Originally posted: 2/03/2021
For who knows what is good for a man during his lifetime, during the few years of his futile life? He will spend them like a shadow. For who can tell a man what will be after him under the sun? (6:12).
Futility, vanity, meaningless, striving after the wind. Life can be so hopeless, like a shadow, transitory and without substance. That is, when life is lived for this life alone.
It’s difficult to really know what the Preacher may have been contending with during his writing. Had he given up all hope? Or was he painting the picture of life when one is captured and held prisoner by the empty promises and pleasures of this lifetime, overlooking what comes next? Quite possibly, it was his warning captured in his autobiographical self-portrait. But whatever his motive, his words are truth; because the reality is, no matter how hard we work on making this the best life we can, there are no guarantees. And that is the despairing and hopeless message repeated in today’s reading.
We can work our fingers to the bone, but there are no guarantees we will be able to enjoy the fruit of our own labor. We can labor in our study of information and facts, but there are no guarantees that a head full of knowledge will equal a soul full of satisfaction. We can strive to leave a legacy, but there are no guarantees any of our efforts will be appreciated after we’re gone.
No guarantees. Where does that leave us? Is life really pointless? Well, yes, if our focus is fixed on this life. God alone has the ability and the power to Fix Our Focus to line up with His.
Fix:
* to mend or repair
* to reach a decision or agreement about
* to become fixed; to settle or remain permanently; to cease from wandering; to rest
The truth be told, in and of ourselves, our focus needs mending and repairing, for it is readily focused on ourselves and on things we can see: our problems; worries; injustices; and evil.
If we want to make sense out of this life, we need our Focus Fixed, that we would agree with His truth and be settled in where we devote our attention; that our doubts would be turned into faith, and our despair into hope by Him Who Fixes Our Focus.
Consider Him Who Fixes Our Focus
- He Fixes Our Focus that we would not fixate on this life alone.
- There is an evil which I have seen under the sun and it is prevalent among men— 2 a man to whom God has given riches and wealth and honor so that his soul lacks nothing of all that he desires; yet God has not empowered him to eat from them, for a foreigner enjoys them. This is vanity and a severe affliction, (6:1-2).
- Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth, (Colossians 3:1-2).
- There is an evil which I have seen under the sun and it is prevalent among men— 2 a man to whom God has given riches and wealth and honor so that his soul lacks nothing of all that he desires; yet God has not empowered him to eat from them, for a foreigner enjoys them. This is vanity and a severe affliction, (6:1-2).
- He Fixes Our Focus that we would satisfy our appetite in hungering and thirsting for His righteousness.
- All a man’s labor is for his mouth and yet the appetite is not satisfied, (6:7).
- “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied,” (Matthew 5:6).
- All a man’s labor is for his mouth and yet the appetite is not satisfied, (6:7).
- He Fixes Our Focus that we would know how to walk in His wisdom.
- For what advantage does the wise man have over the fool? What advantage does the poor man have, knowing how to walk before the living? (6:8).
- Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; 2 and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma… 15 Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, 16 making the most of your time, because the days are evil. 17 So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is, (Ephesians 5:1-2, 15-17).
- For what advantage does the wise man have over the fool? What advantage does the poor man have, knowing how to walk before the living? (6:8).
- He Fixes Our Focus that we would find our contentment in desiring Him.
- What the eyes see is better than what the soul desires. This too is futility and a striving after wind, (6:9).
- But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment, (1 Timothy 6:6).
- What the eyes see is better than what the soul desires. This too is futility and a striving after wind, (6:9).
- He Fixes Our Focus that we would give up insisting on our own rights as we surrender to His will.
- Whatever exists has already been named, and it is known what man is; for he cannot dispute with him who is stronger than he is. 11 For there are many words which increase futility. What then is the advantage to a man? (6:10-11).
- Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me,” (Matthew 16:24).
- Whatever exists has already been named, and it is known what man is; for he cannot dispute with him who is stronger than he is. 11 For there are many words which increase futility. What then is the advantage to a man? (6:10-11).
- He Fixes Our Focus that we would trust our future to the Only One Who can tell us what will be after this life under the sun.
- For who knows what is good for a man during his lifetime, during the few years of his futile life? He will spend them like a shadow. For who can tell a man what will be after him under the sun? (6:12).
- “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. 3 If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also,” (John 14:1-3).
- For who knows what is good for a man during his lifetime, during the few years of his futile life? He will spend them like a shadow. For who can tell a man what will be after him under the sun? (6:12).
How do we respond to Him Who Fixes Our Focus?
*Fix: to mend or repair…
Let us commit to seek Him in faith, knowing that as we do, He Who Fixes Our Focus will mend and repair our faulty understanding of His ways.
Seek the Lord while He may be found;
Call upon Him while He is near.
7 Let the wicked forsake his way
And the unrighteous man his thoughts;
And let him return to the Lord,
And He will have compassion on him,
And to our God,
For He will abundantly pardon.
8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord.
9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways
And My thoughts than your thoughts,” (Isaiah 55:6-9).
*Fix: to reach a decision or agreement about…
Let us commit to walk in faith and the fear of Him Who Fixes Our Focus, trusting that He will empower us to live in decisive agreement with His Judgments.
The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the Lord are true; they are righteous altogether.
10 They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.
11 Moreover, by them Your servant is warned;
In keeping them there is great reward, (Psalm 19:9-11).
*Fix: to become fixed; to settle or remain permanently; to cease from wandering; to rest…
Let us commit to daily listen and follow Him, that we would be settled in the truth of Him Who Fixes Our Focus, that we would cease our wandering and forever rest in His faithful hands.
“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; 28 and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand,” (John 10:27-28).