LIFE UNDER THE SUN

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I hated all my toil in which I toil under the sun, seeing that I must leave it to the man who will come after me, and who knows whether he will be wise or a fool? Yet he will be master of all for which I toiled and used my wisdom under the sun. This also is vanity. So I turned about and gave my heart up to despair over all the toil of my labors under the sun, because sometimes a person who has toiled with wisdom and knowledge and skill must leave everything to be enjoyed by someone who did not toil for it. This also is vanity and a great evil. What has a man from all the toil and striving of heart with which he toils beneath the sun?
Ecclesiastes 2:18‭-‬22 ESV

¶Solomon finds himself successful in his search for mastery and power, but still searching for meaning. What is the use of wisdom, knowledge, and skill if their fruit passes to the next one who did not toil to obtain it. Under the sun, Solomon can only conclude that it was good that he toiled. The problem is, toiling under the sun often boils down to rapacious acquisition, plundering, and self-aggrandizement. It only works that way. That's how people are motivated, under the sun. Lives are eaten up by time, then thrown away. There is another time, though, imbued with meaning from God, and there is another place described in Ecclesiastes 3 as "under heaven", where every moment has meaning and purpose, where everything is beautiful, perfect and complete, full of opportunity, and eternal significance. Would that there were a Wisdom from God that could connect us with such moments in time. Would that there were a Spirit indwelling us that would enable us to fully live in the exalted place of life "under heaven".

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