Spending your life in futile endeavors

I’ve been reading the book of Ecclesiastes this week, and although I’ve read it before, I’ve been reading it more closely. Basically, the theme of the book is the futility of spending your life seeking temporary riches, knowledge and power, instead of eternal things.

Solomon, the author of Ecclesiastes, had everything people think will be make them happy: money, women, power, knowledge…and he realized it meant nothing, nor did it bring him happiness or fulfillment.

There’s nothing wrong with making money, having it and spending it, but not if you put your trust in it is futility. Title, power, “fame”, influence? Those can be “taken” from you in a second, and few people will remember you when you’re gone.

You should live every day as if it might be your last, care for the people you love, and of course meet your obligations, but never take your mind off eternal things. Many of the “obligations” we claim to have are self-imposed and not really important. We all have to make a living, but don’t forget while you’re at it, to make a life.

“Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of toil and striving after wind.” Ecclesiastes 4:6

Heidi Harris