Contentment

King Solomon had studied and worked hard to achieve much in earthly goods. He realized that upon his death all his wealth would go to people who had not worked for it and might misuse it. He said, "Then I hated all my labor in which I had toiled under the sun, because I must leave it to the man who will come after me. And who knows whether he will be wise or a fool? Yet he will rule over all my labor in which I toiled and in which I have shown myself wise under the sun. This also is vanity." (Eccl. 2:18,19).

This caused him to see the vanity of earthly pursuits because of all the "sorrowful" days and sleepless nights he had invested in: "For what has man for all his labor, and for the striving of his heart with which he has toiled under the sun? For all his days are sorrowful, and his work burdensome; even in the night his heart takes no rest. This also is vanity." (Eccl. 2:22,23).

We've all heard of people, many well known, who were very successful in this life. They then left their children with great wealth when they died. Often times, the children knew only laziness, no work ethic, leisure, parties, immorality, etc. The successful often leave their prosperity to those who do not appreciate what they have been given and squander it.

Solomon, however, did not remain in this unhappy state. He found meaning and happiness through faith in God. Satisfaction is a gift of God to His children. This enables them to enjoy the fruit of their labor. God can replace this frustration with contentment!

"Nothing is better for a man than that he should eat and drink and that his soul should enjoy good in his labor. This also, I saw was form the hand of God. For who can eat, or who can have enjoyment, more than I? For God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy to a man who is good in His sight" (Eccl. 2: 24-26).

The more room we give to God in our lives, the more we will have "wisdom and knowledge and joy" (vs. 26). Paul summed it up this way: "Godliness with contentment is great gain" (1 Tim. 6:6).

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