Verse of the Day 1/12

Ecclesiastes 2:11-12 The Message (MSG)  Then I took a good look at everything I'd done, looked at all the sweat and hard work. But when I looked, I saw nothing but smoke. Smoke and spitting into the wind. There was nothing to any of it. Nothing.

 

The other day we considered life lives God's way versus "my way".  The heading for the passage in Ecclesiastes that begins with this verse has is "I hate life".  The book was written by Solomon later in life.  He had started living life God's way but was led astray by the love of, you might say, wine, women and song.   Today's verse sum's up his feelings about living such a life.

 

In this chapter Solomon boasts of building houses, planting vineyards, gardens and parks, made pools, had slaves, women, and all kinds of treasures.  But like the person in Frank Sinatra's song, My Way, he was coming towards the end of his life and found himself and his achievements as vain and empty.  "What is a man what has he got, if not himself then he has naught".  Solomon had himself and realized it was for naught. 

 

John MacArthur writes, "the futility of the labor process is that Solomon had nothing of enduring and satisfying substance to show for it.  Wisdom is no guarantee that one will achieve satisfaction, even in accomplishments comparable to Solomon's.  To expend God given resources for human accomplishment alone is empty."  Solomon could relate to the Rolling Stone's song - I can't get no satisfaction.

 

Sounds like Solomon had a few regrets himself.  Fast forward to the end of the book.  We find what the wisest person in the world found, the one that had it all yet felt empty, until he turned back to God.

 

Ecclesiastes 12:13 (NLT) That's the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone's duty.

 

Saint Augustine of Hippo. ... "You have made us for yourself, Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you,"

 

In Christ,
Mike

 

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Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace  NIV

 Ecclesistes 2:4-11 The Message