Welcome to my randomized study & miscellaneous thoughts about the Awesome God of the universe, who He is and what He wants us to be.

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Verse of the Day

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Today's Quote

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Grasping at Air and Clutching at Wind


Are most people happy? I heard someone say that the other day and it struck me as strange.

Most people I know are constantly seeking to have more or better.
They are not content in their situation or circumstances.

Does that mean that they are unhappy? Well, discontent certainly would lead one down the road of unhappiness.

What about those that are feeling unfulfilled in their lives? Their jobs or family life does not satisfy them.

We see from statistics that over 50% of the marriages in this country end in divorce. Another sign of happiness?

We have an unpopular war, unpopular president, seemingly out of control gas prices. We have education issues, immigration struggles, personal and national spending and debt continue to increase wildly with record numbers of bankruptcy filings in 2005. "Just say no" to drugs never panned out. Are we not an unhappy world striving with all our might to overcome ourselves and our circumstances? What to do...oh, what to do?

The author of the book of Ecclesiastes was said to be one of the wisest, richest and most powerful men ever to have lived. He spent much of his life seeking happiness in all manner of forms. He spent much more time, money and effort in obtaining happiness than you or I have and here's what he wrote about it:

Ecclesiastes 1

1 These are the words of the Teacher, King David's son, who ruled in Jerusalem.
2 "Everything is meaningless," says the Teacher, "utterly meaningless!"

3 What do people get for all their hard work? 4 Generations come and go, but nothing really changes. 5 The sun rises and sets and hurries around to rise again. 6 The wind blows south and north, here and there, twisting back and forth, getting nowhere. 7 The rivers run into the sea, but the sea is never full. Then the water returns again to the rivers and flows again to the sea. 8 Everything is so weary and tiresome! No matter how much we see, we are never satisfied. No matter how much we hear, we are not content.

9 History merely repeats itself. It has all been done before. Nothing under the sun is truly new. 10 What can you point to that is new? How do you know it didn't already exist long ago? 11 We don't remember what happened in those former times. And in future generations, no one will remember what we are doing now.

12 I, the Teacher, was king of Israel, and I lived in Jerusalem. 13 I devoted myself to search for understanding and to explore by wisdom everything being done in the world. I soon discovered that God has dealt a tragic existence to the human race. 14 Everything under the sun is meaningless, like chasing the wind. 15 What is wrong cannot be righted. What is missing cannot be recovered.

16 I said to myself, "Look, I am wiser than any of the kings who ruled in Jerusalem before me. I have greater wisdom and knowledge than any of them." 17 So I worked hard to distinguish wisdom from foolishness. But now I realize that even this was like chasing the wind. 18 For the greater my wisdom, the greater my grief. To increase knowledge only increases sorrow.

New Living Translation

I believe that most people are not happy. They may pretend to be. They may put on a front and act like they are. But most are desperately in search of something that will make them happy. Look around you. Aren't most of your friends depressed, moody and downright unhappy over 50% of the time? Don't they talk about trying different things to find meaning or direction or happiness or escape? Are they rushing to and fro'? Are they grasping at the air and clutching at the wind? Trying with all their might and effort to succeed?

As a follower of Jesus, I realize that it's not a someting that will make us happy but rather a someone. Our relationship with God through His Son, Jesus, is the ultimate road to peace and joy.

Solomon concludes the book of Ecclesiastes like so:

Ecclesiastes 12:9-14

9 Because the Teacher was wise, he taught the people everything he knew. He collected proverbs and classified them. 10 Indeed, the Teacher taught the plain truth, and he did so in an interesting way. 11 A wise teacher's words spur students to action and emphasize important truths. The collected sayings of the wise are like guidance from a shepherd. 12 But, my child, be warned: There is no end of opinions ready to be expressed. Studying them can go on forever and become very exhausting!

13 Here is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is the duty of every person. 14 God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad.

New Living Translation

Read through the rest of Ecclesiastes to see what wisdom Solomon wrote. Then ask God to fill your days with His joy as He continues to bring you closer and closer to Him. Make you walk in His ways.

~ Jehovah shalom ~
scribbled with crayon by dr. larry at 12:29 AM