Chasing

In Ecclesiastes 6:1-2, King Solomon declares, “There is another serious tragedy I have seen under the sun, and it weighs heavily on humanity. God gives some people great wealth and honor and everything they could ever want, but then he doesn’t give them the chance to enjoy these things. They die, and someone else, even a stranger, ends up enjoying their wealth! This is meaningless—a sickening tragedy.”

 

There is an old saying: “The one with the most at the end wins.” But, consider the source; what is their life purpose, their life priorities, and what exactly do they win? King Solomon was the richest man in the world in his day, yet found no lasting satisfaction in his prosperity. He died in 931 B.C. and didn’t take a penny with him. John D. Rockefeller, the founder of the Standard Oil Company, the first billionaire of the United States of America (Net Worth of 340 Billion dollars) and once the richest man on Earth was asked by a reporter, “How much money is enough?” He calmly replied, “Just a little bit more”. He died on May 23, 1937 and didn’t take a penny with him. You can’t take it with you when you go, but the more important question is: “Where are you going when you leave this earth, not how much you had on this earth while here?”

 

Fame, fortune and fads is fleeing, yet living in a material world, how many make seeking both the priority of their life as “the good life” and chase after them? The question is: What is happiness and where does true happiness come from? But, Proverbs 22:1 rightly states, “A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.” Paul McCartney of the Beatles wrote: “Money can’t buy me love.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 proclaims, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love n ever fails. A good question is: What does God (your Designer and Maker) want you to do with your life? Surely, love God and love your neighbor, but how do you live that out daily?

 

Jesus asks us in Matthew 16:26 “What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? Don’t sell yourself out to this world; go all in with Jesus Christ, the Author and Perfecter of your life. King Solomon in Ecclesiastes 6:9 concludes, “It's better to enjoy what we have than to always want something else, because that makes no more sense than chasing the wind.” Galatians 5:22-26 tells us, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.  Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. Chase after the Lord and be truly blessed. 

 

In Christ, Brian