Today’s Reading: Ecclesiastes 6:7-12

For who knows what is good for a person in life, during the few and meaningless days they pass through like a shadow? Who can tell them what will happen under the sun after they are gone?

Ecclesiastes 6:12

Reflection: What is truly good for us? King Solomon, after all of his accomplishments, success, and fame at this point in his life, has still not experienced through these things the assurance of having lived a life that is worthwhile. He still wonders if he has experienced what is truly good. He describes how chasing after desires on earth, just as he has, is much like chasing after the wind. What, he asks, is the benefit of living this way?

All that Solomon has experienced is not enough for him. It is easy to try to discover life’s meaning based on what he knows and sees. But the deep unanswered questions Solomon ponders regarding meaning and goodness in life cannot be answered by his own perspective. They can only be answered through the perspective of God.

Solomon wonders: who knows what is good for a person in life? In other words, who knows what is worthwhile, purposeful, meaningful, significant? The answer is: God. Our Creator, Who knows us better than we could ever know ourselves, therefore knows what is best for us. The Eternal God, Who has seen the unfolding of history throughout time, knows what was, what is, and what is to come. Solomon’s questioning is similar to how we might wonder about our own lives: What is my purpose? How will I know when I’ve truly succeeded in life? What is best for me? Searching deep within ourselves for these answers only leaves us with more questions. But searching for these answers in God leads to true understanding of who we are meant to be and how we are meant to live. While the specifics of some of these answers is applied differently for each of God’s people, the overall answer is the same: we are meant to live in relationship with God. Throughout eternity, our purpose, our success, our meaning, our value will all be found with Him.

If you are searching today for answers to life’s deep questions, know that the answers you seek can only be found in God and discovered with Him. God did not design us to live without Him. He longs for us to live with Him. The One Who is truly Good is the only One Who knows what is good for us.

Prayer: Almighty God, You are my Creator and Sustainer. You know and understand all things. Life with You is a life of meaning and purpose. Life with You is truly good. Let me draw near to You LORD, that in my questioning You would give answers and in my uncertainty You would grant faith. I want to live a life with You. In Jesus’ Name I pray, AMEN.

Bible-in-a-Year Reading Plan (credit: Biblestudytools.com): Matthew 18:21-35; Numbers 7-8; Ecclesiastes 6