Last night I could not sleep, struggling with a major decision. So I got up and opened the Bible. It happened to be Ecclesiastes 2. I was a bit puzzled with what God had to tell me here. This is what I read: (2:17-26) “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. I hated all the things I had toiled for under the sun, because I must leave them to the one who comes after me. 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. So my heart began to despair over all my toilsome labor under the sun. 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. What does a man get for all the toil and anxious striving with which he labours under the sun? All his days his work is pain and grief; even at night his mind does not rest. This too is meaningless. 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, for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment? 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.”

It spoke directly to what I was struggling with and pointed me to what really is important, to please God. This just reminds me of how futile it is to chase after wealth, career or fame in the absence of God. Even if we are “successful” in the eyes of the world in achieving these things, what good is it? Remember the parable Jesus told about the rich fool in Luke chapter 12? Greed is so ingrained in our culture and often encouraged. We must do everything we can to guard against that. Unfortunately, material greed is about the intent of the heart so only you and God know whether that is a problem. The only way we can deal with that is to bare our souls before the Lord and sincerely ask Him to reveal this hidden sin.