Life’s greatest fulfilment

And I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven. It is an unhappy business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind. (Ecclesiastes 1:13–14)

Don, a brilliant young man with high IQ and love for Jesus Christ, read the book of Ecclesiastes and came to a conclusion that I’ve not heard from anyone else. He decided that it was written with joy! That is, Solomon had tried it all, found everything a vanity (like vapor), then joyfully understood that the meaning of life is only found in knowing and serving God.

Spurgeon might like that idea. He writes that nothing can satisfy the entire man but the Lord’s love and the Lord’s own self. The older I become, the more I see the same reality. God’s people try to find fulfilment in many things, but we tire of all else. Better to realize that Solomon, the wisest of men, was permitted to make experiments for us all and not do it ourselves. He had the resources for these things, some that we cannot or should not do in our own search for fulfilment.  Here is Solomon’s testimony:

I said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy yourself.” But behold, this also was vanity. I said of laughter, “It is mad,” and of pleasure, “What use is it?” I searched with my heart how to cheer my body with wine — my heart still guiding me with wisdom — and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was good for the children of man 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 had also 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 provinces. I got singers, both men and women, and many concubines, the delight of the sons of man. So I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me. And 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 expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun. (Ecclesiastes 2:1–11)

He tried everything and concluded that life’s baubles were just that — mere baubles. Nothing lasts, and nothing truly satisfies. His conclusion:

The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. (Ecclesiastes 12:13)

The New Testament completes this decision. Our satisfaction is in a person, not in popularity, achievement, status, or any other thing. As Spurgeon says, “To embrace our Lord Jesus, to dwell in his love, and be fully assured of union with him — this is all in all.”

Just as some children must touch the fire to believe it is hot, some people must try other ways to live, yet in all the beautiful places I’ve been and seen, there is nothing that can compare to my Savior’s face. I’ve had the comforts of life, but without Jesus and His presence, all is wretched and a burden. In contrast, I’ve been in pain and trials, but because the Christ was with me in those dark places, they were not only meaningful, but He gave me joy.

I understand what Don concluded. Life’s good things as well as its horrors can be laughed at, not because of madness or a detached insanity, but because the Lord Jesus Christ can make a dungeon a paradise. He can enter our trials, obscurities, famine, or persecutions and give us joy. In Him, there is peace.

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)

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Lord, You enter the battleground of my mind with such good thoughts. Yet even more, You are in my life — bringing me Your joy and peace. No matter what life splatters on me, or how I perceive the daily struggles, I can take heart and I can have great peace — because You have overcome all of those things — and because You live right here in my heart.