Store up treasures of eternal value — Ecclesiastes 2:1–26

If we agree that:

‘All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: ‘ — 2 Timothy 3:16

then we know that the central theme of the scriptures is Christ

‘God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; ‘ — Hebrews 1:1–2

This makes it clear to us that “The Preacher” wasn’t merely talking about the futility of mortal life. This knowledge should also make us ask this question: How does this point to Christ?

The mortal life is temporal

The Preacher started this passage by explaining to us how he was searching out what a person can commit their life on the Earth to doing that would be fulfilling; see:

‘I sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting mine heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was that good for the sons of men, which they should do under the heaven all the days of their life.

I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards:

I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all kind of fruits:

I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees:

I got me servants and maidens, and had servants born in my house; also I had great possessions of great and small cattle above all that were in Jerusalem before me:

I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces: I gat me men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, as musical instruments, and that of all sorts.

So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me.

And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour. ‘ — Ecclesiastes 2:3–10

He came to a shocking conclusion:

‘Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun. ‘ — Ecclesiastes 2:11

It was all futile.

What our focus should be

Why did he say it was futile?

‘Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.

For there is no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool for ever; seeing that which now is in the days to come shall all be forgotten. And how dieth the wise man? as the fool. ‘ — Ecclesiastes 2:11,16

It was futile because it will eventually pass away; it might take 1 year, 2 years, 100 or 200 years but it eventually passes away.

This does not mean we shouldn’t strive to do our best in our domains — quite the opposite, as there’s a scripture for this — it instead is pointing us to what we should focus on.

‘And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. ‘ — Luke 12:15

‘ Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:

but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. ‘ — Matthew 6:19–21

Laying up treasures in Heaven

‘I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. ‘ — 2 Timothy 4:7–8

We lay up treasures by doing the work of the ministry; this is the work that has been committed to us as Sons of God.

‘And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; ‘ — 2 Corinthians 5:18

We fulfil this ministry not just by preaching with our words, but with our lives also— Christ must not be evil spoken of because of us.

‘The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, ‘ — Acts 1:1

‘Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. ‘ — 1 Timothy 4:12

Action for today

Sincerely sit down and ask yourself this question: have I been a faithful ambassador of Christ?

We have an anchor for our soul in Christ whom we become more and more like as we stay studying the word.

‘But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.’ — 2 Corinthians 3:18