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by Kevin Pauley
Therefore, I hated life because the work that was done under the sun was distressing to me. For everything is futile and a pursuit of the wind. I hated all my work at which I labored under the sun because I must leave it to the man who comes after me. And who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will take over all my work that I labored at skillfully under the sun. This too is futile. – Ecclesiastes 2:17-19 (HCSB)
Even the best of jobs can become too much to bear at times. Doing the thing we love best can also become overwhelming. What was once therapeutic can become backbreaking. When you cross the line from hobby to profession, a certain degree of pleasure is lost. The stress of filling orders and satisfying clients as opposed to working as your artistic bent directs can frustrate, aggravate and irritate.
And all this work may be for naught! At some point, you will die and your efforts will only go to another who may not appreciate it as you do[1].
Ministry is usually a multigenerational endeavor. It sometimes takes several generations to make a difference in an area. The minister who faithfully tills the soil of his congregation’s souls runs the risk of another coming after him and negatively changing the church’s direction. Worse, the next man may be a wolf in sheep’s clothing and the pastor’s life’s work can down the tubes.
It’s as though we climb the ladder of success and when we finally reach the top, we realize there’s nothing there! Worse, we realize we’ve leaned our ladder against the wrong wall in the first place!
Jesus gently addressed this issue of purpose when He asked, “What is a man benefited if he gains the whole world, yet loses or forfeits himself?”[2] We get so caught up in our various careers, interests and passions that we sometimes forget their purpose. Everything in life should draw us toward God and away from sin. Each action, each thought, each word, each endeavor should be a means to cultivate d’vekut with God. Gaining everything this world has to offer, but losing our soul in the process would be the height of tragedy.
We need to practice teshuvah – turning from the dead, dry offerings of this world and turning toward the Giver of Life. Only through the Spirit of the Lord can the old, scattered, dry and broken bones of our ambitions become living, breathing creatures.[3] Only God can breathe new life into our tired aspirations.[4] Who can eat and who can enjoy life apart from the Lord?[5]
We must set aside our selfish ambition, shoulder our cross daily and follow Him. If we try to keep our lives for ourselves, we will lose them. But when we become willing to dedicate our passions to Him and to the service of others, then we will find true life.[6]
Kevin Pauley is a pastor and writer. He lives in Illinois with his wife, Lynn, their five children and two dogs. His internet address is Berea.
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