365 Reflections

What Solomon teaches in Ecclesiastes is one of the hardest lessons to learn. That pleasure and pursuits of this life cannot fulfill our lives. Why is this hard? Because every stage of life offers us another set of diverse pleasures and pursuits to chase. When we are young it's just fun with friends, then in our teen years, it's romance or partying. Then when we get older it's either harder partying, more serious romance, or professional accomplishment. We settle into marriage and it becomes weekend getaways and raising great kids. We get established in our work and it's a boat, a golf membership, something else we think will surely fill us up.  Solomon had every opportunity to chase every offering at every stage. Born to the already rich King David, Solomon inherited and increased his father's fortune exponentially.  Ecclesiastes 2:1–3 (ESV) I said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy yourself.” But behold, this also was vanity. 2 I said of l...

Psalm 127:1–5 (ESV)   Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. 2 It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.           3 Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord , the fruit of the womb a reward. 4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. 5 Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate. When I first read this Psalm I thought it was two different Psalms that have been forced into one. The first part is about building something - industry, work, labor. The second about family, children and rest (which often don't go together). But I was wrong. I learned that Jewish people see this Psalm as a unit because in their mind all areas of life flow togethe...