Scripture: Ecclesiastes 1: 2-4

Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity.  What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun?  A generation goes, and a generation comes, but the earth remains forever.

Scripture Commentary: Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of toil and a striving after wind.*

All of our human toil and accomplishment will come to naught.  As it was with our forefathers, so shall it be with us.  We need to keep this in mind as we journey through life.  It we don’t, we will become either proud when we succeed (thinking we did this on our own) or sorely disappointed when we fail.

Solomon’s goal was to show that earthly possessions and accomplishments are ultimately meaningless.  Only by pursuing God do we achieve real satisfaction.

We should honor God in all we say, think, and do.

As you take a hard look at your life, as Solomon did his, you will see how important serving God is above all other options.  Perhaps God is asking you to rethink your purpose and direction in life.  As you set out to find the meaning of your life, you must be ready to feel, think, question, hurt, and do more for God.

When we ignore God, it only highlights our problems because there are no answers without God’s eternal perspective.

True wisdom is found in God, and true happiness is pleasing him.

*Ecclesiastes 4: 6

Read the Entire Chapter:
Ecclesiastes Chapter 1

Additional Reading:
Ecclesiastes Chapter 4