“So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me. All of it meaningless, a chasing after the wind.”
Ecclesiastes 2:17 NIV
King Solomon came to a point in his reign, that his job felt hard for him to continue to do.
“I hated all the things I had toiled for under the sun, because I must leave them to the one who comes after me. 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. So my heart began to despair over all my toilsome labor under the sun.”
Ecclesiastes 2:18-20 NIV
King Solomon is grieved over the fact that all the things he has spent his life building may be mishandled by his sons, who will inherit his wealth and wisdom.
How do we guard against this thinking?
“Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”
1 John 4:16;18 NIV
We realize this is just our fears telling the story. We realize this is normal. We realize that life is uncertain. We give life our best effort without knowing if it will lead to failure or promise. We give our best effort and wealth to our kids, realizing that we don’t know if they will mishandle it. The things he is despairing about are not things he can control. We can’t control the outcome of life.
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me- put into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”
Philippians 4:8-9 NIV
We put our focus on things we can control.
“King Solomon, however, loved many women besides Pharoah’s daughter- Moabite, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians and Hittites. They were from nations about which the LORD had told the Israelites, ‘You must not intermarry with them, because they will surely turn your hearts after their gods. Nevertheless, Solomon held fast to them in love. He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines, and his wives led him astray.”
1 Kings 11:1-3 NIV
The people around us will influence us. We should choose people with our values and character. Especially, our intimate connections.
God’s commandments are for our safety and protection.
“As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father had been. He followed Ashtoreth, the goddess of the Sidonians, and Molek the detestable god of the Ammonites.
On a hill east of Jerusalem, Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the detestable god of Moab, and for Molek the detestable god of the Ammonites.”
1 Kings 11:4-5;7 NIV
I always want to know what would make the person choose their choice. King Solomon, as he reigned and made alliances, with other nations. He was influenced by the foreign cultures. We understand that culture will guide and influence us.
“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your mind in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:7 NIV
We have to guard our hearts and mind by keeping them focused on God. We have to consistently nurture, grow, and protect our relationship with God.
