The Middle

Here is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is the duty of every person. God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad. Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

After you live life for a while and have time to reflect, it is easy to fall into the “nothing’s worth it” syndrome. We see King Solomon at this place. He sums up his disgust at life in Ecclesiastes 2:11: “Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun” (KJV).

This attitude of giving up hit all areas of his life:

• Work doesn’t feel worth it. “Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit” (Ecclesiastes 2:17, KJV).
• Having people feel you are wise and having them want your counsel and opinion—doesn’t feel worth it. “And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? . . . and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun. This is also vanity” (v. 19, KJV).
• Having wealth doesn’t feel worth it. “He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity” (5:10, KJV).
• Never wanting for a thing, having everything you want anytime you want, doesn’t feel worth it. “A man to whom God hath given riches, wealth, and honour, so that he wanteth nothing for his soul of all that he desireth . . . this is vanity, and it is an evil disease” (6:2, KJV).
• Even being young doesn’t feel worth it. “Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart . . . for childhood and youth are vanity” (11:10, KJV).

Is anything “worth it” to Solomon? Can midlife disillusionment turn positive? Actually, yes, Solomon says, “Fearing God,” that’s the difference.