Vanity?

So,on Friday nights our group has been studying Ecclesiastes. And of course, everyone agrees about how depressing, or negative most of the book is. Strangely enough, I've never looked at it that way. I've always found this book to be refreshing. It kind of feels like a grandpa sitting down to tell his kids/grandkids "Nothing we do on this earth is really worth anything, unless we do it for the Kingdom of God. So enjoy whats here, because its a gift from God, but live to further the eternal Kingdom" That idea, for me, is refreshing and freeing. I don't have to live fore whats here, because it all passes away and comes to nothing. Only the eternal remains. So only whats done for Christ will remain. That really makes me happy. Its not about the pain, grief, struggle, and injustice..(or economy) of this world. That all really means nothing, except what it refines in us for Christ's sake!! Matt and I caught up with the group by reading through Chap 3, and here is what stuck out to me:

12 I know that nothing is better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives,
13 and also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor—it is the gift of God.
14 I know that whatever God does,
It shall be forever.
Nothing can be added to it,
And nothing taken from it.
God does it, that men should fear before Him.
15 That which is has already been,
And what is to be has already been;
And God requires an account of what is past.

So after all the negativity about meaningless things, we have here a beam of light. He wants us to see here that even though all the labor and strife of the world is for no real gain, we are to enjoy the good of our labor as a gift from God. Not to be bound to it...or to gain our worth from it, but to enjoy. Why? Because we have the assurance that what God does...He does forever. It lasts, it does not pass away. Our work for the Kingdom does not pass away as this earth will, it stands firm to the end. (Only, of course, because God gave us the grace and strength to do it in the first place.)

And God requires an account. So to waste the life away doing nothing for others, and wasting our money with no conviction...we will give an account. This book as to be seen in light of other scripture. We cant see the meaninglessness as a freedom to do nothing. It simply means our work here is not our master. Enjoy the fruit of our work...not work double the hours just to have a higher grade house or car at the expense of family or the Church body.

Its complicated to think about sometimes. For me, it is a breath of fresh air. This world has nothing for me, except a way to serve Christ faithfully until He sets up the real Kingdom I live for. Until then, I just pray that I can be faithful in my work, and in my relationships, and in my life. To please Him. That is the goal.

For what is eternal life?

John 17:3 And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.