When your life is over, what do you hope to have accomplished?
Droves of people believe that by becoming wealthy that they accomplish much. Yet, have you considered what is at the end of the road for a wealthy person? Ecclesiastes 2:18 says, “Then I hated all my labor in which I had toiled under the sun, because I must leave it to the man who will come after me.” Pile up all the cash and things that you can, but in the end you will leave it all behind.
For some, leaving something for posterity is exactly the thing for which they are working. Yet, speaking of the one who inherits wealth, Ecclesiastes 2:19 states, “And who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will rule over all my labor in which I toiled…” Leave a fortune behind and the odds are is that it will be ruined in a few years.
Then there is a more noble approach. Instead of possessions that will rust, what about leaving behind ideas and knowledge that people will treasure for decades to come? Again, Ecclesiastes 2:16 tells us, “For there is no more remembrance of the wise than of the fool forever, since all that now is will be forgotten in the days to come. And how does a wise man die? As the fool!” Many people have died believing their words or works would live on. Yet, very few people in history are remembered and what few who are remembered are often misrepresented or misunderstood.
The bottom line is that you cannot count on accomplishing anything in this world which will really last. Yet, there is something that will last for which we can work and hope. “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal” (Matthew 6:19-20).
There is something permanent for which we can all labor. It is eternal life with God in heaven for eternity. Are you looking for something that will really last? Then look to Christ, He offers everlasting life.
Does it sound too good to be true? For certain it sounds too good not to investigate to see whether it is true or not. Open the Bible and see for yourself.
Phillip Mullins