Monday, January 30, 2022

Listen to the Word

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.  (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14)

What would it take to make you happy?

The writer of Ecclesiastes embarked on a grand experiment, trying absolutely everything under the sun on a quest for happiness and fulfillment. He wandered down every path that looked promising, but they all turned out to lead nowhere. He tried wine, women, and song, but discovered that ultimately, fun isn't filling. He devoted himself into climbing the career ladder, but found that finding meaning in work doesn't work. He became the wealthiest person in town, but realized that money can't buy happiness.

He ultimately reached the grim conclusion that everything under the sun is meaningless.

But the last words of his book offer a glimmer of hope. There is a reality that is NOT under the sun, and it is in that reality that we find the possibility for true happiness. A life connected to God is a life full of meaning.

Live the Word

Spend a moment remembering some of the wrong paths you have taken in your quest for happiness, and reflect on lessons you have learned from those dead ends.