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Ecclesiastes 2 (ESV)
4 I made great works. I built houses and planted vineyards for myself. 5 I made myself gardens and parks, and planted in them all kinds of fruit trees. 6 I made myself pools from which to water the forest of growing trees. 7 I bought male and female slaves, and had slaves who were born in my house. I had also great possessions of herds and flocks, more than any who had been before me in Jerusalem. 8 I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I got singers, both men and women, and many concubines, the delight of the sons of man.
9 So I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me. 10 And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my reward for all my toil. 11 Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun.
REFLECTION:
Solomon used his life as an experiment to explore the meaning of life. He first tried to pursue pleasure: he did major projects, bought servants, cattle and sheep, gathered wealth, gathered singers, added many concubines in the harem, and became the most prominent king of Jerusalem. But none of this satisfies him, so he said, “Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun.” (v.11). The pleasure he pursues may bring him short-term satisfaction, but if it is the purpose of life, all these pursuits are in vain. Solomon exhausted all his methods to find the meaning of life, but the result was “a striving after wind.” When the wind blows, we can feel it, but we cannot hold it firmly in our hands. All our achievements, even great achievements, are similar. Only in the love of God, not in human achievement, can we find true peace and self-worth. Please reflect in your life what do you think is valuable and make you spend your time, energy and money on it? One day when you look back on the past, do you realize that these are also “a striving after wind”? Is your goal in life to pursue the meaning of life in your own way, or to pursue God who gives true meaning to life?
PRAYER:
Pray for God to enlighten you so that you can clearly see that the things you are currently working on are like “a striving after wind” and are of no benefit to your life? Ask God to give you the confidence and courage to let go of the love in your heart, strive to seek God who gives you peace and eternal blessing, and live according to His will.
HYMN:
All I Once Held Dear – youtu.be/oxpPIa-BskY
