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All is Vanity and Vexation of Spirit Ecclesiastes 1:14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all [is] vanity and vexation of spirit. This was written by King Solomon after he had experienced great wisdom and had become exceptionally wealthy. Perhaps he was at a point in life where he was forced to look at his own mortality. Of course that is something that none of us want do consider, do we? He stated that he had come to great wisdom, but found that it was vexation of spirit. Wisdom couldn’t fill the empty spot in his heart. He tried mirth and folly and found that his spirit was still vexed. He tried to sooth the vexation with a little wine, but that didn’t work then and it doesn’t work now. He built great houses and had extensive gardens and orchards with pools of water for irrigation. We still get caught up in that today. However, it didn’t fill the void in Solomon’s life and it doesn’t fill the void in our hearts either. He observed that the rich and mighty end up in the same place as the poor and humble, the grave being the great equalizer. We have seen this demonstrated recently with the death of several talented celebrities. Their power is muted and their talents useless in the grave. Before their bodies are cold, their family and heirs soon hire lawyers to fight over what has been left behind. That reminds us of God telling the rich man in Luke 12:20 that his soul would be required that day and asking, “Whose shall these things be, that you have provided.” Ecclesiastes 2:16 For there is no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool for ever; seeing that which now is in the days to come shall all be forgotten. And how dieth the wise man? as the fool. After careful examination of life and all of it’s complexities, Solomon came to one conclusion: Our whole duty is to fear God and keep His commandments. Because: We all, rich or poor, wise or unwise, will stand before our God to answer for the deeds done in this life. Ecclesiastes 12:13 ¶ Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. We today are up against hard times. Our incomes are shrinking and many are losing their jobs and homes. Many have come to the same conclusion as Solomon, that everything is vexation of spirit. This presents an opportunity to us who have the peace of God , to help them see that Jesus is the only answer. He and He alone can fill that void in our hearts. Our prestige and possessions are nice, but we can’t take them into eternity with us. All we can take with us that is of any value is a pure heart, that has been washed in the precious blood of Jesus. Free Ebooks That You Can Download. An Expository Study on the Book of Colossians The I AMs of Jesus Your thoughts and Inquiries Contact@About-Him.Com Subscribe to this devotional? Subscribe to About-Him Devotional Keep Looking Up! Don and Marie Spooner About Him! Ministries The purpose of About-Him.Com is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ whom we preach as the Almighty God manifest in the flesh. It is our desire that everything presented on these pages increases your faith in our God and Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Home About Us About His Word Bible Studies Flash Movies Guest Writers Humor Links Midi Music Songs of the Church Thoughts on the Life of Christ Weekly Devotions Audio Devotionals Topical Studies Contact Last modified: 10-09-2011 Contact us About Him! Ministries |