However, the life of Apostle Paul and his own declaration about life left me thinking if it’s the same life that was described as ‘vanity upon vanity’ by Solomon the great.
Apostle Paul had nothing as compared to the amount of wealth king Solomon commanded. He didn’t have a personal house, not to mention one that had a swimming pool; no wife nor concubine, yet his frustration about life and living was expressed by this statement-
And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die. For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really don’t know which is better. I’m torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me. 24 But for your, it is better that I continue to live. Phil. 1:20-24 NLT
The difference in the perspective of these two men wasn’t the absence or presence of material wealth. It was a determination to pursue divine purpose. Solomon forgot God’s agenda for his life, hence the failure, confusion and frustration that led to his conclusions.
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. Eccl. 2:11 NKJV
Apostle Paul on the other hand summed up all his pursuits in life into one eternal goal- I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Phil. 3:14 NKJV
Life becomes a chasing of the wind (Ecclesiastics 1:14) when we chase any other thing other than God’s purpose for our lives.
Action Point
Can you say that living for you is more fruitful work for Christ? Please make your time here, count for Jesus.
