While going through the motions of my morning routine this dark, rainy and cold Monday, thoughts of work and upcoming tasks filled my head. When the build-up of tasks invoked the feeling of dread, I was reminded of my pastor’s sermon yesterday and questioned; am I just filling my life with activities to keep me busy?
“…vanity of vanities; all is vanity. What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?” (Ecc 1:1-2)
We go through the daily grind of everyday filling our lives with all sorts of work and activities, but for what purpose? The most common perspective is in order to satisfy ourselves in some manner whether financially, emotionally, physically, mentally. And once we reach the goal or do/finish the activity, our satisfaction is short lived. We can never do enough, be enough or get enough to satisfy ourselves.
“All things are full of labour; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.” (Ecc 1:8)
King Solomon was probably the most wealthiest, wisest, and prosperous man from the measuring stick of human standards, yet His final conclusion was that all those things were vanity. There was no meaning within them which could be taken at the end of his life and he knew it would not amount to anything to him after he died.
“So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me.
And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour.
Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.” (Ecc 2:9-11)
That’s where I truly understand that when we direct our activities and goals for our own self rather than to glorify God who has given us the gift to enjoy the fruits of our labours, the activities become a never-ending cycle of gathering and heaping up rather than contentment in all aspects of life.
“For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.” (Ecc 2:26)
When we direct our lives and activities to glorify the Lord, who has blessed us in all aspects of our lives, there is more contentment in everything that’s being done whether they be activities of spiritual subject or not. Even the simple task of getting up this dreary Monday morning, didn’t seem dreary when I remembered that God has given me a new day to live and enjoy His love and blessings. Another breath He has given me, more time to take hold of new opportunities and to plan for my eternal future that awaits this temporal life, and more ways to seize the day to do His will in my life which has more meaning that anything I can ever think of for my own benefit.
“I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life.
And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.
I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.” (Ecc 3:12-14)
