Tues.’s Devo - Purpose

Read: Ecclesiastes 1:1-3:22; 2 Corinthians 6:1-13; Psalm 46:1-11; Provers 22:15 We could call Ecclesiastes “The Book of Cynicism.” Solomon who was the wisest man on earth saw the world as meaningless and predictable. He sees the world with all its business and trouble and sees no cure for it. Man keeps running the same cycle like a hamster on a treadmill. *** Solomon observed work, history, understanding, pleasure, wealth, foolishness, and posterity, and found it all “chasing after the wind.” *** He did find that everything had “time” in common. There was a time for everything under the sun and most people experience all of these things during their lifetime (3:1-9). He realized that God made everything beautiful in its own time. God has put inside everyone the concept of eternity and resurrection. So, he concluded that everyone should enjoy themselves on earth as much as they can, while they can, because soon they will all die. This is how Solomon saw life. *** It is interesting to note that Ecclesiastes was put in the Bible to show us how man in his greatest wisdom sees things. Solomon was old and had gone the way of his idol-worshiping wives when he wrote this. Solomon also wrote Proverbs in his youth, when he honored God and it was a book about God’s wisdom and how God sees things. It is a striking comparison where in Proverbs he wrote “the beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord,” to Ecclesiastes where he penned “life is meaningless.” *** Paul talks about “time” also. He says at just the right time, God saved us. Today is that day of salvation and it is a marvelous gift from God. Salvation brings purpose to life. He says that after being beaten, having faced prison and angry mobs, been worked like a slave, endured sleepless nights and gone without food his life was proved to be purely devoted to God. Solomon never faced any of these yet he constantly complained. Paul faced all these with joy because of the Holy Spirit within him who gave him purpose. His power gave Paul the eyes to see that his righteousness was a weapon against the enemy. Paul had found that joy doesn’t come from anything this world produces. Joy comes from being spiritually rich. *** Lord, may our wealth come from knowing you. May our lives be to glorify You in all we do. Thank you for trials that show us you are the answer to all we need. Thank you that our lives are full of purpose and meaning.