In the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon said, “There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt. But those riches perish by evil travail: and he begets a son, and there is nothing in his hand. As he came forth of his mother's womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labor, which he may carry away in his hand”, and in chapter five and verse sixteen of his book Solomon said, “this also is a sore evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go” where we read,
And this also is a sore evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go:
and what profit has he that has labored for the wind?
The verse reads, “And this also is a sore evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go:” Solomon began with the words, “and this also” or “and this, the fact that the wealthy man will arrive and leave with nothing, even so and indeed” “is a sore evil” which means “exists as a grievous, sickening and painful bad, malignancy, injury, distress, adversity and misery”, “that in all points” or “which within each, every, the whole and everyone of the measures and parts of his life” “as he came” which means “in the likeness and manner he, entered and arrived”, “so shall he go” or “even and indeed will he, the wealthy man, depart and leave”. Solomon considered it a grievous distress that a wealthy person will depart from the world in the same measure of nothingness that he arrived.
The verse continues, “and what profit has he that has labored for the wind?” Daniel added the words, “and what profit has he” or “and whatsoever gain and advantage possesses he, the wealthy person” “that has labored” which means “who has severely toiled and irksomely worked” “for the wind” or “on behalf of breath, vapor and air”? Solomon questioned the value gained by the person who severely toils for vapor and air.
When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn how Solomon observed another grievous adversity when he determined that a wealthy person arrives in life with nothing and departs with nothing. He questioned the value of striving in work for what ends up being air or emptiness. This is a good reminder for all of us, and because God has eternity in His mind, He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind. Sin separates us from God, and without redemption, we will be eternally separated from Him. He raised Jesus from the dead after three days so when we put our faith and trust in Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and equip us with His Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth including what to pursue and how to use that which He gives us in this life for His Kingdom.
Next time Solomon says, “this also is a sore evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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