Only Jesus Satisfies
The wise person has his eyes in his head, but the fool walks in darkness. And yet I perceived that the same event happens to all of them. Then I said in my heart, “What happens to the fool will happen to me also. Why then have I been so very wise?” And I said in my heart that this also is vanity.
Ecclesiastes 2:14-15
Psalm 49:10 says, “For he sees that even the wise die; the fool and the stupid alike must perish and leave their wealth to others.” So in the end, does it matter if we are wise or foolish? Everyone will have the same outcome.
It seems that having wisdom and using it should make a difference, especially as compared to living a foolish life. Shouldn’t there be some reward or benefit to those who live wisely than for those who are foolish? A different outcome depending on how you live your life? If we all die, what are the advantages to wisdom and using it to live a better life? Solomon asks the very same questions in these verses.
It is perplexing, but also interesting to realize that until we have an eternal perspective, we will be lost our whole entire lives in an endless circle of living and trying to figure out what will make us happy. By ourselves, we will continue to be frustrated, making wrong decisions and not enjoying life. The search for happiness is endless. Unless or until we encounter the God who created us, we will live an empty, meaningless life. Knowing this sheds an important light on our purpose in life once we do encounter God. The desire to tell the world of this thing they are missing and that knowing God we can be completely satisfied.
I think of this song that is popular again today with music by Karl Digerness. It was written years ago in 1875 by Clara T. Williams.
I had to include the remaining verses:
- Feeding on the filth around me, til my strength was almost gone. Longed my soul for something better, only still to hunger on.
- Poor I was, and sought for riches, something that would satisfy. But the dust I gathered round me only mocked my soul’s sad cry.
- Well of water, ever springing, bread of life, so rich and free. Untold wealth that never faileth, My Redeemer is to me.
- Hallelujah! I have found Him, whom my soul so long has craved! Jesus satisfies, all my longings; through His blood I now am saved.