Day 190, or July 9. Nothing else compares. Our thoughts today are from Ecclesiastes 2,
verse 1. 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.
And now the big picture surrounding this verse. Generally accepted to be the work of Solomon,
the book of Ecclesiastes uses a Hebrew word which is traditionally translated as vanity
in this book, more than the rest of the Old Testament. More modern Bibles use the word
meaningless, which just about sums up the word, which implies futility and pointlessness.
Written by the most outwardly successful king Israel ever had, but riddled with hopelessness
that can only be remedied by God.
And now today's action step. How many times have you heard advice to believe in yourself,
that's all that matters. I always want to add, no, believe in someone greater than yourself
and who won't let you down, and I don't know of anyone better than Jesus Christ. Simply
self-belief is rarely enough in the long term, and Solomon knew that after he had tried just
about everything else. Solomon's favourite word seems to be the I-word referring to himself.
He was totally self-centred. He had the opportunity, power and wealth to try anything he fancied.
And he did. However, he found it all to be meaningless, vanity.
The best description I have ever heard about vanity is to liken it to a soap bubble. It
looks terrific, but when you finally get hold of it, it disappears into thin air. There
was no substance there. I'm not saying that all of the things the world offers are worthless.
How can I say that sitting in a warm office with my laptop, mobile phone and printer ready
to obey my every command? What I am saying is that there is someone superior to everything
else and his name is Jesus, and he satisfies. He is the only one worth trusting with your
life. Why not take this opportunity to listen to Day 21 again for more information about
the satisfying Saviour, Jesus?