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Thursday, November 04, 2004
Since we've been talking about a correct perspective on work, the book of Ecclesiastes gives some insight into the cold, hard, reality of pursuing wealth and comfort.
It was written by Solomon, David's son who grew up in palaces with one of Israel's greatest kings as his father. Solomon built the Temple, the permanent home for God that David always wanted to build, so God could be honored and the nation had a permanent place to worship Him. Solomon wrote the majority of the book of Proverbs and is considered to be one of the wisest men who ever lived.
And these are some things he did:
He tested himself with pleasures.
Stimulated his body with drugs.
Built a massive home.
Buiit massive parks and expanded his business gain.
Lived a life of leisure, letting others do the work for him.
Fattened his bank account.
Enjoyed the best entertainment.
Enjoyed physical pleasures that women could provide.
Increased his political stature.
In verse 10: "And all that my eyes desired I did not refuse them. I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure, for my heart was pleased because of all my labor and this was my reward for my labor."
He'd done it. In current terms, he'd reached the American dream. He worked hard. He got the bigger house with servants to keep it clean. He had parks to relax in with workers to maintain them. He had the best entertainment available to him. His bank account was big enough to "retire."
Others recognized his greatness. He was popular. He even had enough free time to experiment with drugs and sex.
It was human success.
Without God in the mix.
And that's what we looked at in Psalm 127. When you see the work you do through God's eyes it has meaning.
Without God, this is what it looks like: "Thus I considered all my activities which my hands had done and the labor which I had exerted, and behold all was vanity and striving after wind and there was no profit under the sun."
Solomon arrived. He did it all and retired. Whatever he wanted.
And it was a silly as trying to catch the breeze in a butterfly net. Can you imagine what a video of yourself chasing the wind would look like? 20 minutes of yourself trying to catch the wind?
Pointless. Silly. Busy, but with nothing tangible to show for it. Laughable, if only you weren't so serious about it. Insert your own adjective here.
But that's the way living your life of work without God's glory as the motivation is.
Pointless. Silly. Busy, but with nothing tangible to show for it. Laughable, but you're serious about it. Insert your own adjective here.
So, take some time to think today: What are you working for or with or about today that doesn't have God's glory at the center...and what do you look like doing it?
Brent 5:36 AM
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