Thought for the morning
Ecclesiastes 1:12-14 I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem. 3 And I set my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under heaven; this burdensome task God has given to the sons of man, by which they may be exercised. I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and indeed, all is vanity and grasping for the wind.
Solomon, a king of great wisdom looks at his life and in many ways is not pleased by what he sees. “Vanity of vanities all is vanity” (Ecc 1.2) There is a phase that he uses 9 times in this book. The phrase is “grasping for the wind”, and he associates this grasping with vanity. What does it mean to grasp for the wind? Is it seeking something that isn’t really there? Is it grasping for something beyond your reach? Or is grasping desiring something you don’t really need – but you think you do?
Many times during my life I have grasped for something I did’nt need. It seems we are never satisfied with where we are in life but look for more. I was not satisfied with my job and I looked for a better position. I was not satisfied with a certain posession and grasped for something better. Dissatifaction is vanity and trying to bring about satisfaction is “grasping for the wind”. We seem to grasp for the wind continually.
What does Solomon conclude?
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all. 14 For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil.
Having a reverential fear for God, walking guided by His word, desiring to do His will “this is mans all”. Paul writes to the Ephesians “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light” (Eph. 5.8). If we walk in the light, we will see “grasping for the wind” leads to nothing! Just a thought for the morning.
Carl
(7/22/2020)