Song # 1732.1 from Our Gospel In Song Collection by Col Johnston. In the Old Testament Book of Ecclesiastes he tells us that ‘everything is meaningless’ as he reflects on how short and contradictory human life is. He could not understand the ways of God, yet he encouraged people to work hard and enjoy the many blessings from God. He saw that both wise men and fools will die in due course, and wondered what benefit either would have over the other.
Wisdom, madness and folly, what more can we do than what has already been done? (Ecclesiastes 2:12). Wisdom is better than folly, just as light is better than darkness (Ecclesiastes 2:13). The wise man has eyes in his head, while the fool walks in the darkness, but we come to realise that the same fate overtakes them both (Ecclesiastes 2:14). The fate of the fool will overtake him, what then do we gain from being wise (Ecclesiastes 2:15). For the wise man, like the fool, will not be long remembered, in days to come both will be forgotten. Like the fool, the wise man too must die (Ecclesiastes 2:16). So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me. All of it is meaningless, a chasing after the wind (Ecclesiastes 2:17). I hated all the things I had toiled for under the sun, because I must leave them to the one who comes after me (Ecclesiastes 2:18). And who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will have control over all the work into which I have poured my effort and skill under the sun (Ecclesiastes 2:19).
Thought for today: even though sometimes life may seem meaningless, look toward your future, everlasting life when you follow Jesus.
Thought for the future: we may not see God’s hand, but we can trust His heart. Where will you spend your eternity?