PREACHER’S NOTE 31 JULY 2022
A teenage boy. His Dad has passed away, and he becomes
king. God appears to him one night and asks him
“What would you like me to give you?” He replies, humbly,
“Lord, I need your help and your wisdom to do this”.
God is so impressed with his answer, He grants him not
only wisdom beyond any man before him, but riches beyond
compare, and honour upon honour.
In Ecclesiastes, we hear him summing up, at the end of
his life. “It is all meaningless” he says, “like a vapour.”
Someone with no “if only’s” – if only I had more money, if
only people thought more of me, if only I could be with
that woman. Yet, there is a note of sadness, of emptiness.
How did he get from being so favoured, to being resigned
to the fact that life is empty?
As we read of his life, we see someone so wise, brilliant at
building an empire, famous across the known world,
pleasure wherever he turns. But that comes at a price –
he exploits his people to build his kingdom, marries to
build relationships with his neighbours, and compromises
his faith as he tries to mix their religions with his. He is confused
and distracted at the end of his life.
What might we learn from this, we who have many ifonlys?
Even if God grants you everything you could wish
for, life isn’t measured by your own achievements, your
own pleasure or your own fame. These are idols: pursuits
that promise much, but ultimately disappoint. Life is
measured by the depth of your relationship with your
Maker, the journey you walked with Him, and the things
you achieved for Him. A lifetime of fulfilment awaits those
who pursue these things.
Blessings,
Andrew.