“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 2:11
This Scripture reading was used recently in a devotion at the Lutheran Hour Ministries and as I was reading the words of Solomon, they moved me into a different direction then the writer had written. While working for the highway department in Nebraska for 38 years there were several occasions that some highway projects that I designed have now been replaced with something bigger and ‘better’ as the volumes of traffic have increased over the decades. Not sure that it was totally meaningless when hours were spent calculating; it served a purpose for a time, but now it is useless by today’s measurements.
Solomon was filled with much wisdom; he constructed elaborate buildings, bought large numbers of slaves, cattle and was without a doubt the richest man on the planet; back in the day. According to him, these things turned out to be meaningless, didn’t bring him the happiness that he was needing so he then added many women to his harem; all this left him still shaking his head and searching for something that really mattered.
The attached photo was taken at the kitchen serving area at the Lutheran School at Merrotte. A table with 20 plates filled with rice and beans for a few of the 456 of His children on a hot, humid day in the Arcahaie District. Meaningless, nope, certainly not a feast that Solomon would have eaten; or probably many people living in North America. I guarantee that this plate of food will bring happiness to the Haitian child who holds tightly onto this priceless treasure.
Each one of these 456 children has a purpose from their Heavenly Father. Probably like us, they don’t know what that purpose happens to be at the moment, but He knows. This simple meal is not meaningless. Their Christian education is not meaningless. Your support of His children is not meaningless; you are taking part of their legacy and leaving a legacy of your own for others to follow. Heard a song today on the drive home called ‘Just one more Soul’ by Greater Vision. The words seemed like a good way to wrap up devotion, reminding me, and hopefully of the urgency in saving just one more soul.
“The preachers are weary the singers are tired; the church as we know it is losing its fire. Some are discouraged from bearing the load but we must determine to keep pressing on ‘cause if just one more soul were to walk down the aisle it would be worth every struggle, it would be worth every mile. A lifetime of labor is still worth it all if it rescues just one more soul. So preachers, keep preachin’ and singers, go sing. Laymen, keep sharing that Jesus is King. The angels have gathered, they’re surrounding the throne and they’ll start rejoicing for just one more soul.”
Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.
May God be with you,
Jay