God Gives Wisdom, Knowledge
And Happiness
Then I thought, "What happens to a foolish
person will catch up with me too. So what do I gain by being wise?" I said
to myself, “That doesn't have any meaning
either." Like a foolish person, a wise man won't be remembered very long.
In days to come, both of them will be forgotten. Like a person who is foolish,
a wise man must die too!
So I hated life. That's because
the work that is done on this earth made me sad. None of it has any meaning.
It's like chasing the wind.
I hated everything I had worked for on earth.
I'll have to leave all of it to someone who lives after me. And who knows
whether he will be wise or foolish? Either way, he'll take over everything on
earth I've worked so hard for. That doesn't have any meaning either.
So I began to lose hope because of all of my
hard work on this earth. A man might use wisdom, knowledge and skill to do his
work. But then he has to leave everything he owns to someone who hasn't worked
for it. That doesn't have any meaning either. In fact, it isn't fair.
What does a man get for all of his hard work on
earth? What does he get for all of his worries? As long as he lives, his work
is nothing but pain and sorrow. Even at night his mind can't rest. That doesn't
have any meaning either.
A man can't do anything better than eat and
drink and be satisfied with his work. I'm finally seeing that those things also
come from the hand of God. Without his help, who can eat or find pleasure?
God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness to a
man who pleases him. But to a sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing
up wealth. Then the sinner must hand it over to the one who pleases God. That
doesn't have any meaning either. It's like chasing the wind.
Ecclesiastes
2:15-26
As Christians, you can look to Christ’s promise
of a heavenly home. He has already prepared it for you. That’s why Paul advised
those who are enjoying what God has given to set their minds on things that are
above and not of this earth.
Those who
have their hearts fixed on heaven will hold loosely the things of earth.
Our Daily Bread –