Thursday Devotional - Chasing After the Wind of Tomorrow 8/24/23

 My kids want to hurry and grow up! I remember thinking the same thing as a kid – wishing I was older.

Getting ready for school to start next week, James doesn’t want anything that looks childish (backpack, lunch box, or bike helmet). He’s going into 5^th grade and thinks his backpack from kindergarten is too kid-like. 😊

Sarah said she’s never ready for school and how nice it must be that Dad and I don’t have to go to school anymore. No, but we get to go to work everyday and still learn new things! We also use much of what we learned in elementary school on a daily basis (reading, counting, telling time, writing, etc.).

As adults, sometimes we want to hurry to the next phase of life, too. We can chase after the wind of tomorrow and miss the blessings and joys of today. I think that’s what Solomon wanted to highlight in this next passage.

Ecclesiastes 11:7-10    Light is sweet,
    and it pleases the eyes to see the sun.
⁸ However many years anyone may live,
    let them enjoy them all.
But let them remember the days of darkness,
    for there will be many.
    Everything to come is meaningless.

⁹ You who are young, be happy while you are young,
    and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth.
Follow the ways of your heart
    and whatever your eyes see,
but know that for all these things
    God will bring you into judgment.
¹⁰ So then, banish anxiety from your heart
    and cast off the troubles of your body,
    for youth and vigor are meaningless.

Where are you and I missing the blessings and joys of today by chasing after tomorrow? Maybe it’s the next promotion, the next “perfect” job, retirement, the next phase with kids, more time for a new hobby, that next trip and the list goes on. Let’s enjoy what God’s given us to do today!

Thursday Devotional - Chasing After the Wind of Strength (8/17/23)

This summer my kids took turns walking my sister’s dog with my Dad. My sister’s dog, Patty, probably weighs more than most of them! However, my Dad helped them learn how to control her, even if they aren’t stronger than her. I guess you could say they learned how to outsmart rather than overpower.

Solomon was impressed by wisdom’s power over strength.

Ecclesiastes 9:13-18    I also saw under the sun this example of wisdom that greatly impressed me: ¹⁴ There was once a small city with only a few people in it. And a powerful king came against it, surrounded it and built huge siege works against it. ¹⁵ Now there lived in that city a man poor but wise, and he saved the city by his wisdom. But nobody remembered that poor man. ¹⁶ So I said, “Wisdom is better than strength.” But the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are no longer heeded.

¹⁷ The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded
    than the shouts of a ruler of fools.
¹⁸ Wisdom is better than weapons of war,
    but one sinner destroys much good.

Strength isn’t everything. We can desire strength in order to gain power or fame, but it can crumble in an instant. Man’s wisdom can outsmart the strong, but as Solomon points out, even that can be fleeting. Seeking God’s wisdom has eternal significance, though!

James 3:17-18             But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. ¹⁸ Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.

Are you and I chasing after strength or wisdom? For what purpose and by what means? Let’s seek God’s wisdom for an eternal harvest of righteousness.

Thursday Devotional - Chasing After the Wind of Knowledge

Living in a big university town, I see numerous people chasing after knowledge and education. Oftentimes it is the newest philosophy or theory. Sadly, their additional degrees and increased knowledge for knowledge sake doesn’t bring true wisdom or joy. Without God, everything is meaningless, as Solomon prefaced in Ecclesiastes 2:25 (for without him [God], who can eat or find enjoyment?).

Solomon concluded the book of Ecclesiastes with:

Ecclesiastes 12:11-14   The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails—given by one shepherd. ¹² Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them.

Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body.

¹³ Now all has been heard;
    here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments,
    for this is the duty of all mankind.
¹⁴ For God will bring every deed into judgment,
    including every hidden thing,
    whether it is good or evil.

Solomon was probably the wisest wealthiest person that ever lived. Because God gave Israel peace during his reign, he also had all the time and resources to chase after anything he wanted – pleasure, greatness, possessions, accumulation, flattery, immortality, perfection, knowledge, etc. Solomon realized all of this was meaningless (without God), as we’ve read in Ecclesiastes this summer.

What meaningless thing or knowledge are you and I chasing?

Following God is beneficial for all ages, all people and for all time!!! Others around us can better understand this truth as we experience and exhibit the joy and satisfaction of chasing after God and following Him in our own lives!

Alice

Thursday Devotional - Chasing After the Wind of Perfection

I am naturally a perfectionist. Because of that, I tend to wait for the perfect day or time or environment to do certain big projects. I don’t want to start something until I know I have all the time and resources to complete it and complete it perfectly.

Solomon saw a problem with this. If we always wait for that perfect day or time, certain things may never get done.

Ecclesiastes 11:4-6     

⁴ Whoever watches the wind will not plant;
    whoever looks at the clouds will not reap.

⁵ As you do not know the path of the wind,
    or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb,
so you cannot understand the work of God,
    the Maker of all things.

⁶ Sow your seed in the morning,
    and at evening let your hands not be idle,
for you do not know which will succeed,
    whether this or that,
    or whether both will do equally well.

It’s better to do what we can today with what we have (of course, while seeking and following God’s wisdom and direction). 

One of my desired home projects for the summer was to go through all the kids’ toys, throw out broken ones, donate no longer used ones, and reorganize everything. Well, it’s the end of the summer and I never had that “perfect” day to tackle it all! This past weekend, though, I started tackling the books and then Joe had an idea for the toys. It seemed overwhelming and I didn’t think we had time to finish (at least not to my standards). However, with all four of us working together, we made huge headway! It isn’t totally complete or up to my standard of perfection, but it’s way more organized than it was. We can now easily chip away at the rest.

Where else do you and I need to forgo waiting for that perfect day or time and get started on something God’s laid on our heart? We can break it down into smaller chunks, and tackle them one day or week at a time, the agile way. 😊 

Alice

Thursday Devotional - Chasing After the Wind of Talk

Talk is cheap. People can say or promise all kinds of things. It’s easy to talk big and another thing to follow through. Also, people can look good on paper, sound great in an interview, but be a big flop on the job.

Ecclesiastes 10:12-14 Words from the mouth of the wise are gracious,
    but fools are consumed by their own lips.
¹³ At the beginning their words are folly;
    at the end they are wicked madness—
¹⁴     and fools multiply words.

No one knows what is coming—
    who can tell someone else what will happen after them?

¹⁵ The toil of fools wearies them;
    they do not know the way to town.

In an outside organization, I’ve worked with someone that is a very pleasant conversationalist, has great ideas, but is now starting to sound repetitive (multiplying words, as verse 14 states). He brings up the same issues and ideas, but talks in circles about them. We, on various advisory committees, have recommended or provided assistance to help with some of the issues/ideas. However, he either doesn’t try them or doesn’t follow through to complete what was started. So, we end up talking about the same things at the next meeting, wearying us all.

Ecclesiastes 10:18       Through laziness, the rafters sag;
    because of idle hands, the house leaks.

What about you and me? Are our words folly or wearisome?

Are we busy talking rather than working?

Maybe it depends on the project, whether it’s at work, or home or church. Where do you and I need to make sure our work matches our talk?

Alice

Thursday Devotional - Chasing After the Wind of Immortality

I would guess most people like to think they are going to live forever (or at least a very long time). We don’t like to think or talk about or prepare for death, but it’s inevitable. Solomon didn’t like it either and realized all his wisdom, power and wealth couldn’t prevent it or predict it.  

Ecclesiastes 9:1-2a and 12    So I reflected on all this and concluded that the righteous and the wise and what they do are in God’s hands, but no one knows whether love or hate awaits them. ² All share a common destiny—the righteous and the wicked, the good and the bad, the clean and the unclean, those who offer sacrifices and those who do not.

¹² Moreover, no one knows when their hour will come:

As fish are caught in a cruel net,
    or birds are taken in a snare,
so people are trapped by evil times
    that fall unexpectedly upon them.

All people face death and no one knows exactly when. Our destiny is in God’s hands and His timing. We can spend lots of money to look younger or feel younger, but it won’t change the outcome. This life is temporary, whether it’s a few years or a century. Instead of chasing after immortality, let’s chase after that which is eternal.

II Corinthians 4:16-18     ¹⁶ Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. ¹⁷ For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. ¹⁸ So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Matthew 10:28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

Where are you and I focusing more on something temporal than eternal? What verses help you focus on what’s of eternal value?

Alice

Thursday Devotional - Chasing after the Wind of Accumulation

I’m a natural saver. As a kid, I even saved candy for years and years. However, when my sisters or Mom would find my “saved” candy and eat a piece, it wasn’t very good because of how old it was. There is such a thing as saving too much or too long. 😊

We’re to be wise stewards of the money God enables us to earn. However, a focus on accumulating and saving and hoarding more and more isn’t beneficial to us or others around us.   

Ecclesiastes 5:8-15      ⁸ If you see the poor oppressed in a district, and justice and rights denied, do not be surprised at such things; for one official is eyed by a higher one, and over them both are others higher still. ⁹ The increase from the land is taken by all; the king himself profits from the fields.

¹⁰ Whoever loves money never has enough;
    whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income.
    This too is meaningless.

¹¹ As goods increase,
    so do those who consume them.
And what benefit are they to the owners
    except to feast their eyes on them?

¹² The sleep of a laborer is sweet,
    whether they eat little or much,
but as for the rich, their abundance
    permits them no sleep.

¹³ I have seen a grievous evil under the sun:

wealth hoarded to the harm of its owners,
¹⁴     or wealth lost through some misfortune,
so that when they have children
    there is nothing left for them to inherit.
¹⁵ Everyone comes naked from their mother’s womb,

    and as everyone comes, so they depart.
They take nothing from their toil
    that they can carry in their hands.

A focus on accumulation isn’t satisfying or beneficial in this life or the next. Those focused on accumulation are never satisfied. It’s never enough. Let’s prayerfully be generous with what God has provided, while wisely saving just enough.

Alice

Thursday Devotional - Chasing after the Wind of Envy

God expects us to work and to work hard at what He has asked us to do to accomplish His purposes. He may have some of you climb the corporate ladder to be a witness for Him amongst of group of people others can’t reach. He may have some of you acquire a large home in order to house missionaries, host Bible studies, or host other gatherings where His light is spread in and through your family.

However, we need to make sure it’s according to God’s plans and purposes and not for our own reputation or for our own desire to have and be bigger and better than others.

Ecclesiastes 4:4-6 and 13-16 And I saw that all toil and all achievement spring from one person’s envy of another. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

⁵ Fools fold their hands
    and ruin themselves.
⁶ Better one handful with tranquillity
    than two handfuls with toil
    and chasing after the wind.

¹³ Better a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to heed a warning. ¹⁴ The youth may have come from prison to the kingship, or he may have been born in poverty within his kingdom. ¹⁵ I saw that all who lived and walked under the sun followed the youth, the king’s successor. ¹⁶ There was no end to all the people who were before them. But those who came later were not pleased with the successor. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

Solomon saw that our drive to work for more usually stems from envy and not a desire to please God and accomplish His purposes. As verse 6 says, it’s best to be content with less, than to work tirelessly for things that don’t last.

What are you and I striving to accomplish or gain (whether in our career, relationships, wealth, education or athletics)? Why? What’s the real motive? Let’s make sure it’s not out of envy, but according to God’s will and for His purposes.

Alice

Thursday Devotional - Chasing after the Wind of Possessions

What is your favorite possession? Mine is my shiny black piano. In fact, I was very upset a couple years ago when James accidentally chipped one of the main keys when he happened to be throwing coins in the air. In fact, we now have a rule that nothing gets thrown in the air in the living room and no toy is to ever touch the piano. 😊

I don’t know what Solomon’s favorite possession was, but he certainly didn’t lack anything. Just as he didn’t find satisfaction from chasing after wisdom, wealth, pleasure or greatness, apart from God’s plans. He also found chasing after possessions equally meaningless, apart from God.

Ecclesiastes 2:17-25     ¹⁷ So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me. All of it is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. ¹⁸ I hated all the things I had toiled for under the sun, because I must leave them to the one who comes after me. ¹⁹ And who knows whether that person will be wise or foolish? Yet they will have control over all the fruit of my toil into which I have poured my effort and skill under the sun. This too is meaningless. ²⁰ So my heart began to despair over all my toilsome labor under the sun. ²¹ For a person may labor with wisdom, knowledge and skill, and then they must leave all they own to another who has not toiled for it. This too is meaningless and a great misfortune.²² What do people get for all the toil and anxious striving with which they labor under the sun? ²³ All their days their work is grief and pain; even at night their minds do not rest. This too is meaningless.

²⁴ 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,²⁵ for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?

You’ve heard the sayings: “You can’t take it with you;” and “No u-haul behind a hearse.” Solomon had worked hard and accumulated much, but realized he wouldn’t take it with him and he had no control over what happened to it after he left.   

I do want to teach my children to take care of their property and especially treat other people’s property with care. However, it’s far more important I leave behind a spiritual legacy of faith and trust in God than a perfect piano! Their spiritual inheritance is eternal while their earthly inheritance is not.

Where else are you and I more focused on possessions (accumulating and protecting them) than on our relationship with God and the impact that has on others around us? Let’s focus on our eternal legacy! 

Alice

Thursday Devotional - Chasing after the Wind of Greatness

Solomon didn’t find satisfaction from chasing after wisdom, wealth or pleasure, apart from God’s plans. He also found chasing after greatness equally meaningless, apart from God.

Ecclesiastes 2:4-11      I undertook great projects: I built houses for myself and planted vineyards. ⁵ I made gardens and parks and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. ⁶ I made reservoirs to water groves of flourishing trees. ⁷ I bought male and female slaves and had other slaves who were born in my house. I also owned more herds and flocks than anyone in Jerusalem before me. ⁸ I amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I acquired male and female singers, and a harem as well—the delights of a man’s heart. ⁹ I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem before me. In all this my wisdom stayed with me.

¹⁰ I denied myself nothing my eyes desired;
    I refused my heart no pleasure.
My heart took delight in all my labor,
    and this was the reward for all my toil.
¹¹ Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done
    and what I had toiled to achieve,
everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind;
    nothing was gained under the sun.

Solomon attained greatness that far exceeded anyone before, during or after his time (I Kings 3:11-13). He used his wisdom not only for his own benefit, but for the benefit of his entire country and those outside his country. Yet, attaining greatness for the sake of attaining greatness, didn’t satisfy.

Ecclesiastes 2:24-25     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,²⁵ for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?

God desires us to live, work and serve with excellence. If we pursue greatness on our own and for ourselves, though, it won’t bring lasting joy and true satisfaction.

Where are you and I more focused on earthly greatness than on the great things God has purposed for you and me? I can easily get caught up in my own expectations of myself or family members rather than what God deems important or a priority. God may have us pursue a prestigious degree or position, keep an immaculate house and pristine yard, or master a unique skill. Let’s make sure it’s the greatness He desires, used for His glory, then it will bring lasting joy that satisfies!

Alice

Thursday Devotional - Chasing after the Wind of Pleasure

As we saw last week, Solomon didn’t find satisfaction from chasing after wisdom and wealth, apart from God’s plans. He found it meaningless, so he tried chasing after pleasure.

Ecclesiastes 2:1-3    I said to myself, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure to find out what is good.” But that also proved to be meaningless. ² “Laughter,” I said, “is madness. And what does pleasure accomplish?” ³ I tried cheering myself with wine, and embracing folly—my mind still guiding me with wisdom. I wanted to see what was good for people to do under the heavens during the few days of their lives.

Solomon found chasing after pleasure meaningless, too. It is temporal and unsatisfying. However, chasing after God’s plans is eternal, has meaning and is satisfying.

Ecclesiastes 2:24-25           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,²⁵ for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?

Without a relationship with God and following Him, nothing will ever satisfy. Where are you and I chasing after an earthly temporal pleasure more than God’s plans for us? Staying up late watching TV, playing video games, reading/posting on social media, or logging another exotic vacation doesn’t provide lasting satisfaction.

God asked me to join an international ministry over 14 years ago that takes 15 or more hours of my time each week. It is far more rewarding than I expected. I wouldn’t trade it for all the exotic vacations in the world!!!

Similar to what Kent talked about yesterday, God can give us true joy in being content in what He’s given us to do and experience.

Alice