Monday August 5th, 2019 Ecclesiastes 2:1-17
Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had spent in doing it, and again, all was vanity and a chasing after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun. (verse 11)
A couple of years ago, I achieved a long-standing goal and then proceeded to spend another year feeling insecure, comparing myself to others, and feeling like I couldn’t be happy until I moved on to the next big thing.
We humans are peculiar creatures. What we think will make us happy doesn’t; what we think we want isn’t always, if ever, what we need. We constantly wonder what’s next.
King Solomon, the writer of this book of the Bible, learned this through a process of trial and error. This particular passage of Ecclesiastes can seem rather discouraging, especially when taken out of context. But what he wants to pass on to us is that we’re not made to be happy apart from God.
It’s a good thing to have goals and enjoy our accomplishments and it’s even okay to enjoy any material possessions we are blessed with. But, ultimately, true and lasting happiness comes from having a relationship with God, our creator, who made us, knows us and loves us.
Dear Lord, I want the goals I set to include you. Help me realize that I have everything I need to be happy through you. Amen. — DLG
Contributed by I’ll be happy when ?
A couple of years ago, I achieved a long-standing goal and then proceeded to spend another year feeling insecure, comparing myself to others, and feeling like I couldn't be happy until I moved on to the next big thing.
We humans are peculiar creatures. What we think will make us happy doesn't; what we think we want isn't always, if ever, what we need. We constantly wonder what's next.
King Solomon, the writer of this book of the Bible, learned this through a process of trial and error. This particular passage of Ecclesiastes can seem rather discouraging, especially when taken out of context. But what he wants to pass on to us is that we're not made to be happy apart from God.
It's a good thing to have goals and enjoy our accomplishments and it's even okay to enjoy any material possessions we are blessed with. But, ultimately, true and lasting happiness comes from having a relationship with God, our creator, who made us, knows us and loves us.
