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“Trying to Grasp the Wind”
Categories: children, Christian life, content, parenting, successIt seems like life is getting more and more hectic. This world is rushing madly about, busy with things and stuff.
On the one hand, it's good to be busy. The devil plays around with our leisure time. But on the other hand, the devil also enjoys watching us waste our time and distracting us from things that matter the most.
Praise the super-successful business mogul. Clap for the sports hero. Sigh for the girl singing on the X-Factor.
Shuttle the kids off to school to learn how to write, read, build, and discover. Rush them to band practice, football practice, their first job in the hamburger joint. It's not enough that they get by in life; we want them to thrive, excel, become truly great, leave their mark. So we push.
Why do we push them? Why do we push ourselves? Why do we rush about attempting to achieve great things?
Solomon did exactly this. He holds the world record in the "super-successful" category because he had virtually unlimited resources and a drive to discover, build, and thrive. Solomon diligently searched for thrills, meaning, and happiness—but when he paused to reflect, he realized he had just been grasping at the wind. Frantically, he tried everything he could think of, but nothing truly satisfied. "Vanity," he penned in his journal. "Emptiness. Striving after the wind."
I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and indeed, all is vanity and grasping for the wind. (Ecclesiastes 1.14)
And I set my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is grasping for the wind. (1.17)
I said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with mirth; therefore enjoy pleasure”; but surely, this also was vanity. I said of laughter—“Madness!”; and of mirth, “What does it accomplish?” (2.1-2)
Then I looked on all the works that my hands had done
And on the labor in which I had toiled;
And indeed all was vanity and grasping for the wind.
There was no profit under the sun. (2.11)
Therefore I hated life because the work that was done under the sun was distressing to me, for all is vanity and grasping for the wind. (2.17)
Sad man! Because he was wise, he reflected and meditated on his life journey. Many of us don't pause in the hustle and bustle of our days and weeks—we just spin our wheels and never look back. But Solomon looked back, searching for the reason why he had spent his energies and time the way he had. When all was said and done, after he had philosophized for twelve tough chapters, Solomon found his conclusion. Perhaps some would have committed suicide by the time they had meditated on the realities of life the way Solomon did—but Solomon found an anchor, a reason for living:
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:
Fear God and keep His commandments,
For this is man’s all.
For God will bring every work into judgment,
Including every secret thing,
Whether good or evil. (12.13-14)
The answer to life is not in discovering your unique passion, becoming top dog in your company, or hoarding boatloads of cash. No, the secret to life's meaning lies in something quite outside this world! Man's duty is to fear God and keep His commandments. If this is our aim, everything we do in life suddenly becomes pregnant with meaning, from the words we use with our families to the business decisions we make at the office. Suddenly every word, thought, and action holds eternal significance because we realize a judgment day is coming in which God will reveal every secret thing! We ought to live in light of eternity, in light of judgment, in light of God. Since He exists and He watches and He commands, we should listen and obey and conform to His way. Imagine that—the creature obeying his Creator. What a concept.
Why rush about? Why achieve things? Why push ourselves? If it's not for God, there is no good reason to do any of it. It is vanity, a grasping after the wind, and it will all disappear in the twinkling of an eye. All this earth stuff will grow old, rust, rot, and perish. So will our bodies. But WITH God there is no such thing as vanity or emptiness! All has meaning. Praise Him!
