptiness—Gatsby’s riches can’t give him connection, love, or peace. His dream, much like the Teacher’s hevel, is alluring yet ultimately intangible. Both works reveal that money and status are not reliable sources of meaning.
Despite this realization, neither story succumbs to hopelessness. Instead, each directs our focus elsewhere.
Ecclesiastes imparts a gentle, grounded wisdom. It suggests that true meaning lies not in lofty accomplishments but in the everyday rhythms of living. The Teacher encourages us to appreciate life’s simple pleasures—sharing meals, sincere labor, companionship, and the beauty found in each day. These moments are not mere consolation; they form the essence of a meaningful existence. By letting go of the need for permanence in transient things, we open ourselves to what is genuine.
In contrast, Gatsby’s experience illustrates the ramifications of disregarding this principle. He is driven by an idealized vision of the future. He also desires to recapture the past. As a result, he becomes detached from the current. He is incapable of enjoying his wealth, relationships, or personal identity. Ultimately, he sacrifices all in pursuit of the notion commonly referred to as the American Dream. Fitzgerald’s novel thus offers a cautionary perspective: assigning significance to illusions undermines our ability to engage meaningfully with life.
Together, these works engage in a profound conversation. Ecclesiastes reveals that meaning grows from presence, humility, and gratitude. The Great Gatsby cautions that meaning fades when we chase status or perfection. Both invite us to look earnestly at our own lives and consider what we’re striving for—and why.
This question becomes even more pressing. We consider what would happen if we lost the things we depend on most—like money, work, or health. If those were gone, what would still give your life meaning? Which relationships, values, or inner strengths would stay? In The Great Gatsby, despite all the extravagant parties he hosted, no one was willing to go to his funeral.
Both texts show that meaning isn’t simply obtained; it’s actively nurtured. We create a sense of purpose through self-awareness, integrity, and meaningful connections. Living each moment with honesty is essential, even when life feels unfair. As someone once said, “Life is not fair, but God is.” I appreciated the lines from Ecclesiastes. They convey that God will bring every act to judgment. This includes every hidden thing, whether good or evil. A message I heard from Bayview Glen today is to rest in God. It indicates total trust. It also signifies peace with Him.
❓ Three Questions for Deep Reflection
- If I lost my money, my job, or my health, what parts of my life would still hold meaning?
- What am I chasing that might be hevel? It is beautiful but impossible to hold. What am I neglecting that is quietly sustaining me?
- What values, relationships, or inner qualities would I want to define my life if everything external were stripped away?