Have you ever woken up one day, looked in the mirror, and
ask yourself: “Is there more to life than just being ridiculously
good-looking?” Or have you woken up and are already thinking about work at the
office? Or have you woken up and are not excited about the routine you are
about to face for the day? Have you ever asked yourself: “Is there more to life
than this?”
We assume that this question is only asked by those whose
lives are characterized by tad routine, or by an office worker who wakes up at
5AM and goes home at 10PM day in and day out, or by a construction worker who
wakes up every day to accumulate bodily pain that was just relieved by sleep,
or by a sidewalk vendor whose only hope to feed his family is for him to have
blisters on the soles of his feet from walking, or by a mother who stares at
the window of her shanty house waiting for the sun to set while her six
children play in the dusty street, or by a young man whose disfigured physical
appearance makes him unattractive to potential partners in life, or by the
child on the street whose hunger he tries to forget by inhaling glue, or by a
Christian reading the most boring blog ever.
We assume that these questions are asked only by those who
are suffering, needy, seemingly hopeless, or are bored of their lives. But in
reality, even the most successful people ask the same question and think about
such things. King Solomon is the prime example:
The words of the
Teacher, son of David, king in Jerusalem:
“Meaningless!
Meaningless!” says the Teacher.
“Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.”
“Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.”
What do people gain
from all their labors
at which they toil under the sun?
Generations come and generations go, but the earth remains forever.
The sun rises and the sun sets, and hurries back to where it rises.
The wind blows to the south and turns to the north;
round and round it goes, ever returning on its course.
All streams flow into the sea, yet the sea is never full.
To the place the streams come from, there they return again.
All things are wearisome, more than one can say.
The eye never has enough of seeing, nor the ear its fill of hearing
at which they toil under the sun?
Generations come and generations go, but the earth remains forever.
The sun rises and the sun sets, and hurries back to where it rises.
The wind blows to the south and turns to the north;
round and round it goes, ever returning on its course.
All streams flow into the sea, yet the sea is never full.
To the place the streams come from, there they return again.
All things are wearisome, more than one can say.
The eye never has enough of seeing, nor the ear its fill of hearing
(Ecclesiastes 1:1-8)
King Solomon felt a deep sense of emptiness amidst all the
best possible things everybody dreams to enjoy. The whole book of Ecclesiastes
portrays Solomon’s great dissatisfaction about himself and his achievements. He
was a great builder (his house and the Temple), but he wrote that even work and
toil are meaningless (Ecc 2:17-23). He was famous that even the queen of Sheba
heard of his name (2 Chron 9:1), yet he says that fame is meaningless (Ecc
4:13-16). He was rich. The Queen of Sheba gave Solomon lots of gifts (2 Chron
9:10-11; his wealth is recorded in 2 Chronicle 9:13-28). But he said that
riches are meaningless (Ecc 5:8-17). He was a learned man. When the Queen of
Sheba visited her, there was no question that Solomon could not answer (2 Chron
8:2). Yet at the end he said that wisdom is meaningless (Ecc 1:12-18; but
wisdom is greater than folly, Ecc 9:13-18). He had 700 wives and 300 concubines
(1 Kings 11:1-3). Yet he says that pleasures are meaningless (Ecc 2:1-11).
In all his accomplishments and the things he enjoyed,
Solomon found time to complain. Solomon even espoused a dangerous fatalism:
“Surely the fate of human beings is like that of the animals; the same
fate awaits them both: As one dies, so dies the other. All have the same
breath; humans have no advantage over animals. Everything is
meaningless. All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all
return” (Ecc 3:19-20).
The irony of Solomon’s statements is this: it is as if he
was asking the questions: Is there more to life than having fun all the time?
Is there more to life than being successful? Is there more to life than being
ridiculously good looking?
Solomon’s words portray that we can get tired of enjoying
and doing even the good things we have. We can get tired of the things we work
hard to attain. We can get tired of things that we think we will never get
tired of. We can get tired of things that we thought could satisfy all our
longings. We can get tired of things that we have prayed a long time for. We
can get tired even of the good things that we have.
We can get tired of our car, our house, our money, our
employment, our friends, food, of watching movies and TV series, etc. We can
get tired even of the things that give us joy, contentment, self-fulfillment, and
satisfaction. But the question is this: what if what makes us joyful, content,
and satisfied is doing the Lord’s work? Is it possible to get tired of the joy
of serving God?
I think Jesus felt the same moment of questioning. On the
night before He was crucified, He cried out in deepest agony to the Father,
asking if it was possible not to drink the cup of suffering and death (Matt
26:39, 42, 44). Jesus had been fully obedient to the Father’s will (John
15:10), serving God’s people in teaching, preaching, healing, exorcising, and
helping people in every way He could. I am certain that it was His greatest joy
to do all these things—all for the glory of the Father and for the sake of
people.
And yet, on the night before He would experience the
ultimate fulfillment of His mission, He became weary of continuing to do the
good and the righteous. It was as if He was asking: Is there more to life than
death? Is there more to life than suffering? Is there more to life than doing
the will of my Father? Is there more to life than just doing what is right? Is
there more to life than always prioritizing others’ needs before mine?
We, too, can ask the same questions: Is there more to life
than serving other people? Is there more to life than suffering for new
strangers? Is there more to life than attending meetings several times during
the week? Is there more to life than riding the bus for 45 minutes just to
attend a one and half hour morning service? Is there more to life than doing
the right things? Is there more to life than being dedicated to God and His
work? Many Christians, if not most, have already asked these questions, even
though they do not want to share it to others for fear of judgmental
condemnation. The reality is that we can also be tempted to be discontent and
to opt out even from godly things.
In a survey led by Dr. Richard J. Krejcir in 2005 and 2006,
with 1050 pastors in the USA as respondents, the following data were found out:[1]
100% knew someone who left the
ministry
90% said they are frequently
fatigued and worn out on a weekly or daily basis
89% considered leaving the
ministry at one time
57% would leave if they had a
better place to go – including secular work
77% felt they did not have a good
marriage
71% battle with depression beyond
fatigue on a weekly or daily basis
I do not know every discouragement, discontentment, and
challenge that song leaders face, or treasurers have, or other people have.
However, I know many people who worked in the Lord’s vineyard for many years,
and were known for their passion for God and His work, but are now struggling
to even regularly attend Sunday services. The reality is that no one is
impervious or invincible against burnout and forgetting our first love (Rev
2:3-4).
Whether we admit it or not, we have been confronted by this
self-induced question: Is there more to life than loving and serving God? Is
there a better life if I stop going to church? Is there a better life if I do
not faithfully give my tithes? Is there a better life if I stop sacrificing for
the church and start thinking of my own self?
Committed Christians can get tired of the godly and good
things they love doing. This is a scary reality. We can abandon even the things
that give us great joy and delight. We can feel discontent even when we are
serving in the work of the kingdom.
But when we are tempted to abandon what gives us joy today
in exchange for what we think will give us greater joy someday—wealth, power,
education, fame—let us remember that there was one man who said that all these
things are meaningless. When we abandon the godly things that give us joy to
pursue other things that will hopefully give us joy, we might end up losing joy
completely and find disaster instead.
Paul’s advice to Timothy is important: “Cling to your faith
in Christ, and keep your conscience clear. For some people have deliberately
violated their consciences; as a result, their faith has been shipwrecked” (1
Tim 1:19).
Rhea F. Miller wrote a poem that is very dear to me. It is
now one the most meaningful songs that Christians sing all around the world.
I’d rather have Jesus
than silver or gold;
I’d rather be His than have riches untold;
I’d rather have Jesus than houses or lands;
I’d rather be led by His nail-pierced hand.
I’d rather be His than have riches untold;
I’d rather have Jesus than houses or lands;
I’d rather be led by His nail-pierced hand.
Than to be the king
of a vast domain
Or be held in sin’s dread sway;
I’d rather have Jesus than anything
This world affords today.
Or be held in sin’s dread sway;
I’d rather have Jesus than anything
This world affords today.
I’d rather have Jesus
than men’s applause;
I’d rather be faithful to His dear cause;
I’d rather have Jesus than worldwide fame;
I’d rather be true to His holy name.
I’d rather be faithful to His dear cause;
I’d rather have Jesus than worldwide fame;
I’d rather be true to His holy name.
He’s
fairer than lilies of rarest bloom;
He’s sweeter than honey from out the comb;
He’s all that my hungering spirit needs;
I’d rather have Jesus and let Him lead.
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