If It's Pointless, Why Bother?

The Teacher says,

    “Useless! Useless!

Completely useless!

    Everything is useless.”

What do people really gain

    from all the hard work they do here on earth?

Ecclesiastes 1:2-3

Please bear with me here.....

"What's the point?"  "Why bother?" "Why should I try?"  We've all thought or even said these (and similar such things) at some point of our life, and usually with some degree of frustration.  If nothing is new, why should we bother?  If all our work here is just a continuation of everything that has happened before?

If we think hard enough, we will discover that, while automobiles are wonderful and can take us places really fast, airplanes are faster.....but they both are just forms of transportation, just like walking.  We build buildings.  Taller and taller buildings.  More luxurious buildings.  Yet they are the are just a roof over our heads like caves.  We like to think the things we do are new and fresh and unique.  But they're really just variations on what's already been said and done.

But before we give up and just stop trying, there is one thing that is different about endeavor...YOU!  You see, we are made in God's image and none of us are exactly the same (can I get a Hallelujah!).  And the point Solomon is trying to make here is that, while all of our actions here are mere variations on previous versions, WE are different and those who believe Jesus' words know that He promised to come back and get us to take us to be with Him.  Why would He do that if we were pointless and useless.  

What we do here on Earth may seem pointless, but someone will see your actions and realize that YOU are different.  They will want to know why YOU are different (your attitude, your outlook, your happiness, your uniqueness), and THAT is where you get to share your story which can make all the difference to that one person.

We tend to get bored very easily and quickly but it's our perception of our life that makes the difference.  Change your perception; Change your perspective; and you will change your life.

Parrot It Back!

And so the Lord says,
    “These people say they are mine.
They honor me with their lips,
    but their hearts are far from me.
And their worship of me
    is nothing but man-made rules learned by rote.

Because of this, I will once again astound these hypocrites
    with amazing wonders.
The wisdom of the wise will pass away,
    and the intelligence of the intelligent will disappear.”

Isaiah 29:13-14 

 

I'm rather unorthodox, in case you haven't figured that out by now.  And I also am guilty of having pet peeves (shocking, I realize).  One of the practices that absolutely drives me up the wall is when I hear people mechanically parrot back verses or prayers they have learned with the monotonous deadpan delivery of a dying robot.  

 

I hear people read or recite the Lord's Prayer with all the enthusiasm of rock, and I wonder if these same people have actually read (and understand) what they are parroting back or are they just saying words they have memorized.  

 

Let me ask you something, if you spoke to your friends with the same monotonous tone that your recite scripture, would they still be your friends?  Scripture is full of LIFE and Passion!  

 

On the other side of this coin are the people who claim to be believers, but the choose to act like anything but.  Take tithing, for example, according to the Law we are to give the first part of what we receive.  Yet we have people who will calculate to the exact cent how much tithe to give (if they give at all).  Giving should be with a cheerful heart, not because we just HAVE to give.  Let's put it this way, we HAVE to pay taxes, we should WANT to give our offerings.

 

When you stand before God, will you be welcomed because you followed the rules or because you lived life as God intended...with passion!  Is church dull and boring for you, think about why?