Finding True Satisfaction in God

Scripture — Ecclesiastes 2:22-28 (NIV)

What do people get for all the toil and anxious striving with which they labor under the sun? All their days, their work is grief and pain; even at night, their minds do not rest. This, too, is meaningless. A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their own toil. This, too, I see, is from the hand of God, for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment? To the person who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and happiness, but to the sinner, he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This, too, is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

Devotion

Growing up, school was cutthroat. Between standardized tests, specialized programs, and sports, I felt like I had to fight every day for a chance at better or more. Everything became a competition, a quest to climb the ladder of success in search of happiness. As a result, I relentlessly pursued my education and career, often to the detriment of my relationship with God and others. It wasn’t until the world shut down during COVID-19 that God recaptured my attention and encouraged me to think differently about work, life, and success. For the first time in forever, I had to rely on God. There were no more ladders to climb, only mountains of false doctrine that had led me to believe my worth depended on my productivity or accomplishments. That is when the real work began.

Through the stillness, I had time to reflect, and I discovered my toxic relationship with work. Rather than waiting on the Holy Spirit’s guidance to lead me to purpose, I had been trying to build it alone, chasing wealth and prestige over joy and fulfillment. In response, I met one dead end after another, never quite finding my footing in the marketplace or establishing a professional identity. The pandemic changed that by restoring my quiet time with the Lord. I couldn’t hide or pretend with God. I had to finally admit that after all this time of anxiously striving in school and at work, I still had no clue what I had been placed on earth to do. Despite presenting to the outer world the false bravado of wisdom, knowledge, and happiness, the truth was that I was experiencing overwhelming worry, fear, and stress about my future.

To what end?

In today’s passage, King Solomon reminds us that true satisfaction comes from God, not our anxious striving. Therefore, we must learn to find joy in pleasing God above ourselves: exhibiting faith, expressing appreciation, and laying our selfish ambitions to rest. When we trust in God’s plan for our lives, especially through challenges, we open ourselves up to experiencing peace and joy that transcends worldly achievements. Moreover, recognizing our blessings and expressing our gratitude to God fosters a positive mindset and invites us into a posture of genuine worship. Lastly, laying our selfish ambitions to rest encourages humility and inspires us to find our places within the kingdom of God’s people.

In this light, Solomon’s message becomes a guide for finding fulfillment in life. By prioritizing our relationship with God, expressing our gratitude, and serving others above ourselves, we can experience a deeper sense of satisfaction that reflects our true purpose.

Find all Life for Leaders devotions here. Explore what the Bible has to say about work at the unique website of our partners, the Theology of Work Project. Reflection on today’s Life for Leaders theme can be found here: Wealth (Eccl 2:18-26).