THIS MEANINGFUL LIFE
Richard Harris
Today’s Scripture: “I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind.” Ecclesiastes 1:14, ESV
Theme: Endless opportunities for amusement can sidetrack us from God’s purposes for our lives.
LIFE UNDER THE SUN
Please allow me to start with a few questions. Were your goals accomplished last year? Are you satisfied with that, or did you add more goals for this year? Did you get everything you wanted? Did you make more money than ever last year? Did you gain more control or power over something or someone? What personal possessions did you add to your domain? Are you satisfied?
One of the wealthiest, most powerful persons in the Old Testament was King Solomon. He had all one could ask for, yet he admitted that this earthly realm is meaningless. Despite everything he attained during his long life, he was not satisfied. It was Solomon himself who wrote Ecclesiastes. He wraps it up in Ecclesiastes 12:13, with his plea to “fear God and keep His Commandments.” I wholeheartedly hope you read the entire Book of Ecclesiastes, to learn what he had gained as stated in the final chapter’s conclusions.
As you read, look back upon your own life as you ask God for the same wisdom given King Solomon. You will learn from his own failings to heed his own advice. You will witness his downward spiral. Equate that with your own tribulations. By the end of Ecclesiastes, you will witness his humility and repentance. Follow his honest approach to seek your own honest fulfillment. Hopefully, you will reaffirm your belief that everything temporal must be understood and valued as you consider the eternal.
VANITY AND STRIVING
What was Solomon saying when he referred to striving after the wind? Are we not like the wind, or a mist; here now, soon to be gone. Our earthly body and our possessions are soon scattered like the dust in that wind. That is the temporal part of our experiences in the flesh. Has your temporal time been meaningful? Have you reached the top and yet still feel empty? This all sounds like the end of a good thing, but is it?
LIFE UNDER THE SON
Solomon’s Ecclesiastes is but one of many examples of hope from the New Testament. That Old Covenant was preparing us for a way toward a more meaningful life. There were eternal dividends that come from learning from both the New and Old Covenants. Together, they guide us to look ahead to either eternal consequences or everlasting glory. The consequence of ignoring a spiritual commitment determines our final judgement. And on the other hand, there is a peace that passes all our human understanding by committing to God’s promises. Following our Lord Jesus Christ, through His sacrifices, gives us a meaningful “life under the Son.”
Make It Personal: Is this all there is? Or is there more? Our Bible tells us much Good News about eternal life, challenges, perseverance, wisdom, love, trust, joys, and hopes. King Solomon also wrote most of the book of Proverbs. Seek wisdom from these wisdom books as well. The book of Job gives us hope. The Song of Songs (also by Solomon) affirms loyalty, beauty and eternal love. The entire Holy Bible is a roadmap for endless opportunities of finding God’s purposes. There are also many real-life examples from today’s so-called celebrities, who found that having it all was not the satisfaction they were seeking. Google “famous successful, yet unsatisfied, people who found Christ.”
Eternal life under the Son, Jesus Christ, is much more satisfying than any fleeting satisfaction found in life under the sun. You can’t take it with you, but you can take Him with you. He waits.
Pray: Lord Father, we ask that You provide us the capacity to understand the wisdom you granted Solomon, and that we take that wisdom to understand and share your Holy words as a means of sharing the Good News. Help us awake to that New Dawn of promise through Your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Read: Ecclesiastes 12:1, 12:13; 1 Kings 3:9; Peter 1:8; Philippians 4:7, 2 Corinthians
Weekly Memory Verse: “For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, ‘In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.’ But you were unwilling...” Isaiah 30:15, ESV