The Vanity of Life
That’s actually the title to the opening of Ecclesiastes. It varies depending on your translation of the Bible, but this one from the New King James says it best for me.
I have just finished up reading the Books of Poetry in the Old Testament, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon. Memorial weekend fell during the time of this reading. For the first time in over 12 years since my mother passed away, I went back to where I grew up in Western Kansas to visit the grave sites. Pretty much all of my family is gone now and has been since Mom died. While we were at the cemetery my wife asked if we could drive by the old farm where I grew up. Since it was only a couple of miles away and we hadn’t seen it in years I agreed.
The farm was nothing like I remembered it. It’s been owned by several people in the last 30 plus years. The house I grew up in is gone now. My father and I planted quite a few trees for a shelter belt when I was in high school. I remember hating those trees. I had to dig in hard soil for weeks and spend a lot of time tending and watering them. They are all cut down now and plowed under. Even the landscape is totally different. Heavy equipment had been brought in, the pasture leveled and the land set up for irrigation. With the exception of my grandparent’s house that had been fixed up for the current owners to live in, the rest of the buildings and such were either gone or in ruin. All the hard work, time and money my father put into fixing that place up, along with my willing, and sometimes unwilling efforts, and it was all gone. It was almost unrecognizable now except in my memories.
This scene kept coming back and speaking to me while I read the 5 Books of Poetry. It started out in Job. Shortly after Job had lost everything and most of his family was dead this is what Job said:
At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said:
“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
and naked I will depart.
The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away;
may the name of the LORD be praised.” Job 1:20-21 (NIV)
But the sight of the farm that Memorial weekend really started to come back to me in Ecclesiastes. Ecclesiastes 2:4-11 (NIV).
I undertook great projects: I built houses for myself and planted vineyards. I made gardens and parks and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. I made reservoirs to water groves of flourishing trees. 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. I amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I acquired men and women singers, and a harem as well—the delights of the heart of man. I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem before me. In all this my wisdom stayed with me.
I denied myself nothing my eyes desired;
I refused my heart no pleasure.
My heart took delight in all my work,
and this was the reward for all my labor.
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.
Finishing with Ecclesiastes 2:17-26 (NIV).
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. 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 he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will have control over all the work 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. For a man may do his work with wisdom, knowledge and skill, and then he must leave all he owns to someone who has not worked for it. This too is meaningless and a great misfortune. What does a man get for all the toil and anxious striving with which he labors under the sun? All his days his work is pain and grief; even at night his mind does not rest. This too is meaningless. A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment? To the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
The entire book of Ecclesiastes spoke to me but no more than these passages here. I’ve spent most of my life chasing after the wrong things or for the wrong reasons. Solomon, a man of great wisdom and wealth realized that hard work bears no lasting fruit for those who work solely to earn money and gain possessions, which is what I had been doing. In Ecclesiastes he tries to teach us that confidence in our own efforts, abilities, and righteousness are empty, hollow, and meaningless apart from God. Our commitment to God is our only reason for living.
Solomon’s message was not lost on me. Give Ecclesiastes a read sometime. Its message may speak as loudly to you as it did to me.
August 23 2009 02:12 pm | Bible Thoughts
Scott on 23 Aug 2009 at 7:00 pm #
As you are very well aware sir, this is a FOOOOOOTBAAAALLLLL site. I know you started it or managed it or something like that. Come on man….. I am a beleiver, I love Jesus but come on get over yourself. We dont need you trying to shove your brand in our faces. Enough Already!!!!
David Bayne on 23 Aug 2009 at 7:40 pm #
Brother Mike what a pure joy it is to have you as a brother, I have enjoyed Viking football, since the early 70′s. I am so thankful for your walk with JESUS. It is a reminder what truly is important in life on this earth. GOD Bless You and Yours. dave
kansasvike on 23 Aug 2009 at 7:41 pm #
Hello Scott. Thank you for taking the time to express your opinion. You are correct. The main page is a football site. More importantly, it is my football site. People are not charged anything for it. There is no advertising on the site. The entire thing is paid for and ran by me for the enjoyment of myself and other fans. If there is an article that you don’t want to read, please don’t click on it.
Once or twice a month I post up articles from the Faith section. With all the football news coming in, those articles will turn over in a couple of days. Faster if we are around game time. More importantly, God changed my life forever. I was going to shut the site down permanently at one point. But after much prayer God told me to use the football portion of the site to praise him and reach others. It’s definitely not about me. It’s all about him and the glory goes to him. Several people have expressed their appreciation for this portion of the site. Some don’t appreciate it. You are one.
Again, if those articles bother you, please, don’t get frustrated over them. Just pass them by and read the football related ones. Thanks again for stopping by and take care.
-
Mike
The grass withers, the flower fades,
But the word of our God stands forever.
Isaiah 40:8
Dennis on 23 Aug 2009 at 7:47 pm #
Obviously this touched a chord with Scott.. I am a FOOOOTBAAALLLL fan, and a Viking FAAAAANNNNATTTTIIIIIC, but at times, reflecting on the more important things in life is necessary and appropriate.
Keep up the good work Mike.
kansasvike on 23 Aug 2009 at 7:52 pm #
Thank you David. Looks like we have both been following the Vikes for almost the same amount of years. Good to know we will be following our Savior for eternity.
Thanks for the kind words and God Bless you and yours.
-
Mike
I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but
Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by
faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
Galatians 2:20
kansasvike on 23 Aug 2009 at 7:56 pm #
Dennis. I totally agree. Sitting up in the stands 2 years ago and watching the players in the Prayer Circle and the end of each game thanking God for the important things in life was what started me down my path. I’m still a rabid Vikes fan, but even more of a fan of the one that saved me.
Enjoy the season brother and take care.
-
Mike
“Live your life in such a way that when your feet hit the floor in the
morning, Satan shudders and says…’oh no…he’s awake!!”
Brian on 23 Aug 2009 at 8:09 pm #
Well done Mike. My wife and I love reading how the teachings of the word inspire and guide you. It is very up lifting and encouraging. Thank you. John 14:23 24
kansasvike on 23 Aug 2009 at 8:20 pm #
And thank you my brother. I’m glad you are both in my life. God has blessed you with a wonderful family. Hope you are enjoying that new addition.
God Bless
-
Mike
You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you
who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for
you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Scott on 23 Aug 2009 at 9:38 pm #
fair enough!!
Stuart on 23 Aug 2009 at 9:53 pm #
Hey Mike,
We really enjoyed watching the KC/Vikings game with you and your wife. You both are truely a Blessing to us!! Even though I’m not a Viking fan I know I can always come to your site and be encouraged by the testimonies that you share. It’s great we can use the things of this life that we enjoy, to share the gospel to a lost world. Continue walking in His obedience as you are. God bless brother!!!
Brandon on 24 Aug 2009 at 12:43 am #
I do not know you, or pretend to. I have been visiting your site for 3 years now – it’s been my main source of Viking news. Thanks…
Ignore the naysayers – your message and quote from Ecclesiastes, coming from a God-fearing man, searching for reasons, has uplifted my soul and narrowed my path towards righteousness – tonight, as I drink a beer and dread work tomorrow. My wife and I are in the process of major transition – with two children and many uncertainties. Our church today, the message (series) is based around Job – and the explanations why things happened in this controversial book. I, too, am fanatical about the Vikings – and I am trying to learn to be fanatical about my father and my savior. Please, keep it up.
Something told me, as I was thinking of browsing elsewhere, to click on the kansasviking’s weekly “spiritual link” and really read it. I am thankful I did.
-B
kansasvike on 24 Aug 2009 at 3:24 am #
Stuart. What a joy to read your comment this morning. I know not a day goes by that I don’t thank God that he has placed people like you and your wife in my life to help guide me. Your comments, and the comments of others here are encouraging to me.
Bless you Brother.
-
Mike
By grace we get what we don’t deserve.
By mercy we don’t get what we do deserve.
kansasvike on 24 Aug 2009 at 3:42 am #
Glad you stopped by Brandon. It’s funny how God works and draws people to the same message sometimes, such as your series on Job and this Ecclesiastes article. It happens to us at work sometimes. Several of us will be on the same message, and yet none of us have discussed it with each other. Seems like God is trying to tell us something.
Hang in there with your walk with Christ. Sometimes the road gets rocky, like in the times we are in now, but that is when he’s closest to us. I always like this passage from 1 Peter 2:2.
I think we grow in our spiritual walk with the Lord, just as we grow into adults here on this world. It’s a long growing process and I feel like I’m still crawling and just learning to walk. But what a wonderful process it is.
Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting Brandon.
Peace and prayers for you brother.
-
Mike
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
LARRY COCHRAN on 24 Aug 2009 at 6:49 pm #
YOUR FAITH IS FIRST AND FOREMOST. FOOTBALL IS A DIVERSION, IF WE PUT FOOTBALL AHEAD OF OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD THROUGH OUR SAVIOR, WE ARE LIKE THE PAGENS.
KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK
David Gordon on 24 Aug 2009 at 8:26 pm #
Mike,
I’ve had similar experiences of people passing away in my life, but thank God that He has giving me strength to carry on. He also taught me theye things you brought up from the book of Ecclesiastes and other books from the Bible. False and worthless pride is the cuase of much of our suffering in life. We strive for things that we think are important but in the long run (if we’re prudent) learn that it is all vanity. Live simple, enjoy God’s creation (the stars, a waterfall,the sounds of nature..ect..and be thankful always. Be blessed my brother!
kansasvike on 25 Aug 2009 at 3:12 am #
That’s where I used to be Larry. All my time, energy and effort 24/7 went into football year round. I thank Him everyday now that I have my priorities straight.
Good to hear from you again brother.
-
Mike
kansasvike on 25 Aug 2009 at 3:15 am #
David. Of all the things I have struggled with in my life, pride was the worst and caused the most problems for me. I still fight against it and probably always will, but a lot of it is gone now and I feel I’m winning that battle for the first time in my life.
Thanks for commenting and be blessed.
-
Mike
Dave Bayne on 29 Aug 2009 at 8:23 pm #
Brother Mike, GOD ALMIGHTY is so amazing. In your responce to my comment, you referenced Galtains 2:20. GOD convicked me of that verse years ago. Through JESUS, GOD has carried me throught 17 years of cancer, which included two very diffacult surgery’s. Doctors and family said, I would not survive either one. GOD had a different plan. As I lay in a hospital bed after loseing twenty feet of small intestines, half a colon and a third of a pancarese. A brother brought me a tee shirt with Gal. 2:20 on it. Later a sister In THE LORD quote it to me. Then much later at a PK event in Denver it was once again reveiled to me. Many times GOD has me abide in HIM at deeper a level by praying this verse. Although at times I really struggle with, have I really been crucafied with HIM. I am not sure I understand it. But by FAITH I accept it. You will never know how thankful I am to be able access your Faith blog. May THE LORD BLESS You and Yours with all the heavenly BLESSING CHRIST JESUS. dave Please excuse the spelling errors as I am extermly tired at this, time
kansasvike on 31 Aug 2009 at 3:38 am #
Dave. That scripture has been my favorite since I found it. First scripture I ever memorized too and it’s always been special to me.
Obviously God is not done working through you Dave. I will pray for your continued health and recovery, brother.
-
Mike
By grace we get what we don’t deserve.
By mercy we don’t get what we do deserve.