The Daily Fountain Devotional Tuesday, October 25, 2022
The Daily Fountain Devotional Tuesday, October 25, 2022
Tuesday, October 25,2022
TOPIC: BEWARE OF UNGUARDED WORLDLY CRAVINGS
TEXT: Ecclesiastes 2:1-23
1 I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity. 2 I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it? 3 I sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting mine heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was that good for the sons of men, which they should do under the heaven all the days of their life.
4 I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards: 5 I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all kind of fruits: 6 I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees: 7 I got me servants and maidens, and had servants born in my house; also I had great possessions of great and small cattle above all that were in Jerusalem before me:
8 I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces: I gat me men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, as musical instruments, and that of all sorts. 9 So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me. 10 And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour. 11 Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun. 12 And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly: for what can the man do that cometh after the king? even that which hath been already done.
13 Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness. 14 The wise man's eyes are in his head; but the fool walketh in darkness: and I myself perceived also that one event happeneth to them all. 15 Then said I in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool, so it happeneth even to me; and why was I then more wise? Then I said in my heart, that this also is vanity.
16 For there is no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool for ever; seeing that which now is in the days to come shall all be forgotten. And how dieth the wise man? as the fool. 17 Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit. 18 Yea, I hated all my labour which I had under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me.
19 And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun. This is also vanity. 20 Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour which I took under the sun. 21 For there is a man whose labour is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity; yet to a man that hath not laboured therein shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil.
22 For what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the sun? 23 For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity.
The Daily Fountain Devotional Tuesday, October 25, 2022
INTRODUCTION TEXT
We may suppose that Ring Solomon wrote this book, Ecclesiastes, when he had grown old, going by the deep insight it affords. He narrated how he had explored life, seeking the best way(s) to fine earthly existence. He built great edifices, planted gardens and had great possessions of herds and treasures all for himself. He deprived his eyes nothing whatever they desired. He tasted all the best things life could offer (w. 4-10). But in verse 11, he sadly testified to the worthlessness of worldly pleasures. In verses 12-23, he soberly observed the fate of all mankind (see Isaiah 40:6-8).
The lesson here is that nothing on earth endures forever. We have not seen anything in this world that can truly bring lasting happiness. Many people do all sorts of shady deals in order to gratify their unguarded cravings. Many Christians at various levels lose focus of heaven and get engrossed in amassing wealth and stacking them away all for themselves as if they have forever on earth. It is only in Christ that our hope of glory truly lies (Col. 1:17). Nothing in this life is really worth missing that glory. Child of God, don't be trapped in the web of unguarded worldly acquisitions; they are altogether vanity.
Thought: We brought NOTHING into this world, and we shall CERTAINLY take NOTHING out of it!