We’ve been talking the last few weeks about how much better God’s ways are than our ways. The weed vs. palm tree analogy has crept into all of our daily conversations, much to the confusion of everyone around us. This isn’t something that actionchurch made up to keep you coming back, it’s a tried and true fact. If you talk to anyone who has lived a selfish life and then started living for God…they would tell you that life is more meaningful when life stopped being about themselves!
We even have a biblical example of this phenomena. The writer of the book of Ecclesiastes indulged himself in all of the good things that life has to offer. He set out on a goal to find the meaning in life left no stone unturned. His findings were pretty dismal, honestly it’s a pretty depressing book to read. After his investigation he said “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.” How’s THAT for some self help?! Loving, serving and following God’s commandments will bring us the most satisfaction in this life and the next.
Ecclesiastes 2:1-11
1 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. 4 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.