Tuesday, July 19, 2011

WHAT THE MAN WHO HAS EVERYTHING NEEDS

There is a Scandinavian fable about a young spider that made his way into a barn one day. From a slender thread he descended from a rafter high aloft. He began to spin his intricate web and as time went on he grew fat and prospered. It was a very productive corner of the barn with an ample supply of juicy flies—as you might imagine. One day, he looked admiringly around his wondrous web, and yet was taken aback when he saw a stray thread—one that reached up into the darkness high above him—disappearing into nothingness. “What use is that?” he thought, and reached out and snipped the thread—and when he did, his entire world collapsed!

That is what happened to Solomon! He was a wise young king who became a foolish old ruler. In his early days, the slender thread that bound him to heaven reached into the sky and the blessings of God flowed down, as Solomon’s worship flowed up. He prospered more than any before him—or since. His wealth was staggering, his power immense, his fame renowned—he had it all! Until the day he forgot about God, severed the connection to heaven and his world caved in.

The bitter, depressing record of that era is found in Ecclesiastes. The tone is set immediately:
1 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. 2 Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity. 3 What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun?
(1:1-3 ESV)

The phrases, “Vanity of vanities” and “under the sun” are sprinkled throughout the book. Life is vain—futile—empty and devoid of meaning when it is viewed merely from a natural perspective. If anyone might have found satisfaction from the things of the world, it should have been Solomon. He had it all! Wine—the best and much of it, women—a harem of a thousand beauties, and song—not a CD, but live performers! He had magnificent estates and much education—lands and libraries. He sought fulfillment in his work and wealth.

But, it was all vanity!

It would not be a stretch to say that he actually considered suicide—what did he have to live for?

What is it that the man that has everything needs? God!

There is a hole in our soul that only God can fill. Nothing else fits—only Jesus satisfies.

But, the old backslider found the way back as he sifted through the rubble of his ruinous rebellion. Among the ashes, he finds the treasure of truth. At the end of Ecclesiastes the light of wisdom breaks through:
13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all. 14 For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil. (12:13-14 NKJV)

Dear reader—do you have Jesus? If not, you need Him—desperately. Don’t wait too late! If you have received Him, then keep the cord of communion intact lest you fall like Solomon! If one who had such encounters with God, had a superb upbringing by a great champion of faith named David, and was blessed with such wisdom could fall, then any of us can! Humble yourself under the mighty hand of God—trust in His grace.

This is what the man who has everything needs!