Living a Small Life | Week 1 | A Better Hope

A BETTER HOPE

If someone asked you what is most important in your life, what would you say? We all assign value to the things of this life, whether it’s a relationship, your future dreams, a sport you play, or something else. We naturally orient our lives around these things, putting our time, money, and energy towards what we care most about.

In today’s passage, Solomon explores the idea that we have to abandon the fleeting, unstable things of this world in order to hold onto something better. 1 Corinthians 15 tells us that this world and everything in it will pass away, even our earthly bodies. Our physical world is filled with brokenness and despair. When you read the passage from Ecclesiastes today, you will be challenged to consider how much value you place in this world.

Friendships, dreams of the future, wealth, and work are not usually bad by themselves, but when we start putting all of our hope in them, they fall short and ultimately fail us. People can bring us joy, but they cannot bring us life. Playing well in a game or making good grades can be celebrated, but they cannot bring you real value. Plans after graduation can be exciting, but they will not fulfill your dreams. None of these things satisfy our deepest longings—they only leave us disappointed and wanting more when they fall short.

Hope creates a sense of purpose and motivation. As believers, we are invited into a new and better hope, one that is based solely on Jesus, not on this world. This hope is sturdy and does not leave us disappointed. We look forward to eternity with Jesus with joy and expectation that he will make all things new. Our hope is that we will not live in these fragile bodies in a broken world forever, one day we will be made whole because of what Christ did for us on the cross. This kind of hope has promise, it does not fail us, and it gives us purpose to live for everyday of our lives here on earth.

This world can be enjoyed—relationships, eating good food, playing sports, traveling the world, and working can bring us joy because we are not putting all of our hope in them fulfilling us. Our hope is set on something much greater than anything this world offers. The good things of this world point us back to worship and praise of our Creator.

Read Ecclesiastes 9:1–10.

• Where have you been placing your hope outside of Jesus?
• How have these things failed you or left you feeling unsatisfied?
• For seniors—what hopes or values have you been tempted to put in the next season of life after graduation?