4. And I saw that all toil and all achievement spring from one person’s envy of another. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. 5 Fools fold their hands and ruin themselves. 6 Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind. 7 Again I saw something meaningless under the sun:
What does it mean to chase the wind? Jesus said this, “The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going.” Paul used the illustration of wind as not having a firm conviction. Eph. 4:14 “Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.” That is how Solomon felt in describing life.
We see futility in correction the problems. Justice takes time. I am frustrated with how drugs take over our locale. Illegal drugs are continually affecting our society, yett the problem is growing instead of slowing down.
Look at the murders we witness. The more we scream about street violence and passing gun laws, the more it grows. Stopping evil is like chasing the wind.
I want fast justice done when I am the victim, but when I have committed a sin, I certainly am glad I have been granted some time to be put under conviction and hopefully, allow the power of the Spirit to bring repentance and cleansing from my sin - for all sin is evil before a Holy God. His patience is a testimony to His grace.
Solomon looked at evil from the position of one who was in power, but with the awareness of the ultimate power of the Lord. He saw himself as one anointed by the Lord to lead the people. He became aware that his part in God’s plan was to deal with problems in society for now, but he could never succeed in stopping sin.
In our own lives we struggle with sin. It may feel as if we chase the wind, but it is God’s design to change us so we can be change-agents in the world. There is a day coming when God, who knows the hearts and minds of each person and each action, will make things right. The cross was the turning point in defeating evil. The Holy Spirit comes into our lives to continue the cleansing process.
It is not enough to just see it exposed, but become the hands and feet of the Lord to affect our lives, our families, our churches, our societies. It is a job too large for any one of us. We need Jesus.
Application: Ask the Lord to show you where He is working and how He wants you to be a part of it.
Prayers: We need thee, Lord, we need Thee. Show me how to serve in a way that I am working in Your plan, Lord.
