VANITY UPON VANITY
Ecclesiastes 1: 1-18
King Solomon is generally believed to have authored the book of Ecclesiastes. This is also supported by the internal evidence of the book (vv.12-13). The main theme of the book is to present to the readers that nothing is worth living for, nothing is worth dying for. King Solomon enjoyed life to the fullest and had the best of everything, to the point of overflowing. He saw it all and had it all. His baffling conclusion is that what appears attractive and glamorous for which many people labour relentlessly is all vanity (vv. 2, 14-18).
Beloved, while we are supposed to do whatever our hands find to do with all sense of commitment, it is noteworthy that no height of pleasure should be counted good enough as the purpose for our existence. Jesus Christ admonishes that we should not labour for the perishable things in this world (John 6:27). Acquisition of money, attainment of positions and gathering of material possessions should not define our existence because they all are vanity. We must live for God’s pleasure and keep preparing for our eternal home (Rev. 4:11). God’s wisdom demands that we live each day as though it were the last. Our focus must be to please the Lord in every facet of our lives.
In the conclusion of the book, the preacher declared:
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil. Ecclesiastes 12:13-14
No matter what heights you attain, the possessions you have or your ranking in life, without God, all is vanity. Therefore, put your life together, serve God and live. This is more crucial than any other thing in life.
PRAYER: Father, give me grace to live for your pleasure, in Jesus name.
