Focus

Pay attention to the tension in your body. Let go of it and any expectations to do anything other than God’s will today. Prepare yourself to hear God’s word.

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Read

Ecclesiastes 2:1-11 (NRSV)

I said to myself, “Come now, I will make a test of pleasure; enjoy yourself.” But again, this also was vanity. I said of laughter, “It is mad,” and of pleasure, “What use is it?” I searched with my mind how to cheer my body with wine—my mind still guiding me with wisdom—and how to lay hold on folly, until I might see what was good for mortals to do under heaven during the few days of their life. I made great works; I built houses and planted vineyards for myself; I made myself gardens and parks, and planted in them all kinds of fruit trees. I made myself pools from which to water the forest of growing trees. I bought male and female slaves, and had slaves who were born in my house; I also had great possessions of herds and flocks, more than any who had been before me in Jerusalem. I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and of the provinces; I got singers, both men and women, and delights of the flesh, and many concubines.

So I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem; also my wisdom remained with me. Whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them; I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my reward for all my toil. Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had spent in doing it, and again, all was vanity and a chasing after wind,[b] and there was nothing to be gained under the sun.

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Reflect

It seems like in this modern world we are taught to go after everything. If you want it, go get it. Do not hold back. Well, after reading Ecclesiastes 2:1-11, maybe this is not such a new thing after all. Solomon went after everything. He did not hold back. If he desired it, he went and got it. Why Not?

In verse 11 we find out the answer to the question why not? Once Solomon had it all he realized he really had nothing. In fact, go after all is just like chasing the wind. We are really never going to get what we want.
What we need is God. In a world that says if you want it go get it. We need to learn how to wait on God.

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Pray

Almighty God, please teach us to learn to wait on your timing. Amen.

Go with God!