“I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind.”

-Ecclesiastes 1:14 (NIV)

The King James version says all works under the sun are “vanity and vexation of spirit.”

All Human Desires are Vain 

 “…, [chasing the wind describes] the sense of emptiness which accompanies unsatisfied desire.”

– Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Commentary

This verse means putting effort towards something you think will satisfy a desire, only for you to realize you wasted your effort because it didn’t fulfill the desire you thought it would.

For example, I love pecan pie and the day after thanksgiving I get hungry. Thankfully no one else in my family loves pecan pie, so there is a good chance, at least in my mind, that the pie will be in the refrigerator. I put in the effort by getting out of bed, putting down my book, and walking down the stairs to the kitchen. Opening the fridge, I realize there is no pie left. I rip out all the fridge contents, and next thing I know, there is this massive mess on the floor. Grimacing, I realized I stepped in ketchup, which I spilled, and now my fuzzy white socks are dyed red. All of this for some pecan pie, and I can’t even find it. This probably isn’t the best example, but it works.

Another example of chasing my own desires is when I dwell on things against God. I love movies, too. And more than once I have watched scary movies where afterward, I realized I probably shouldn’t have seen.

Under and Above the Sun

The king of wisdom and knowledge, also known as Solomon, wrote the book of Ecclesiastes. He is talking about how he has realized that everything under the sun is pointless and vain. Well, if everything is meaningless, why do anything?

To answer that question, we have to remember the difference between under and above the sun. Everything done under the sun implies it is the work of humankind. So, yes, all things done by Homo sapiens is, in fact, all for naught. All of man’s wants and twisted desires of one’s heart are innumerable. It is infinite; however, God has placed desires in our hearts for a reason. Those are above-the-sun works. All inspirations, all desires, all God-given jobs are things above the sun.

If a construction worker uses a piece of machinery to complete a job, who is doing the work? The brain behind the job, or the lifeless hands and feet completing the task? I would argue the brain behind the job is the one working. It is the same with us.

Those of us who become vessels of Christ allow Him to work in us. God’s desires, inspirations, and work are above-the-sun jobs. If so, why do anything? Because God has called us to follow individual Godly desires to fulfill. He does the work, and we are the machinery He uses. God is the brain, and we are the body.

Determining the difference

How do I determine which desires are above the sun and which are under the sun? 

 it says it right there in the verse: “all is vanity and vexation of the spirit.” All the under-the-sun work will be for my own glory, and they will drain the life out of me. Above-the-sun works will be for God’s glory and will fill me with the breath of life.

I have to evaluate what daily and long-term desires I have and focus on above-the-sun desires. Which desires are for God’s glory? And which are for my own vanity? For that answer, check back on my blog soon as I have a post on this subject coming soon!

Dwelling on the everlasting

To be straight to the point, we are like the wind, here one minute and gone the next, so why do we deserve glory like God? Our focus should be on the concrete, and the Bible says the only never-changing thing is God. He is the only being worthy of our praises.

“For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.”

James 4:14b NKJV

Just as a child cries out for their parent, holding their arms out for someone to pick them up, we must learn to reach out to God, crying out to Him to work in a situation instead of relying on ourselves and even others to rescue us.

Prayer

God, show me where my focus has turned from Your glory and to “wind.” Keep me from chasing my own vain desires, Lord. Keep my heart from being comforted by temporary fixes and meaningless goals. I will pass like the wind, my life is only a vapor, but You will never change or melt away. Guide my heart to focus on the everlasting goodness of Your character, God. Make my heart be unsatisfied with the glory of myself and give me a hunger to glorify and praise You. Teach me to grasp for You instead of for me, Amen.