Sunday, February 25, 2007

The Most Stuff

We're having a gospel meeting this week at church and I enjoyed two great lessons this morning. Brother Bill Ward from Valdosta, GA is speaking this week. He's been at Sylvan Springs before (2005), but I missed out part of the meeting last time because of illness.

He brought up a great verse on worldliness. Check out Ecc. 2:1-11:

1. I said in my heart, "Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy yourself." But behold, this also was vanity. 2.I said of laughter, "It is mad," and of pleasure, "What use is it?" 3.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. 4.I made great works. I built houses and planted vineyards for myself. 5.I made myself gardens and parks, and planted in them all kinds of fruit trees. 6.I made myself pools from which to water the forest of growing trees. 7.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. 8.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 children of man.

9.So I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me. 10.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. 11.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.

I like this passage because it reminds us that possessions are vanity and meaningless in the grand scheme of things. We live in such a world where we are taught that "he who dies with the most toys wins." But, a person's life is not summed up by his possessions or wealth. The only thing that matters in the end is if you have obeyed the gospel and have your life right with God.

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