Through the Bible - Daniel 9 - Hosea 2, 3 John - Jude
Good morning,
The "Christmas rush" reached it's zenith in tragedy the other day when a man was trampled to death in a store by shoppers hoping to get their hands on a plasma TV or other items with a "special price" and a limited supply. What are people chasing after in this season, in life? Will these things last, will they be important in a few days, weeks or months?
Perhaps the world's wisest person ever, King Solomon, had an idea, we go to it for today's verse.
Eccl 1:14
14 I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind. NIV
or from The Message
Eccl 1:13-14 I looked most carefully into everything, searched out all that is done on this earth. And let me tell you, there's not much to write home about. God hasn't made it easy for us. I've seen it all and it's nothing but smoke — smoke, and spitting into the wind.
As I'm writing this I'm in Atlantic City NJ for a trade show. It's a place known for it's gambling opportunities. Talk about chasing or grasping for the wind, throwing money into a slot machine. A better slot would be in a Salvation Army collection can, someone would benefit from it.
Regarding Ecclesiastes 1 William Crowder writes, "Solomon uses several key ideas to build his argument. The first is the term "vanity" which means "emptiness". It expresses the tragedy of misplaced values and their inability to meet the deepest needs of the heart. The phrase "under the sun" identifies the source of those misplaced values - this present world system (remember the verse from the other day "love not the world or the things of the world?). Then, Solomon describes the frustration that results from empty pursuit as "grasping for the wind". These dramatic words point us heavenword for the source of our satisfaction."
Our hearts are searching, but too many times we'll find the as the Rolling Stones put it "I can't get no satisfaction" when we try to find it in the things that this world has to offer.
Instead of chasing after the best deals on cars, jewelry or plasma TV's why not turn our thoughts, our hearts heavenward this season.
A Chasing of the Wind
by Steve Green
Every heart is filled with longing
To be free from all life's pain
Yet the search through earthly pleasures
Always ends in vain
Only God who made the heavens
Can satisfy our souls
Apart from Him and all His meaning
All things fail as they begin
And hearts deceived
Can only know
A chasing of the wind
All achievements, all possessions
All with time return to dust
Only God can be our reason
For deep and quiet trust
He will guard us from the dangers
That gladly make men fools
Apart from Him and all His meaning
All things fail as they begin
And hearts deceived
Can only know
A chasing of the wind
A chasing of the wind
Why do we live without Jesus?
Why do we waste another day?
He is the life that sustains us
The only hope for us today
So tell me, why do we live
Why do we live without Him?
In Christ,
Mike
Eccl 1:1-2:1
1 The words of the Teacher, son of David, king in Jerusalem:
2 "Meaningless! Meaningless!"says the Teacher."Utterly meaningless!Everything is meaningless."
3 What does man gain from all his laborat which he toils under the sun? 4 Generations come and generations go,but the earth remains forever. 5 The sun rises and the sun sets,and hurries back to where it rises. 6 The wind blows to the southand turns to the north;round and round it goes,ever returning on its course. 7 All streams flow into the sea,yet the sea is never full.To the place the streams come from,there they return again. 8 All things are wearisome,more than one can say.The eye never has enough of seeing,nor the ear its fill of hearing. 9 What has been will be again,what has been done will be done again;there is nothing new under the sun. 10 Is there anything of which one can say,"Look! This is something new"?It was here already, long ago;it was here before our time. 11 There is no remembrance of men of old,and even those who are yet to comewill not be rememberedby those who follow.
12 I, the Teacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13 I devoted myself to study and to explore by wisdom all that is done under heaven. What a heavy burden God has laid on men! 14 I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
15 What is twisted cannot be straightened;what is lacking cannot be counted.
16 I thought to myself, "Look, I have grown and increased in wisdom more than anyone who has ruled over Jerusalem before me; I have experienced much of wisdom and knowledge." 17 Then I applied myself to the understanding of wisdom, and also of madness and folly, but I learned that this, too, is a chasing after the wind.
18 For with much wisdom comes much sorrow;the more knowledge, the more grief.
NIV
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