FEB 4

Ecclesiastes 4:13-16
Memorise 1 Corinthians 9:25
"Better is a poor and a wise child…"

ARE YOU SEEKING AFTER POPULARITY?

It is likely, that in this next observation from Ecclesiastes 4:13-16, Solomon is actually speaking of himself, and possibly also looks ahead to lament on what will become of his kingdom. He first looks back at his own life, and acknowledges that he was much better in his youth, where he was poor, wise and humble, and sought the Lord for wisdom. As he aged, he fell away from God, and became an old and foolish king, who refused to take any advice at all from his subordinates, and the prophet sent by God (1 Kings 11), but instead tried to go against the will of God, to kill Jeroboam, the man whom God said would inherit the greater part of his kingdom. However it was to no avail, for Jeroboam fled into Egypt, away from the hand of Solomon. After Solomon died, he came ‘out of prison to reign’, and thus Solomon’s son who was born in his own kingdom became poor, and had only the tribe of Judah who was loyal to him. The people of Israel thus all went after the ‘second child’, who was Jeroboam, and were men who walk under the sun, seeking wealth, prosperity, and had no qualms about worshipping the idols set up by Jeroboam.

In this all, Solomon observes the fleeting nature of popularity, pride and the desire to gain the recognition of man, for one moment a king is popular, the next moment he is hated. One moment, a man is in captive out of his own country, the next moment he comes out of his captivity to rule a nation, and the prince who was to rule becomes poor. Such is the cycle of life, where there is a time to rend, to sew, to laugh, to mourn, of war and of peace. There is no certainty or solace that can be found in chasing after fame and pride, and of all these power struggles there is not end, for one king will soon be forgotten, and another will rise up in his stead. Again Solomon concludes that such is vanity and vexation of spirit.

Dear teen, do you find yourselves chasing after the fleeting pride of popularity and worldly achievements? Do you regard things like getting that SYF gold, or that place in the Combined School’s Team, or that National Schools competition medal something that we yearn after? Do we look up to those who have such achievements, and look down upon those who done? Realize that these things are but the vain accolades of men, and do not last. Instead, we ought to strive after wisdom, and godliness!

Thought: A medal made by man, or an incorruptible crown?
Prayer: Lord, may You guide me ambitions towards that of eternal things.