For the past few days we have been talking about finding contentment in this life and creating a lasting legacy in the world to come. In today’s reading King Solomon is doing a monologue as he ponders life. As he does so, he makes an interesting discovery: the concept of working, what he refers to as toiling under the sun, is a meaningless venture without God. One works hard only to leave the fruits of his labour behind for another to enjoy- this he says is meaningless and a great misfortune! However, all is not lost! When God is the foundation of one’s life, work becomes meaningful and one can find satisfaction in it. Let’s see how the preacher (King Solomon) conceptualizes this:

What do people get for all the toil and anxious striving with which they labor under the sun? All their days their work is grief and pain; even at night their minds do not rest. This too is meaningless. A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their own toil. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment? 

That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God.

Ecclesiastes 2: 22-25; 3:13 NIV

Have you been looking for satisfaction in all the wrong places? This too comes from the hand of God, as a gift from God; for without Him we are and have nothing.

Yours Truly