MAY 5

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

It is likely that in this next observation from Ecclesiastes 4:13-16, Solomon is actually speaking of himself, and possibly also looking ahead to lament the fate of his kingdom. He first looks back at his own life and acknowledges that he was better off in his youth, when 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 from his subordinates and the prophet sent by God (1 Kings 11). Instead, he 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 to 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 all followed Jeroboam, the ‘second child’, and were men who walked under the sun, seeking wealth and prosperity, and had no qualms about worshipping the idols set up by Jeroboam.

In all of this, Solomon observes the fleeting nature of popularity, pride and the desire to gain the recognition of man. One moment a king is popular, the next moment he is hated. One moment, a man flees from 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, for war and for 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 no 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 yourself chasing after popularity and worldly achievements? Do you regard things like getting that SYF gold, or that place in the Combined Schools’ team, or is that National Schools competition medal something to yearn after? Do we look up to those who have such achievements, and look down on those who don’t? Realise that these things are but the vain accolades of men, and they 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 my ambitions towards that of eternal things.