This world offers a plethora of things to do, accomplish, and succeed at. We fill up our days with good and not so good things that we hope will give meaning to our lives. In the end, what is really worthwhile? What has deep meaning? In the moment, our goals and desires give us purpose and something to shoot for. It may be a certain level of financial status that would ensure our family is taken care of. It could be racking up the awards and accolades to impress others or uplift our own egos. It may be pursuing stardom so we can be known by many, or it can be as simple as enjoying the simple pleasures in life.
Whatever causes your feet to hit the floor in the morning, do you ever wonder how much of an impact you are truly making each day? Solomon, the king who ruled in Jerusalem, had life in the palm of his hands. Whatever the world offered, it was his for the taking. You can read about Solomon in the book of Ecclesiastes in the Old Testament. What he found by living such a futile lifestyle is that no matter what he did, it was completely meaningless. He discovered that the idea of having it all is a lie.
“What do people get for all their hard work?” (Ecclesiastes 1:3)
Solomon says that everything is wearisome beyond description, see verse 1:8. One is never satisfied or content no matter how hard they work or save up. Solomon is discovering that man was not made for this world. Because of sin, we have been separated from God and this separation is causing everyone to run towards nothing. What I mean by nothing is that this world and everything pertaining to it is going to come to an end. Those, and only those, who repent of their sins, receive Jesus Christ as their Savior, and follow the Holy Spirit in obedience as Lord, will be given new life that will take them into eternity with God.
“All that goes on, it’s like chasing the wind. The greater my wisdom, the greater my grief.” (see Ecc. 1:17-18)
Solomon goes on in chapter 2 and reveals how he enjoyed the good life. He partook in enjoying wine to cheer himself up. He bought homes and vineyards. He built up his possessions thinking this will give him a full life. He worked hard and became successful, and in the end, “There was nothing really worthwhile anywhere.”11
He also discovered that wisdom and foolishness share the same fate, they both will die. “Since I will end up the same as the fool, what’s the value of all my wisdom? This is all so meaningless!”15 Solomon realized that he hated life because everything is troubling and meaningless. He also said, “I came to hate all my hard work here on earth, for I must leave to others everything I have earned.”18
Solomon battles the reality of what happens to his earthly gains that he worked so hard to obtain. Will those who benefit from his hard work be wise with it or foolish? The idea of others who did not work for his estate, they will have control at some point. This mental thinking caused Solomon to be in despair and question the value of all that he had accomplished in his life. Solomon is describing what many call a mid-life crisis or those who are approaching retirement.
It is difficult to face the reality of your mortality and all that you have achieved cannot go with you when you leave this earth.
He eventually reasons that he might as well enjoy food, drink, and find satisfaction in work. But then, the lightbulb turned on inside his brain and he realized that all these pleasures are from God. “For who can eat or enjoy anything apart from Him? God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy to those who please Him.”25-26a
This realization caused a shift to happen inside Solomon’s heart and mind. He went from running towards nothing to running towards God, and this shift changed the course of his life. His life took on new meaning that would take him into eternity. His life went from pride to humility, from disobedience to obedience. He began living his life pleasing God.
Are you running towards nothing? Don’t let life pass you by without stopping to assess what are you really running towards. Jesus Christ is the only thing worth pursuing. If He isn’t first, then your life is for the here and now and not for eternity; read Proverbs 4:10-13, Hebrews 12:1-4, and Ephesians 4:20-24.
Run with purpose my friend.
Carol J German 