🛑 As we read through the book of Ecclesiastes, may our hearts see the warning in a life that pursues self in any form—whether through success, pleasure, wisdom, or hard work—and instead be drawn to pursue God, the only One who gives true meaning and lasting joy.

📌 Scripture Focus:

“Everything is meaningless,” says the Teacher, “completely meaningless!”
‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭1‬:‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“Everything is wearisome beyond description. No matter how much we see, we are never satisfied. No matter how much we hear, we are not content.”
‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭1‬:‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“I devoted myself to search for understanding and to explore by wisdom everything being done under heaven… it is all meaningless—like chasing the wind.”
‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭1‬:‭13‬-‭14‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“Anything I wanted, I would take… But as I looked at everything I had worked so hard to accomplish, it was all so meaningless—like chasing the wind.”
‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭2‬:‭10‬-‭11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“So I gave up in despair, questioning the value of all my hard work in this world.”
‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭2‬:‭20‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy to those who please him…”
‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭2‬:‭26‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“And I know that whatever God does is final… God’s purpose is that people should fear him.”
‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭3‬:‭14‬ ‭NLT‬‬

✏️ Scripture Observation:
Solomon, now an older man, writes Ecclesiastes after years of living in compromise and spiritual decline. Though he once walked closely with the Lord—building the Temple and asking for wisdom—he eventually turned away from God. This book reflects the empty conclusions of a man who had everything yet lost the most important thing: intimacy with God. His words come from a place of reflection, regret, and revelation.

💭 Devotional:
Solomon started out strong. When he first became king, he sought the Lord wholeheartedly. He asked for wisdom instead of riches (1 Kings 3:9–13), and the Lord honored that request. He built the Temple of the Lord and dedicated it with a powerful prayer (1 Kings 8). His love and fear of God were evident in the early part of his reign.
But then came compromise.
With all that power, freedom, and wealth, Solomon drifted. He married many foreign women who worshiped other gods, and he allowed idolatry to enter the land (1 Kings 11:1–10). He built high places for false gods and turned his heart away from the Lord. Though he had wisdom, he stopped walking in it.
So Ecclesiastes is the voice of a king who had lived a life of compromise, idolatry, and self-pursuit—and found it all meaningless. He had everything the world runs after: pleasure, wealth, success, and influence. Yet without God at the center, it was all like chasing the wind.
This is a truth many of us have felt. Before I came to know Jesus, life felt meaningless. I used to wonder: What’s it all for? That question is universal—people of all ages ask it, especially teens: Who am I? What’s my purpose?
But when I gave myself fully to the Lord, everything changed.
Now I live with purpose. My life has meaning because I live to glorify God. I don’t live for self anymore—I live to please the One who created me. Serving Him, walking in His ways, and being a light for Him brings deep joy and fulfillment. I have a relationship with God that leads into eternity.
Even Jesus said:

“If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me.”
—Luke 9:23 NLT

A life lived for self is empty. A life lived for God is full.

🧠 Lesson for Me:
Only God can fill the emptiness in our hearts. Wisdom, work, and pleasure are gifts—but apart from God, they can never satisfy. Meaning is found when we live for His glory and not our own.
🔍 Application Questions:

1. In what areas of my life have I been chasing the wind?
2. Am I walking in obedience and surrender like Solomon did in his early years—or drifting like he did later?
3. What’s one area I need to give back to God today to live with real purpose?
4. 
   

🙏 Prayer:
Lord, You are the only One who gives meaning to life. Help me not to chase after empty things. Remind me that You are my portion, my joy, and my purpose. I want to live a life that pleases You and brings You glory. Keep my heart from compromise and draw me closer every day. In Jesus’ name, Amen.