Our Only and All-Sufficient Portion
by Jared Waterbury from Meditations and Prayers 1840 Then I considered all that my
hands had done, and the toil I had expended in doing it. And
behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing
to be gained under the sun. Ecclesiastes chapter 2 verse
11 The author of the Book of Ecclesiastes
gives us his experience of the unsatisfying nature of all worldly
honors and pleasures. Everything that could please
the eye, charm the ear, gratify the taste, or amuse and enrich
the mind, was by him sought and enjoyed. The whole circle of
earth's pleasures was tested. But in the end awe is pronounced
vanity and a striving after wind. The disappointment results from
the very nature of the soul. Its capacity being illimitable,
no finite enjoyment can fully meet its enlarged desires. Nothing but a faithful discharge
of duty and the approving smile of God can make the soul happy. Give the soul whatever you will,
gratify every earthly wish. It will still be wretched if
it is without God. All below is vanity. The consideration that all worldly
good must so soon be relinquished is of itself enough to cast a
shadow over its enjoyment. The heart must feel that there
is nothing permanent here in this poor world. Life is but
a vapour. All earth-born pleasures are
transitory. Death withers every flower as
soon as it blooms. Man, too, is hurried to the tomb
and then forgotten. If then all below is stamped
with vanity, then, oh, let us seek our all in God. Let us relinquish
in desire what we have been accustomed so much to value, that the soul
may start anew in the race for a prize worthy of her struggles. and which, when obtained, will
amply reward her toils. Let us fix our eye on the unfading
crown of glory. Let us deliberately renounce
this vain world and take God for our only and all-sufficient
portion. whether on earth we are known
or unknown honored or despised let us seek after this one thing
to secure the favor of God to enjoy his presence and at last
to be with him and inherit his glorious kingdom. Prayer Unsatisfying,
O Lord, as the world is, still a strange infatuation exists
within our hearts which leads us to covet its distinctions
and its pleasures. As far as you have permitted
us to test the world's power to produce happiness, we have
been invariably disappointed. We have found it to be vanity
and vexation of spirit. Its sweetest pleasures have turned
bitter in the enjoyment. Its loveliest scenery cannot
charm us apart from you. Its honours, so far as obtained,
have proved but empty bubbles. Yet why, O Lord, do we still
hanker after these vain delights? Why do we not learn to evaluate
them at their true worth? Come into our souls with all
your fullness, and then our hearts will quickly bid adieu to them. You know that we are never satisfied. never happy when we're not living
unto you and holding sweet communion with you. You know how weary
is our soul, though surrounded with earthly good, if you are
not with us, or if we have failed to place you first in our affections. We will return to our rest. We fly to you our God once more. Heavenly Father, hear our humble
prayer. For Jesus' sake, Amen.