The words of the Teacher, the son of David, king of Jerusalem. Vanity of vanities, says the Teacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity. What do people gain from all the toil at which they toil under the sun? A generation goes, and a generation comes, but the earth remains forever. The sun rises and the sun goes down, and hurries to the place where it rises. The wind blows to the south, and goes around to the north; round and round goes the wind, and on its circuits the wind returns. All steams run to the sea, but the sea is not full; to the place where the steams flow, there they continue to flow. All things are wearisome; more than one can express; the eye is not satisfied with seeing, or the ear filled with hearing. What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done; there is nothing new under the sun. Is there a thing of which it is said, "See, this is new"? It has already been, in the ages before us. The people of long ago are not remembered, nor will there be any remembrance of people yet to come by those who come after them.

Ecclesiastes 1:1-11

The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God, and keep his commandments; for that is the whole duty of everyone. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

What’s the point to living longer? If you have seen and done everything you want to do, what is the point? If you think that way, there will be a time when life holds more pain than pleasure does. The point is that life is a wonderful experience. It is marvelous to see that God keeps nature going in its pattern. It is wonderful to know that we are here to love God above everything and to love our neighbor as ourselves. It is comforting to believe that all our sins are forgiven because of what Christ did on the cross. And it is exciting to think about the eternity God has for us.

Life can be depressing when God is left out.

But life can be exciting when God is at the center!

When we focus on Christ, everything else becomes clear.

Our Daily Bread – January 11, 2004