Week of June 7
Will Your Tomorrow Be Here Tomorrow?
Read: Ecclesiastes 1-3; Psalm 45; Ephesians 2
“Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher,
vanity of vanities! All is vanity.”
Ecclesiastes 1:2, ESV
Introduction
“Everything is meaningless” reads like the mantra of some postmodern philosopher, but these are the words of Solomon, the author of Ecclesiastes. This phrase forms the theme of the book, but the meaning in the words is a mystery (1:2). He writes literally that all is a “vapor” or “breath,” and we might say, “here today and gone tomorrow.” Poof! Well, this is a mighty depressing way to begin the morning devotional, isn’t it?! Rather than despair, however, we will dive more deeply into this passage and resurface with hope in heart after swimming for several paragraphs in Ephesians 2!
Understanding the Bible Passage
Pinpointing a precise meaning of “vanity”
Live life with the right purpose. Solomon, by claiming that all is vanity, does not want us to throw up our hands and question whether life is worth it. Instead, he is calling to our attention that life is fleeting, so we should make certain to live it properly and with the right purpose.
Be aware of a morally warped world. Solomon may also be pointing out the injustices that the righteous must often bear when he uses the word “vanity” (Hebrew, hebel; cf. 8:14). In these cases, he intends for his readers to understand that life can seem to be “absurd” (NAC). Injustice is not how the world was meant to operate; in fact, it violates God’s moral order in creation (cf. Proverbs 8 and “wisdom”). Solomon knew that the world was “warped,” and he longed for people to receive what they truly deserved.
Shun pleasure that produces a meaningless life. There is more to Solomon’s word “vanity.” He also points to the fact that the pursuit of pleasure is a “waste of time” and “fails to satisfy” (2:1-2; NAC). One may say that “vanity” in this context may be best translated as “meaningless” (cf. “foolish”). We must keep in mind that the king was not presenting to us a treatise on futility; instead, he wanted us to know the ultimate benefit of making God the center point in our lives. “Everything is transitory and therefore of no lasting value. People are caught in the trap of the absurd and pursue empty pleasures. They build their lives on lies” (NAC). Solomon recognized this truth, so let us resurface now in Ephesians 2 before we drown in all of this uselessness!
Be aware of a morally warped world. Solomon may also be pointing out the injustices that the righteous must often bear when he uses the word “vanity” (Hebrew, hebel; cf. 8:14). In these cases, he intends for his readers to understand that life can seem to be “absurd” (NAC). Injustice is not how the world was meant to operate; in fact, it violates God’s moral order in creation (cf. Proverbs 8 and “wisdom”). Solomon knew that the world was “warped,” and he longed for people to receive what they truly deserved.
Shun pleasure that produces a meaningless life. There is more to Solomon’s word “vanity.” He also points to the fact that the pursuit of pleasure is a “waste of time” and “fails to satisfy” (2:1-2; NAC). One may say that “vanity” in this context may be best translated as “meaningless” (cf. “foolish”). We must keep in mind that the king was not presenting to us a treatise on futility; instead, he wanted us to know the ultimate benefit of making God the center point in our lives. “Everything is transitory and therefore of no lasting value. People are caught in the trap of the absurd and pursue empty pleasures. They build their lives on lies” (NAC). Solomon recognized this truth, so let us resurface now in Ephesians 2 before we drown in all of this uselessness!
The point: receive God’s rescue from meaninglessness
“God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved”
-Ephesians 2: 4-5, ESV
Life is murky, and we are all drowning in it, according to Solomon, so it will do us well to seek the clear truth from God Himself. Humankind bears the fault for living meaningless lives; but rather than reject us, God has chosen to save us. Paul writes to let us know that love led to “mercy” (Ephesians 2:4; EBC). God in His compassion dove into this murky mess called a world and rescued us from sin and death (cf. John 1:14; Romans 5:8). We were dead in our futile sinfulness, but He made us alive together in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:5). This rescue comes to us by God’s power. He will also raise us from the grave in the end times and seat us with Him in the heavenlies, forever erasing the wretchedness of an earthly existence. Why? Grace, grace, God’s grace; grace that has pardoned and cleansed within!
Applying the Bible to Your Life
A tragedy occurred in our area when a young seven-year-old child drowned in a pond near a popular restaurant. The child’s family was nearby, but it is believed that the little one somehow left the restaurant and walked to the pond where she slipped beneath the surface of the water. They found her body in the murky depths after an area-wide search. That family is certainly experiencing gut-wrenching grief over the senseless loss of innocent life.
Life is filled with horrible tragedies. Nature and human nature are filled with injustices and unjust behavior. We are reminded that we may not have tomorrow when we reach tomorrow (Luke 13:1-5). We know that there are countless people in our world, even some of whom may be reading this devotional, that have slipped metaphorically beneath the murky waters of a fleeting, unjust, and meaningless existence. Perhaps they are thinking that no one can rescue them. BUT! Paul writes, “For by grace you have been saved through faith” (2:8). God has reached into your world through Christ. Grab on to Him in faith. God cares and gives to you fresh hope and new life today in Christ.
Life is filled with horrible tragedies. Nature and human nature are filled with injustices and unjust behavior. We are reminded that we may not have tomorrow when we reach tomorrow (Luke 13:1-5). We know that there are countless people in our world, even some of whom may be reading this devotional, that have slipped metaphorically beneath the murky waters of a fleeting, unjust, and meaningless existence. Perhaps they are thinking that no one can rescue them. BUT! Paul writes, “For by grace you have been saved through faith” (2:8). God has reached into your world through Christ. Grab on to Him in faith. God cares and gives to you fresh hope and new life today in Christ.
Reflection and Action Steps
1. For the hopeless: Read again the two focal passages and write down the ways you feel your life is fleeting, riddled with injustices, and filled with meaninglessness. Then, read God’s invitation to receive new life! Ask God to rescue you from the sin that is pulling you beneath the surface. He will.
2. For the flailing Christian: Sometimes it takes passages like these to remind Christians that Christ has been given to us as a lifeline, so we have no need to despair in this life. We have been redeemed, so we need to live as those who have been given new life. Live with joy today.
3. For Families: Our children, youngsters and teenagers alike, can also have despondent days. Obvious reasons, like major life changes, such as a family death or separation, or a move to another state, can leave them sad and discouraged and lonely without their familiar support group and friends.
Other more subtle reasons, like a broken relationship, or a failure to be accepted into one’s desired group at school, or the slow death of a dream, can make them feel the hopelessness of meaningless life.
In times like these, the reassurance of God’s Word, gently shared, together with the hope of Christ, can lift the despair. When we stay close to our children, are sensitive to their hearts, help to bear their burdens, and spend much time on our knees, we are better equipped to walk with them during their dark days. Solomon was right. Without a vibrant relationship with God, life can be overwhelming at times. Yet Christ is always with us, holding out His hand of rescue. We are praying with you as you raise your children to love and serve Him.
May your paths be straight,
Larry C. Ashlock
2. For the flailing Christian: Sometimes it takes passages like these to remind Christians that Christ has been given to us as a lifeline, so we have no need to despair in this life. We have been redeemed, so we need to live as those who have been given new life. Live with joy today.
3. For Families: Our children, youngsters and teenagers alike, can also have despondent days. Obvious reasons, like major life changes, such as a family death or separation, or a move to another state, can leave them sad and discouraged and lonely without their familiar support group and friends.
Other more subtle reasons, like a broken relationship, or a failure to be accepted into one’s desired group at school, or the slow death of a dream, can make them feel the hopelessness of meaningless life.
In times like these, the reassurance of God’s Word, gently shared, together with the hope of Christ, can lift the despair. When we stay close to our children, are sensitive to their hearts, help to bear their burdens, and spend much time on our knees, we are better equipped to walk with them during their dark days. Solomon was right. Without a vibrant relationship with God, life can be overwhelming at times. Yet Christ is always with us, holding out His hand of rescue. We are praying with you as you raise your children to love and serve Him.
May your paths be straight,
Larry C. Ashlock
Posted in Pathway Devotionals