TOPIC: LIFE IS MEANINGLESS EXCEPT IN CHRIST
TEXT: Ecclesiastes 2:1-17(NKJV)
- 2:1. I said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with mirth; therefore enjoy pleasure”; but surely, this also [was] vanity.
- 2:2. I said of laughter — “Madness!”; and of mirth, “What does it accomplish?”
- 2:3. I searched in my heart [how] to gratify my flesh with wine, while guiding my heart with wisdom, and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what [was] good for the sons of men to do under heaven all the days of their lives.
- 2:4. I made my works great, I built myself houses, and planted myself vineyards.
- 2:5. I made myself gardens and orchards, and I planted all [kinds] of fruit trees in them.
- 2:6. I made myself water pools from which to water the growing trees of the grove.
- 2:7. I acquired male and female servants, and had servants born in my house. Yes, I had greater possessions of herds and flocks than all who were in Jerusalem before me.
- 2:8. I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the special treasures of kings and of the provinces. I acquired male and female singers, the delights of the sons of men, [and] musical instruments of all kinds.
- 2:9. So I became great and excelled more than all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me.
- 2:10. Whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure, For my heart rejoiced in all my labor; And this was my reward from all my labor.
- 2:11. Then I looked on all the works that my hands had done And on the labor in which I had toiled; And indeed all [was] vanity and grasping for the wind. [There was] no profit under the sun.
- 2:12. Then I turned myself to consider wisdom and madness and folly; For what [can] the man [do] who succeeds the king? — [Only] what he has already done.
- 2:13. Then I saw that wisdom excels folly As light excels darkness.
- 2:14. The wise man’s eyes [are] in his head, But the fool walks in darkness. Yet I myself perceived That the same event happens to them all.
- 2:15. So I said in my heart, “As it happens to the fool, It also happens to me, And why was I then more wise?” Then I said in my heart, “This also [is] vanity.”
- 2:16. For [there is] no more remembrance of the wise than of the fool forever, Since all that now [is] will be forgotten in the days to come. And how does a wise [man] die? As the fool!
- 2:17. Therefore I hated life because the work that was done under the sun [was] distressing to me, for all [is] vanity and grasping for the wind.
STUDY:
Our passage today explains in detail the greatness of king Solomon as a king in Israel. According to Solomon, he made himself great – he built houses, planted vineyards, made gardens and orchards. He got himself servants and had great possessions of great and small cattle more than all that were in Jerusalem before him. He gathered for himself silver and gold and other special treasures of kings.
He was great and increased more than all that were before him and kept nothing away that his eyes desired. Despite all these incredible achievements, King Solomon said “Then I looked on all the works that my hands had made, and on the labour that I had expended on it: and behold, all was vanity and like grasping of the wind, and there was no profit under the sun (vv. 10-11). Child of God, you will discover that all king Solomon achieved and acquired are the reasons many people are desperate today and some have lost their place in God’s presence on that account. It is reasonable to learn from the conclusion of Solomon that “…all was vanity and like grasping the wind.” This shows us that wealth does not give true joy and fulfilment in life.
Anyone who has genuinely experienced the joy of the Lord Jesus Christ will admit that whatever a man has outside Jesus Christ does not guarantee joy. The words of king Solomon reveal clearly that riches and wealth do not stop feelings of frustration. The only source of peace and joy is the Lord Jesus Christ. Beloved, let’s run the race of our life in Christ. This is because anyone who fails to make Jesus Christ his daily pursuit will sink in the ocean of regrets, regardless of his possessions.
PRAYER:
Father, give me the courage to focus on what matters in life, in Jesus’ Name, Amen!
Watch Today’s Anglican Daily Fountain Devotional:
Watch the devotion on ACNNTV YouTube Channel.
Partner with ACNNTV
Help us reach the world with the undiluted Word of God. Make donations through our website or via the details below:
Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion ACNN Account
Account Number: 1016868363 (Zenith Bank)
Thank you for joining the Kingdom Partners today.
