THURSDAY: I WANT TO DO PROFITABLE WORK

Oct 13, 2022
2 min read

Ecclesiastes 2:10-15

Whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure, for my heart rejoiced in all my labor; and this was my reward from all my labor. 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.

Then I turned myself to consider wisdom and madness and folly; for what can the man do who succeeds the king?—only what he has already done. Then I saw that wisdom excels folly as light excels darkness. The wise man’s eyes are in his head, but the fool walks in darkness. Yet I myself perceived that the same event happens to them all. So, I said in my heart, “As it happens to the fool, it also happens to me, and why was I then more wise?”

Then I said in my heart, “This also is vanity.”

Yesterday I learned about testing my heart; today I learn about testing my eyes. Whatever Solomon’s eyes desired, he acquired for his pleasure. All the hard work Solomon did to build his houses, businesses, estate, and fortune he classified as fleeting and grasping for the wind. What he strived for yielded no profit or satisfaction.

Solomon learned a valuable lesson which he now teaches me: wisdom excels folly as light excels darkness. He was looking for profit—something that would produce wisdom and light—but gained nothing but folly and darkness.

THINK ABOUT THESE THINGS

When I think I’m rejoicing in labor, this too is fleeting unless I’m rejoicing and laboring unto the Lord. The problem is that so often I rejoice for myself—looking for things on this earth which will satisfy my eyes. I need to look for what will satisfy my soul.

That which is soul-satisfying and profitable yields wisdom and light. As Solomon’s wisdom was overtaken by folly, I desire my darkness to be overtaken with the light of Jesus Christ. Only He can produce profitable satisfaction for my soul.

I can daydream all day long about what I want to do, or I can pray and ask the Lord what He wants to do. I can wake up every morning and ask, ”Lord, what are we going to do together today?” and realize that He will provide the answers I have been longing for.

Lord, I can’t help but wonder where I would be without You. I would be lost in darkness and vanity. Please keep me accountable and focused on You, so I can see the light You provide each day and the work which You want me to do. Amen.

May you be blessed,

Chaplain Wayne Ruckman