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From Meaningless to Satisfied—The Legacy of a Simplified Life

History touts Solomon, son of David and king of Israel during the tenth century BC, as the wisest man in the world at that time, and he was certainly one of the richest. If anyone could speak to the experience of having everything his heart desired, it was this guy. With limitless wealth at his disposal, Solomon pursued satisfaction with breathless abandon. He recorded his findings in the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes—twelve chapters of bare-fisted, intellectual street fighting about what matters in this world and what does not. He records what will satisfy us and what will leave us feeling as if all we did with our lives was chase the wind.

Solomon’s kingdom ended at his death, when the nation of Israel was split in two—the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah. We have seen seemingly indestructible empires collapse in our day as well. Who would have thought that companies like Oldsmobile, Blockbuster, and Lehman Brothers—multibillion-dollar companies—would just crumble and disappear?

Be careful where you pin your hopes and dreams. It’s not simply the risk that those things might not satisfy—that’s scary enough. It’s the risk that they might actually evaporate. Even if you succeed at building something great with your life . . . when you retire or die, then what? It could all turn to dust in a heartbeat. All your time and effort could end up blowing in the wind.

There’s no point in simplifying your life if you are steering toward an end point that doesn’t matter to begin with. In my opinion, Scripture records Solomon’s hedonistic odyssey to help us avoid wasting our lives like he did. We have the option of learning from his mistakes. Don’t get to the end of your days and realize you spent your one and only life on distractions. Don’t arrive at the end of your life still saying (in the words of the U2 song), “I still haven’t found what I’m looking for.”

Question for reflection: What legacy are you leaving behind? On your final day on this earth, when you look in the rearview mirror of your life, will you see a legacy that brings a sense of deep satisfaction?