- And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my reward for all my toil. Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun. -
As we’ve discussed, Solomon sought meaning in both great works and prestige.
With his success came the opportunity to enjoy it. Perhaps we would hope a successful, religious leader would engage in pleasures with prudence, and maybe Solomon did.
At first.
Chapter 2 has made clear to us all the ways in which Solomon over indulged. There was no appetite he restrained himself from. Why?
Because it was his reward.
Have you ever told God that? “Look, God? I know I shouldn’t sleep in this morning, but it’s because I was serving at church! Can’t my devotion wait a day?”
Is that sin? If it is, does that mean Christ died for that “reward”?
Look, there’s plenty of reasons when you’re tired to take a break. The Bible wants you to have a Sabbath, so you don’t experience burnout. You’re no good for the kingdom exhausted!
Rest is for realignment, not to set aside who you’ve been called to be.
Solomon makes a mistake many of us have. Because I’ve done so much, I deserve this. That treat yourself mantra from Parks and Rec? Yeah, it can have a dark side.
Well, after indulging in his successes and riches, his food and women, his victories and empire, he notices something.
All of it – yes, all of it – didn’t matter.
Now, he says two phrases here we’ve already discussed. All is vanity and striving after wind. Remember, the latter can mean to feast on the wind i.e. nothing.
What’s this new line mean? It means what we’ve been alluding to throughout the whole first two chapters.
Solomon was a wise king of old. He had already gained everything under the sun. There wasn’t anything left.
Think about it. Solomon built the house where God was to reside. Even if you’re an atheist, it’s difficult to imagine a task more significant than that.
Now, not only can we take this as true in Solomon’s case, we also can learn something incredible about our lives!
One of the reasons we work is because the future is a judge. You put food in the refrigerator because you know you’re going to get hungry later.
It’s easy to take that for granted, but how do we know that? Well, getting kicked out of the garden means we know both good and evil. Guess what? That includes starving.
In many concrete and abstract ways, we know the future is coming for us. That’s one of the reasons why even when you have enough, you keep on working.
Why does your toil not fill you with purpose? It’s not a gift; it’s a curse.
Whatever the future needs, we don’t know. Look at all Solomon did. What happened to his Kingdom?
Vanity is the end of it.
Therefore, what should a Christian focus on? Yes, you need to eat, but where should your heart reside?
The Kingdom of God; there, one acts in eternity.
Love the line of why your toil does not fill you with purpose! So much wisdom and perspective packed in that one phrase!