I amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I acquired male and female singers, and a harem as well—the delights of a man’s heart. I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem before me. In all this my wisdom stayed with me.
I denied myself nothing my eyes desired;
I refused my heart no pleasure.
My heart took delight in all my labor,
and this was the reward for all my toil.
Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done
and what I had toiled to achieve,
everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind;
nothing was gained under the sun.
Ecclesiastes 2:8-11
I recently watched a documentary on a sports franchise that won a NBA championship a few years back. One of the stars spoke about how it felt to finally lift the championship trophy above his head. He told the cameras that becoming a NBA champion was the greatest accomplishment that he had ever experienced. In the following week after they won, his wife brought to his attention that she had never seen him cry before that night, even at the birth of their children or on their wedding day. In a calm and sympathetic voice, this champion looked at his wife and said, “Sweetheart, I can’t expect you to understand this but when I was six years old I never dreamed of being a father or of getting married, my only dream was to become a basketball champion. Anyone can be a dad or get married, but not just anyone can be a champion”. He would tell her that all the surgeries, injuries, and time away from his family on the road, was all for this one achievement, a championship. He said, “Once I held that trophy above my head, it made it all worth it.”
After watching this scene, I became extremely sad for this man. Don’t get me wrong, I am all about playing to win and giving everything you do your best, but in this man’s life it was more than just that. Becoming a “champion” meant that he had arrived. Holding that trophy above his head meant that he was finally something. Being a dad wasn’t enough, being a husband wasn’t enough, and living for Christ was not enough. “But once I held that trophy above my held, I knew all the sacrifice was worth it.”
In the book of Ecclesiastes, King Solomon talks about trophies and the overall meaning of life. If you were to ask me my favorite book of the Bible, I would probably tell you the book of Ecclesiastes. This book is about a king who has been told by God himself that no one will ever be as wise as you (1 Kings 3:7-13) and that no other king will compare to you while you walk this Earth. With that being said, the whole book of Ecclesiastes is a book written by the richest and wisest human on Earth on the subject of just how dumb he has been in his life. Knowing this, Solomon’s words of warning and guidance carries a lot of weight when it comes to chasing what truly matters.
A common theme throughout the book of Ecclesiastes is, “Everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun”. Now we have to remember who this is that is saying this to fully grasp the weight and meaning. This is not just any ordinary man or king. Solomon, abundant in wisdom, was also a man who had everything. He tested the theory that pleasures and riches can’t come from things on this earth by having more gold, diamonds, women, land, power, and friends than anyone could ever imagine. This man had more than anyone in the world and the common theme after it all was, “Nothing was gained under the sun; a lifetime spent chasing the wind.”
Solomon tells us, “I tried it every way a man can try it. I threw money, sex, cars, and big homes into the hole of my desires and at the end of the day, still empty”.
Solomon lived thousands of years before us, but we see the same attempts today as we did back then. The majority run after trophies of status, more money, popularity, power, and careers. We cross our fingers that bigger homes, newer cars, or expensive brand names make us feel something of worth. Parents live through their children in the class room, ball field, and their own hopes and dreams. All of us this hoping we become champions of some sort. However, all of our effort results in “chasing the wind”.
We cross our fingers that bigger homes, newer cars, or expensive brand names make us feel something of worth.
At the end of the documentary, this player, whose life was forever changed while holding the trophy above his head said, “Now that I have one championship, I feel as if I have to go get another.” Thousands of years ago Solomon tells us, “Whoever loves riches will never be satisfied with what they have.” A life chasing the wind is like a mule chasing the dangling carrot that is always out of reach. So many of us today are mules just telling ourselves that if we only sped up, then maybe we could reach that carrot. Chasing the wind.
I have spent the majority of my life chasing wind. There were moments I even felt like I grabbed on to something, just to realize that it slipped right through my fingers. I have focused all of my attention at times on climbing promotional ladders. I have screamed at my kids for not throwing the ball fast enough. I have even told myself that bigger and better would make me happy. I am embarrassed to admit that I have been that sad champion many times in my life. But through God’s good grace God has now called me to something greater.
God calls us to a better life, a more fulfilling life. God calls us to greater riches and trophies. Two years ago, I baptized my oldest son. Words cannot begin to describe that feeling or gift. To know that your child has eternity in Heaven and that God used you as a father to walk them closer to that graceful gift. I would not trade that trophy for a trillion dollars or any personal achievement.
God calls us to a better life, a more fulfilling life.
Now I see my championships in God’s calling. I know that I have three other children to pour into as I pray for God to use me in their lives the same way. I have friends that need godly encouragement, a wife to love, and a church to help lead. At the end of my time, these types of trophies will be what was “worth it all”. Not the trophies of gold or personal accomplishment those are the trophies that are meaningless, just wind.
Blessings,
