Proverbs 27:17
Monday, February 23, 2026
This Teaching Clip made me think of you. Watch MONDAY NIGHT PRAYER - LECTIO 365 by 24-7 Prayer:
This Teaching Clip made me think of you. Watch MONDAY NIGHT PRAYER - LECTIO 365 by 24-7 Prayer:
Why Do I Need to Work
Why Do I Need to Work
One of the (few?) comforts to be taken from Ecclesiastes is that people have complained about their jobs for thousands of years.
But, really, work can feel like meaningless stress. Especially for those of us who just need a job, any job, to pay the bills and keep food on the table. Enjoying work is a luxury that’s hard to imagine. And, even those of us blessed with “dream” jobs have parts of it that feel monotonous or frustrating.
Yet, for many of us, work is where we spend a majority of our lives. So, the work of our hands matters, regardless of what it may be. The question becomes, what’re we working for? Many of our earthly motivations are fleeting and lead to more stress than they’re worth. Yet, work can shape us into the type of people who reflect Jesus better: peaceable, generous, kind, and humble.
Some seasons of stress or crummy jobs might be unavoidable. But, let’s cling to the values that really matter along the way as we pray God continues to shape us into people more like him. Often, who we’re becoming is more important than what we’re doing.
What’s the Point?
What’s the Point?
There once lived a king whose experience exploring and grappling with life’s perplexities was recorded in the book of Ecclesiastes.
What’s interesting is that this king—likely King Solomon—reigned in Israel during some of the best years in its history. From the world’s standards, he had more power, prestige, and wealth than any other person before him. Yet, still, he summarized his luxuries with one depressing word: Meaningless!
“Everything is meaningless!” (Ecclesiastes 1:2) “Everything is wearisome beyond description.” (Ecclesiastes 1:8) “Nothing under the sun is truly new.” (Ecclesiastes 1:9) “I observed everything going on under the sun, and really, it is all meaningless—like chasing the wind.” (Ecclesiastes 1:14)
Though written thousands of years ago, this bleak analysis still resonates with our own restless yearning for more. We want more than meaningless stuff. We want more than surface-level connections and ambitions. We want more than a seemingly thriving, yet secretly unsatisfied life. We want more—but what we want doesn’t typically satisfy us.
Like the author of Ecclesiastes, we might find ourselves asking: “What is the point of life?”
By the end of the book, “the Teacher” has tried to find meaning in everything under the sun, and he concludes his reflections with these powerful words…
“Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind.”
Ecclesiastes 12:13 NIV
We can chase after everything this world has to offer and it might bring temporary pleasure. But in the end, pursuing those things apart from God will always leave us empty.
The great news is, there’s a God in heaven who created and loves us, and He understands what we really need. He knows that life is best when we follow His design for life. He is worthy of our awe, our honor, and our worship.
So, fear God and keep His commandments. Love Him with everything in you and love your neighbor as yourself. That is the point. Only then will life no longer be meaningless.
This Teaching Clip made me think of you. Watch Ecclesiastes 12:13 by Phil Pringle:
This Teaching Clip made me think of you. Watch Ecclesiastes 12:13 by Phil Pringle:
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