Nothing is Better than This

Scripture: I know that nothing is better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives, and also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor—it is the gift of God. Ecclesiastes 3:12-13

Observation: Already by the start of chapter 3, the teacher - Solomon - has described every thing as pointless. This has even extended to all attempts to find pleasure, all work to find value, and all results to find legacy. Yet he has said something to this effect twice now ... the best things to do is to rejoice, do good, and enjoy the gifts of God in our lives. There is a certain poetic style to this book, so many of the words need to be understood in a manner of art, therefore this declaration of the 'best' things one can do in life align to the clear priorities of Yahweh.

-- Rejoice = Love and worship the Lord.

-- Do good = Love others.

-- Enjoy the good = Accept and acknowledge God's love and his good gifts toward you.

The list of things that are pointless is long, and getting longer. Yet even in the depth of this philosophical essay about the meaninglessness of life, the teacher returns to the greatest of all the commandments and pronounces them as the best. Nothing is better than these three life purposes. And the results are always from God himself.

Application: Solomon, a man running one of the great kingdoms at the very pinnacle of its influence, who himself is recognized internationally as the wisest of all leaders, and who is burdened with the task of creating the grandest single building project in history ... simplifies life's purpose down to three things. Love God, love others, and acknowledge and enjoy God's love. How am I doing at following this great ancient wisdom?

I love the Lord, however I could certainly dedicated more time every day to worshipping and honoring him, to prayer and thanksgiving.

I try to love others ... but wow ... that can be easy with some, but hard with many others, especially those who are not themselves loving the Lord.

I acknowledge that all I have is a gift from God, but sometimes I also think too highly of myself in achieving things in life.

In all the greatest wisdom ever bestowed on one man in history, Solomon defined a simple purpose for our lives ... and while I know it I stumble in pursuing it. I spend time chasing the wind, grasping at smoke, doing work with no permanence, seeking my own pleasures. So meaningless.

Prayer: Lord, you love me so much that you have given me a simply truth about how to have an amazing life. I go and complicate it and mess it up. Please forgive my vanity. I love you, oh Lord, with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength. May I enjoy your purposes. Amen.