A Chasing After The Wind

          Last Sunday I heard a sermon preached from one of my favorite books of the bible. The text for the sermon was taken from Ecclesiastes 2:1-11; King Solomon's desire to “find out what was worthwhile for men to do” (Ecc 2:3). He “undertook great projects” and denied “nothing” his “eyes desired” and delighted in the results and the rewards of his labor (Ecc 2:10). He concluded that “when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind;” (Ecc 2:11).

The book of Ecclesiastes is as relevant to our times as any in the bible.  If Solomon were living in America in this day and age he would be seen as an extremely successful business entrepreneur (and world leader) who had accomplished much and amassed great wealth. Some might say ‘Solomon had it all’ as there was nothing of the material or sensual world of his time that he did not have or experience. He would be counted among the “one percent”- those people whose income and wealth puts them in the top tier of the wealthiest in our nation. This is a term we have become familiarized with over the past decade as a reminder of the enlarging gap between the richest of the rich and the rest of us (Map of US & income of the "1%").

I doubt there is a person living who hasn’t at some point wondered what it would be like to have fame, fortune, power, prestige or a place on the world’s stage. Many people desire to achieve these things and some by chance do, others do by hard work. In our media crazed world we get to have a peek into the life of some of the people who are recognized as belonging to this elite group. And while we can perhaps get a glimpse of where they live, what they do, what they possess,how much they are worth, who they associate with, where they vacation, etc. we can’t really know what their inner life is like, if they are truly content, at peace with themselves, others and their creator.

Solomon did not just focus on material things, the scripture says he applied himself to “the understanding of wisdom, and of madness and folly” and he learned “that this too, is a chasing after the wind” (Ecc 1:17). This summation by Solomon (along with other such conclusions throughout the book) contribute to what I have labeled the “Ecclesiastes Syndrome”. A condition that has at times forced me to question what I was doing, how I was living and left me feeling temporarily despondent. What is worth pursuing in life? Beyond the necessities for living (food, shelter, clothing, etc.) what should one spend time, energy and effort on? And is there anything that will outlive us? These questions are common to all humanity. 

Solomon’s concludes at the end of the book:

“Now all has been heard;

here is the conclusion of the matter:

Fear God and keep his commandments,

for this is the duty of all mankind.

For God will bring every deed into judgment,

including every hidden thing,

whether it is good or evil.” (Ecc 12:13 & 14).

I would add the following as to how I have answered these questions:

Seek God (Isaiah 55:6) and love him with all our being (Luke 10:27).

Trust God for our every need (Mark 12:29 & 30; Luke 12:22-32).

Efforts to accumulate and achieve should focus on that which cannot be destroyed (Matthew 6:19 & 20). [Love cannot be destroyed (I Corinthians 13:8) -so any act of love – real love -- has lasting (eternal) possibilities.]

Enjoy and take satisfaction in the simple pleasures of life, in one's work and if one does accumulate wealth-hopefully-the ability to enjoy it (Ecc 5:18-20).

Praise-give thanks (I Thessalonians 5:18 & I Chronicles 16:34).

The challenge is in living the answers. In my life, it is a work in progress - thus the ‘steep’-they are difficult (at times) but not unattainable.