[Anglican Devotional 19 October 2021] Topic: Treasure Without Satisfaction
TOPIC: Treasure Without Satisfaction
READ: Ecclesiastes 2: 1-11 (NKJV)
I said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with mirth; therefore enjoy pleasure”; but surely, this also [was] vanity.
I said of laughter — “Madness!”; and of mirth, “What does it accomplish?”
I searched in my heart [how] to gratify my flesh with wine, while guiding my heart with wisdom, and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what [was] good for the sons of men to do under heaven all the days of their lives.
I made my works great, I built myself houses, and planted myself vineyards.
I made myself gardens and orchards, and I planted all [kinds] of fruit trees in them.
I made myself water pools from which to water the growing trees of the grove.
I acquired male and female servants, and had servants born in my house. Yes, I had greater possessions of herds and flocks than all who were in Jerusalem before me.
I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the special treasures of kings and of the provinces. I acquired male and female singers, the delights of the sons of men, [and] musical instruments of all kinds.
So I became great and excelled more than all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me.
Whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure, For my heart rejoiced in all my labor; And this was my reward from all my labor.
Then I looked on all the works that my hands had done And on the labor in which I had toiled; And indeed all [was] vanity and grasping for the wind. [There was] no profit under the sun.
MESSAGE:
The writer of the book of Ecclesiastes wrote a carefully analysed experience of his labour and toil with the expectation of happiness. He gave a detailed list of his gain in terms of riches, status, qualification, strength, material and human resources, etc. Yet, he derived no joy or satisfaction. With these, it was still resounding vanity. Why? It was all concentration on securing the world, not his soul and total separation from the only source of joy- Jesus Christ. In our generation today, many tend to focus attention on the treasures of life. Being hardworking or rich is not in itself evil. But we must note that the more we accumulate wealth, the more the yearnings for more.
Jesus designed a scale of preference that can help us reset our choices. “…But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you “(Mat. 6:30-33). The presence of Jesus in our lives is worth more than the world: He brings everything to perfection (Ps. 138:8a). Jesus Christ helps us to manage our lives to choose and work for the treasure that leads to satisfactory joy in eternity. Let us submit all (our lives and struggles) to Him now and be led into everlasting satisfaction.
PRAYER:
“For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul’” (Matt. 16:26).
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