This is not about me

I've been doing a series on Ecclesiastes in Veritas this fall. I was thinking about the book this morning when somethings struck me. So much of the book is about Solomon's frustration of the impermanance of things in life. When I spoke a few weeks ago, I said that the first few chapters show how the fruit of our labor, or material things can't satisfy us. Chapters 3 & 4 talk about the passage of time, and how things continue on whether we like it or not. What struck me this morning was how these are really two of the freatest resources we have from God - our material things such as money and possessions, and our time.

In the 80's and 90's much was said about the greed and winner-takes-all attitude in America. Well now from what I can see - people are much more selfish and wasteful with time. I would include myself in this category. We have so many things that we can spend out time on - the internet, HDTV, Ipods, Xbox, myspace, etc. The list goes on and on. In the end, when we look back on it, will it be time well spent - or will we regret what we've done.

Many believe that Solomon was an old man when he wrote Ecclesiastes. You can really sense the regret when you read the book. He was given so much, but what did it gain him in the end.

24 A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction
in his work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, 25 for without him, who
can eat or find enjoyment? 26 To the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom,
knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and
storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This too is
meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

I have to remind myself of this all the time. I will have to give an account for what I have done with what I've been given. It kind of makes you think twice about wanting to win the lottery when you look at like that.