Solomon, the wisest and richest man in the world said several times in Ecclesiastes that there is a pursuit of life that is as futile as someone chasing after the wind. It is striving for and pursuing things that cannot bring us fulfillment. They will only deplete us and leave us depressed and defeated.
“I have seen all the works which have been done under the sun, and behold, all is futility and striving after wind” (Ecclesiastes 1:14). Solomon wasn’t being flippant about life. He was letting us know some things are not worth pursuing if we are searching for true peace and fulfillment that only God can provide.
Instead of chasing after the winds of human success and status, we are called to chase after the wind of God’s Spirit. Chasing after the wind of the Spirit will not make sense to those under the influence of earthly winds. Following an earthly wind will cause us to miss the direction provided by the winds of God’s Spirit and miss the destination where the Lord wants to take us.
Pursuing earthly success without the directing influence of God’s Spirit will always lead us to a place of futility and striving. It is a futility and pursuit of things that cannot bring us to a place of fulfillment.
Considering that reality, Solomon said “So, I decided there is nothing better than to enjoy food and drink and to find satisfaction in work. Then I realized that these pleasures are from the hand of God. For who can eat or enjoy anything apart from him. God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy to those who please him” (Ecclesiastes 2: 24-26).
Solomon had all of life’s best at his disposal. Still, it did not provide him with joy. In that place of worldly abundance and its joyless harvest, he came to realize, that “nothing is certain in this life” (Ecclesiastes (7:14). The only certainty in this life comes when the Spirit is leading us, not the winds of culture. Only as we follow the leading of God’s Spirit can we experience true satisfaction and joy. Following God’s wind may dismantle our current life plan but it will always lead to a place of peace, joy, and satisfaction – gifts that following the winds of this life cannot provide.
This is an updated edition of a post originally published on Garris Elkins
Featured Image by Kiều Trường from Pixabay
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