Anglican Daily Fountain 8 November 2023 (Devotional Today)
Welcome to Today’s Daily Fountain Devotional of the Anglican Church of Nigeria. Daily Fountain is a daily reading devotional for all Anglicans and Non-Anglicans to read, study, share and discuss the Word of God on a daily basis.
TOPIC: LIFE IS A PURSUIT OF VANITY
TEXT: Ecclesiastes 6(KJV)
6:1. There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men:
6:2. A man to whom God hath given riches, wealth, and honour, so that he wanteth nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but a stranger eateth it: this is vanity, and it is an evil disease.
6:3. If a man beget an hundred children, and live many years, so that the days of his years be many, and his soul be not filled with good, and also that he have no burial; I say, that an untimely birth is better than he.
6:4. For he cometh in with vanity, and departeth in darkness, and his name shall be covered with darkness.
6:5. Moreover he hath not seen the sun, nor known any thing: this hath more rest than the other.
6:6. Yea, though he live a thousand years twice told, yet hath he seen no good: do not all go to one place?
6:7. All the labour of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled.
6:8. For what hath the wise more than the fool? what hath the poor, that knoweth to walk before the living?
6:9. Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit.
6:10. That which hath been is named already, and it is known that it is man: neither may he contend with him that is mightier than he.
6:11. Seeing there be many things that increase vanity, what is man the better?
6:12. For who knoweth what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?
Anglican Daily Fountain 11th November 2023 STUDY:
King Solomon, the writer of today’s text, gave a comprehensive description of the vanity of a man’s pursuit outside God. He made it clear that there is nothing under the sun that can offer satisfaction for man (v.3). King Solomon started his reign with God – his life was pleasing to God and he was blessed with riches of the earth. He had all the knowledge, skill, wisdom, wealth and prestige a man could imagine. When it came to life’s experiences, he had seen, acquired and enjoyed it all, but at the end, he came to a conclusion that what a man is pursuing in life outside God is vanity. He confirmed this by saying “A man to whom God has given riches and wealth and honour, so that he lacks nothing for himself of all he desires; yet God does not give him power to eat of it, but a foreigner consumes it. This is vanity, and it is an evil affliction”(v.2).
Beloved, all your acquisition cannot give the joy and satisfaction you desire. Chasing after power, position, pleasure and prestige can only give momentary happiness. The more you pursue these, the more you will be far from God. The farther you are away from God, the more your life will be open to the attacks of the devil. Only the life lived in Christ is profitable and rewarding. Your bank accounts can be full; you can also build magnificent houses in several towns or cities your dream; again, you can be occupying a prominent position in the society today, but all of these are meaningless. Make the Lord Jesus your life’s pursuit. Every other thing will be added to you (Matt. 6:33).
PRAYER: Lord, help me to pursue things that will give me a place in your eternal kingdom at the end of my race on earth, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
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