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. Ecclesiastes 2:17
Everyday millions of people get up each morning to go to work. They work all day, go back home, eat a meal, do a few things around the home and then go to bed. Then they get up and do the same thing again the very next day, day after day, year after year. The majority of people are in a routine that never appears to change nor be able to be changed.
Solomon says he had hated life because of all the hard work that was being done each day was stressful because it was all vanity and grasping for the wind.
In the moment, working appears to be of great value. One works and gets a paycheck and is able to pay bills and purchase a few desired things. Occasionally a person may be able to take a small vacation or getaway. This feels like a good thing.
Then disaster strikes, as it often does, and changes the mindset quickly. The things purchased break down, the bills rise higher than the income, bank accounts and investments fail, sickness or injury occurs and finally there is death.
All the things that one has worked for appears to be worthless in the end. All the hard work had no value and was vanity or meaningless. The world then often looks to suicide to end the worthlessness of everything.
Believers often get caught up in the same struggles and loss of value when they look at things in the same way as the world. Instead of working for things, believers are to work for God, the eternal things of life. Building character and doing God’s work. This is grabbing on to things that will last for eternity and have true value.
There may be times in which you begin to hate life, going to work or doing the same things day after day. It may appear to be of no value and that you are just spinning your wheels. Take your eyes off of the temporary things of this life and place them on God and the things that are of eternal value. Do the work of God and find purpose, meaning and value in all that you do. Find the joy in serving God with what you do each day.
Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will know God’s purpose for your life; that you will find joy and meaning in doing God’s work; and that you will enjoy the life God has blessed you with.
Picture by Saad Chaudhry on Unsplash
Leave a Reply