City Life Starter

The Word

10 Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless. 11 As goods increase, so do those who consume them. And what benefit are they to the owners except to feast their eyes on them? 12 The sleep of a laborer is sweet, whether they eat little or much, but as for the rich, their abundance permits them no sleep. 13 I have seen a grievous evil under the sun: wealth hoarded to the harm of its owners, 14 or wealth lost through some misfortune, so that when they have children there is nothing left for them to inherit. 15 Everyone comes naked from their mother’s womb, and as everyone comes, so they depart. They take nothing from their toil that they can carry in their hands. 16 This too is a grievous evil: As everyone comes, so they depart, and what do they gain, since they toil for the wind? 17 All their days they eat in darkness, with great frustration, affliction and anger.

Ecclesiastes 5:10-17 (NIV)

(2) the Way of the Disillusioned ‘Sensible Man’- He soon decides that the whole thing was moonshine. ‘Of course,’ he says, ‘one feels like that when one’s young. But by the time you get to my age you’ve given up chasing the rainbow’s end.’ And so he settles down and learns not to expect too much and represses the part of himself which used, as he would say, ‘to cry for the moon’.

C.S. Lewis Mere Christianity Book 3, Chapter 10

Exegesis

I often find the musings of King Solomon in Ecclesiastes a reminder of the vanity that life can bring without God. We are reminded that everything we do without focusing on God ends up being meaningless. The U.S. is still considered the wealthiest country in the world and the words of King Solomon should ring true to us more so than others. Wealth is easy to get and wealth keeps us focused on our hobbies and interests. We forget about God unless things go bad and tend to bring Him out only during Sundays(if we don’t miss church for another more important reason) and maybe our small group. The business and constant entertainment in our lives keep us focused throughout the end of our days and we forget who we are and what we are called to do.

C.S. Lewis speaks about the meaning of life that people find in book 3, chapter 10. The Fool’s way is to always look for that meaning in something while the ‘Sensible Man’ represses these feelings and finds focus in something in life that gives that meaning. Many find this meaning in wealth, others in their hobbies, sports, and so forth. What they may not know though, is that we have a different way, the Christian way. To focus on what God has done in our lives and the ultimate destination of eternity with our true Father.

This is why we can enjoy our work/toils, find satisfaction where God has placed us, and to reach people in our community for Christ. We can be content because we have a better way to think about the meaning of life. There is nothing we need to fulfill the whole in our heart because we have found this meaning of life through Jesus.

Application

Take time to reflect on the words of King Solomon and remind yourself that anything without a focus on Christ will not lead to joy, but a sense of vanity. Be happy with what God has given you and do everything to the best of your abilities without making an idol out of money, work, hobbies, etc.

Are you striving after Christ in the way that Paul asks us to run the race for the crown of glory? If not, ask yourself what may be holding you back.

Prayer

Father in Heaven, help me to spend time with you and be thankful for all that you have given me. Do not let the meaningless striving after objects and idols leave me wanting, but instead to focus my eyes on You and the real object of my worship. Thank you Father for always being patient and willing to help me throughout my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.