“I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor. Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes 2:10–11, NIV 1984).
My Musings – These words were penned by Solomon, King of Israel before the kingdom was divided. “God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore. Solomon’s wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the men of the East, and greater than all the wisdom of Egypt. He was wiser than any other man.” (1 Kings 4:29–31, NIV 1984).
But “even the very wise cannot see all ends,” (The Fellowship of the Ring, J.R.R. Tolkien). Solomon was very wise. No one wiser. Despite all that wisdom he could not foresee that the desires of his eyes, the pleasures of his heart, and the delight in his work would be “meaningless, a chasing after the wind.” Yet down through the ages, man has persisted in his pursuit of these things to bring them joy and fulfillment. Having learned nothing from Solomon’s experiences.
The desires of the eyes will eventually grow dim. The pleasures of the heart will lose their appeal. The delight in our work will fail to fulfill. It’s not that all these things are bad, although some may be. It’s just that alone, they cannot bring lasting joy and fulfillment. Only a lasting relationship with our Creator can fill the emptiness inside us.
He’s reaches out to us. He desires that relationship. He sent His Son Jesus to make it possible. But so many are too busy “chasing after the wind” to give Him serious consideration. Finding out too late that without that relationship, it was all “meaningless.“
My Advice – “Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! And do not set your heart on [chasing after the wind}; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows [what] you need…But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.” (Luke 12:27–31, NIV 1984).
What are you chasing? If you catch it, do you think it will be the ultimate in joy and fulfillment? Or will you move onto the next thing to chase? Only to find out in the end that lasting joy and fulfillment eluded you. Seek first His Kingdom. He will provide whatever else is needed as well. And you may very well discover that the other things you were chasing were mere mirages. Pleasing only to the eyes, with as much substance as the wind.
The Brew Is A Musing 