Ecclesiastes 1:2, 12-14; 2:18-23 (NRSV)
Read Ecclesiastes 1:2, 12-14; 2:18-23 on biblegateway.com
Verse 2Vanity of vanities, says the Teacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity.
Verse 12I, the Teacher, when king over Israel in Jerusalem, Verse 13applied my mind to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven; it is an unhappy business that God has given to human beings to be busy with. Verse 14I saw all the deeds that are done under the sun; and see, all is vanity and a chasing after wind. Verse 18I hated all my toil in which I had toiled under the sun, seeing that I must leave it to those who come after me Verse 19-and who knows whether they will be wise or foolish? Yet they will be master of all for which I toiled and used my wisdom under the sun. This also is vanity. Verse 20So I turned and gave my heart up to despair concerning all the toil of my labors under the sun, Verse 21because sometimes one who has toiled with wisdom and knowledge and skill must leave all to be enjoyed by another who did not toil for it. This also is vanity and a great evil. Verse 22What do mortals get from all the toil and strain with which they toil under the sun? Verse 23For all their days are full of pain, and their work is a vexation; even at night their minds do not rest. This also is vanity.
Devotion
Time seems to pass more quickly each year. Perhaps it is the pace of life – busy, busy, busy. Or we get to the end of the week having completed all (or at least some) of our tasks - and it is time to begin again the seemingly endless cycle. “Vanity of vanities ... all is vanity and chasing after the wind,” says the writer of Ecclesiastes, expressing frustration at the cycle of toil that seems to be without purpose, without impact.
But God calls each of us to a life of service - of serving God and serving our neighbor by using the gifts and talents God has given us. Discovering these gifts and talents and opportunities for using them creates for us a sense of purpose that can give meaning even to those tasks which make us want to quote “all is vanity and chasing after wind.”
Prayer
Creator God - you call us into being and you call us in to service. When we are feeling that all is vanity or senseless toil, help us to find meaning and purpose in you and your vision for what this world can be. In the name of Jesus. Amen.