Therefore I completely despaired of all the fruit of my labor for which I had labored under the sun. When there is a man who has labored with wisdom, knowledge and skill, then he gives his legacy to one who has not labored with them. This too is vanity and a great evil. For what does a man get in all his labor and in his striving with which he labors under the sun? Because all his days his task is painful and grievous; even at night his mind does not rest. This too is vanity. There is nothing better for a man than to eat and drink and tell himself that his labor is good. This also I have seen that it is from the hand of God.
Ecclesiastes 2:20-24
Once upon a time, either on the radio or sitting in a pew, I heard a preacher talk about Solomon and his depression. It seemed to that preacher, that was the only explanation for Solomon to write such things. It seems that many others think this is the case, too. We work hard to build a life for ourselves, to make a difference in the world. We spend our lives to build a legacy. We need others to believe this is the correct approach to life. We need everyone to be on board with this idea to ensure that the economy grows. If too many believe they don’t have to buy materials to better adorn their homes and offices and places of work, the economy won’t grow and we’ll slide into a recession and then a depression. People will be out of work.
If Solomon were around writing his thoughts today, he’d certainly be singled out for psychiatric therapy, a regular dosage of anti-depressant medication, and no doubt someone would convince him to attend some “joy” seminar somewhere. Solomon would be called a “doom-sayer” and labeled a nut. I suppose that most would believer Solomon would be getting rich on spreading his depressive thoughts about the internet.
Therefore I [the LORD] will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the LORD of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger.
Isaiah 13:13
Y’shuaJesus spoke about seeking the Kingdom of G-d. He didn’t say we were to try and build that kingdom here on Earth. That’s the Lord’s work; that isn’t ours. So what is our legacy to be, then?
This morning returning from dropping my son at school, Watching You by Rodney Atkins played on the radio. It’s about a boy who is watching his father, who wants to be like his father IN EVERY WAY. The boy says a naughty word, and his father asks where he learned that word. The boys says he’s been watching. In another verse the boy is praying to our Heavenly Father as though he were a friend. The father asks where the boy learned to pray that way. The boy replies, “I’ve been watching you.”
It’s not the riches we have to leave as an inheritance, not the great buildings we’ve built to house ourselves and our families, not the products we create or repair or construct for others, but the character we allow the Lord to create in us and pass on to others that is our legacy. Our character is built through our relationship with Y’shuaJesus. We forsake the earthly kingdom, seek the Heavenly Kingdom. We allow G-d to be the center of our lives, creating in us, as the psalmist wrote, “a clean heart.”
Lord Bless, Keep, Shine. . .
JonahzSong 