Saturday, June 25
Fleeting
Scripture: Ecclesiastes 9-10, 1 Timothy 5
Ecclesiastes 9:9–10 Enjoy life with the wife you love all the days of your fleeting life, which has been given to you under the sun, all your fleeting days. For that is your portion in life and in your struggle under the sun. 10 Whatever your hands find to do, do with all your strength, because there is no work, planning, knowledge, or wisdom in Sheol where you are going.
Observation
Ecclesiastes contains both hope and despair. Here is a good example.
Enjoy life with the wife you love: hope. All your fleeting life, all your fleeting days: despair. The word “fleeting” translates a Hebrew word that literally means “breath.” In the big scheme of things, our lives are just a breath, a thought that is repeated often in Scripture (for example see Psalm 39:5, James 4:14).
Whatever your hand finds to do, do with all your strength: hope. For there is no work in Sheol where you are going: despair. Do it now…or else. (Christians have a far more hopeful view of life after death than the author of this book!)
Application
A few things:
First, I’m spending the day with my wife today, so this jumped out at me. Enjoy the day with Laina! That’s first.
Then I was struck by the word fleeting. When I talk with older friends, they often comment on how quickly life has gone by. We tell young parents, “Enjoy every moment with your kids because it goes by so quickly. You’ll blink and they’ll be gone.” Be in the moment. Enjoy today.
Finally, whatever your hand finds to do—work or play—do it with all your heart. Again, be in the moment. Don’t be waiting for something else, something better or different. Do this, right now, with all your strength. It made me think of taking care of my grandson Paxton yesterday—I wanted to be in the moment, fully present for him, and for the most part, I succeeded and it made a great day.
Prayer: Lord, here’s my day. Help me be fully present to my wife and to others I’ll encounter. Help me to give my best today.