Looking for Life in All the Wrong Places

Looking for life in all the wrong places

Mankind continues the search to find life’s meaning.  Like Solomon we find that we can spend our entire life looking for life in all the wrong places leaving us disappointed, tired and settling for an unremarkable life, surviving our days versus living them. All the while God offers us “life to the fullest”, one that will prove to be “immeasurably more than we can ask for or even imagine”.

Are we all insane?

Einstein is said to have defined insanity as doing the same things over and over and expecting different results. For many thousands of years, and still to this date the majority of mankind has proven to be insane.  And, of course when you are insane, you usually do not know it.

Solomon’s search for meaning (I, I, I….)

We are told that Solomon was the wisest person who ever lived. In his wisdom, he sought to understand the meaning of life, of pleasure, of accomplishment.

Solomon said to himself, “Look, I have increased in wisdom more than anyone who has ruled over Jerusalem before me; I have experienced much of wisdom and knowledge.” ¹⁷ Then I applied myself to the understanding of wisdom, and also of madness and folly…

I said to myself, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure to find out what is good.” But that also proved to be meaningless. ² … I tried cheering myself with wine, and embracing folly —my mind still guiding me with wisdom. I wanted to see what was good for people to do under the heavens during the few days of their lives.

⁴ I undertook great projects: I built houses for myself and planted vineyards. ⁵ I made gardens and parks and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. ⁶ I made reservoirs to water groves of flourishing trees. ⁷ I bought male and female slaves and had other slaves who were born in my house. I also owned more herds and flocks than anyone in Jerusalem before me. ⁸ I amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I acquired male and female singers, and a harem as well—the delights of a man’s heart. ⁹ I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem before me. In all this my wisdom stayed with me.

¹⁰ I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure…¹¹ Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve,
everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.  Ecclesiastes 2

A Problem –> with just one Solution

The Teacher asked the students “What is 22 + 2”.  Almost everyone shouted “24!”.  “Correct” said the Teacher.  Now tell me all the wrong answers to that problem!

Of course the wrong answers are endless while there is only 1 right answer.

Jesus Provides  Life Counsel

Living life or surviving it?

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. … Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

²⁸ “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. ²⁹ Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these… So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
⁶ in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. ²⁰ But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21

I remember speaking with a sincere young lady who felt justified in being selfish.  As a result of her life experiences she reasoned that she needed to take care of herself, to protect her heart.  She needed to seek her happiness on her own.  “I am selfish on purpose, as a means of finding happiness”.   The thought process is understandable and yet faulty.  True happiness is found on the other side of being unselfish, in putting others first!   This one thing unlocks great things?

Doing 1 thing can accomplish all things 

Paul: But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, ¹⁴ I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13-14

Solomon: Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body.
¹³ Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. Ecclesiastes 12:12-13

Jesus: But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6

How do we seek first?

• Well, we make a decision that God is the author of life and our Creator.
• Then we take a step back and realize how hard life can seem.
• Then we make another decision to give up trying to figure life out, to survive life
• Then we resolve that we do want to enjoy the life that God has created
• Then we take the time to tell Him this. We surrender living, to Him.
• Then He takes over and we cooperate by trusting Him.
• Then we check in each day with Him, remind ourselves of our surrender to Him and watch Him work.

That’s seeking 1st His Kingdom.

We do have to go, to know. Let’s go together.  I am here to assist.