Jehovah's Witnesses Straight Talk - Forum/Blog

Eccl. 2:13 Then I saw that wisdom excels folly, as far as light excels darkness. 2:14 The wise man's eyes are in his head, and the fool walks in darkness--and yet I perceived that one event happens to them all. 2:15 Then said I in my heart, "As it happens to the fool, so will it happen even to me; and why was I then more wise?" Then said I in my heart that this also is vanity.
2:16 For of the wise man, even as of the fool, there is no memory for ever, seeing that in the days to come all will have been long forgotten. Indeed, the wise man must die just like the fool!
2:17 So I hated life, because the work that is worked under the sun was grievous to me; for all is vanity and a chasing after wind.
2:18 I hated all my labor in which I labored under the sun, seeing that I must leave it to the man who comes after me.
2:19 Who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will have rule over all of my labor in which I have labored, and in which I have shown myself wise under the sun. This also is vanity.
2:20 Therefore I began to cause my heart to despair concerning all the labor in which I had labored under the sun.
2:21 For there is a man whose labor is with wisdom, with knowledge, and with skillfulness; yet he shall leave it for his portion to a man who has not labored for it. This also is vanity and a great evil.
2:22 For what has a man of all his labor, and of the striving of his heart, in which he labors under the sun?
2:23 For all his days are sorrows, and his travail is grief; yes, even in the night his heart takes no rest. This also is vanity.
2:24 There is nothing better for a man than that he should eat and drink, and make his soul enjoy good in his labor. This also I saw, that it is from the hand of God. 2:25 For who can eat, or who can have enjoyment, more than I? 2:26 For to the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy; but to the sinner he gives travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him who pleases God. This also is vanity and a chasing after wind.

Being content, who can find contentment? Who can live within their means and be content in this world, in this flesh that pushes us to gain more in this life? Its much like the mouse on the wheel in a cage running and running never going anywhere for when he is done he is tried. Yet, he will run again, never reaching the end.

1 Timothy 6:17 Charge those who are rich in this present world that they not be haughty, nor have their hope set on the uncertainty of riches, but on the living God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy;

Solomon was given the wisdom of God, and he saw the end of his own life on earth it was vanity a chasing after the wind, his works did not quench the fire of more achievements, he could not stop although he laid awake a night worrying about all he had done and wanted to do he did not have contentment for all his labor under the Sun.

Hebrews 13:5 Be free from the love of money, content with such things as you have, for he has said, "I will in no way leave you, neither will I in any way forsake you."{Deuteronomy 31:6}

Solomon work was done in great wisdom from God yet he called it vanity a chasing after the wind why? Because who could say who would take charge of his projects, his works after he was gone? Someone would lay hold of them and just like all human do with great pride and ego claiming them as their works perhaps foolishly letting them be taken and/or destroyed! What peace can come from that, very little.

Revelation 3:17 Because you say, 'I am rich, and have gotten riches, and have need of nothing;' and don't know that you are the wretched one, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.

It remains me of a story I was once told. A very wealth man took a vacation to Hawaii each year, and in the morning he loved to run on the beach, but every time he did he encounter a bum setting in a chair with a drink and fishing pole in his hand smiling and absolutely doing nothing!

The bum would greet him and the rich man would run right past him. But this year it was different the rich man hate this guy and got angry each time he saw him. So he stop oneday and said: “Why don't you get a job!” The bum replied: “OK, than what would you have me do?”

Will this went over like a lead balloon with the rich man: “You could buy a home, pay taxes, contribute to society.” The bum said: “OK than what?” “What? Replied the rich man are you a fool you could leverage the home and get a business have some employees!”

“Than what the bum replied?” This really made the rich man angry!
“What are you an idiot you could build a corporation perhaps become one to the fortune five hundred companies like me!” The bum said, “Will than what?”

The rich man became so frustrated and angry with this guy, he was baffled for words: “What do you mean? I don't understand your thinking, you could say you made it!” “Well than what?” What do you mean than what? You could take a vacation once a year like me and walk on the beach and do nothing for three week!”

1 Corinthians 7:31 and those who use the world, as not using it to the fullest. For the mode of this world passes away.

1 Corinthians 3:19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, "He has taken the wise in their craftiness."{Job 5:13}

Luke 9:25 For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits his own self?

Than what is the lesson for Christian's in Solomon's wisdom; like the cycle of our earth so goes our life we come into this world with nothing and we will go out of this world with nothing do we really understand this?

1 John 4:1 Beloved, don't believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, isn't the Father's, but is the world's. 2:17 The world is passing away with its lusts, but he who does God's will remains forever.

The creation testifies to what we can expect, it does not hid the truth, we live a lie, we get caught up on the wheel in the cages we stress become angry because this life demands much from us, and everyone that enter into it! But at the end of it, we have no control of our spirit it will leave us, and all we did, our loves, hates, and jealousy will perish with us, and so goes our works and under the sun.

James 1:10 and the rich, in that he is made humble, because like the flower in the grass, he will pass away. 1:11 For the sun arises with the scorching wind, and withers the grass, and the flower in it falls, and the beauty of its appearance perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in his pursuits.

2 Corinthians 6:10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

2 Corinthians 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that you through his poverty might become rich.

See also: www.nu-truth.com