Purpose In Our Struggles...

Ecclesiastes 2:17-26 (NIV)

Toil Is Meaningless
17 So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me. All of it is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. 18 I hated all the things I had toiled for under the sun, because I must leave them to the one who comes after me. 19 And who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will have control over all the work into which I have poured my effort and skill under the sun. This too is meaningless. 20 So my heart began to despair over all my toilsome labor under the sun. 21 For a man may do his work with wisdom, knowledge and skill, and then he must leave all he owns to someone who has not worked for it. This too is meaningless and a great misfortune. 22 What does a man get for all the toil and anxious striving with which he labors under the sun? 23 All his days his work is pain and grief; even at night his mind does not rest. This too is meaningless.

24 A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, 25 for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment? 26 To the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

The simple concept to gleen from this passage, as I see it, is in verses 24-26: Life without God is without purpose, but a rather meaningless existance. I know it wasn't that hard to figure that out. :)

I think this isn't as easy to see when you are young. You see the world so differently. You have the idealistic and optimistic view that you can change the world. Now that I am older I believe I relate to this scripture more and more. My world is much smaller, and I truly understand how little I control and can change even less. But I am confident in my faith in what God does control, and what he can and does change. That may seem to some a very pessimistic view to take, but I believe it is the truth. We were not created to "chase after the wind" in this life. We were created to chase after the Living God. Our purpose can not be found apart from Him, nor can we continue to chase after our purpose all of our lives faithfully with out the ultimate faithful one.