Remedy For Futility

But as I looked at everything I had worked so hard to accomplish, it was all so meaningless – like chasing the wind. There was nothing really worthwhile anywhere. Ecclesiastes 2:11 (NLT)

The Greek mythological figure, Sisyphus, was said to have cunningly cheated death twice. When he finally died, he was mercilessly punished in the underworld. He was condemned to push a boulder up a hill only to watch it roll down to the bottom before it reached the top. He would then have to retrieve the boulder and push it up the hill again with the same result. This endless exercise is the epitome of futility.

We all feel this way in different seasons of our lives. We feel like we are on a treadmill that society has put us on, going nowhere fast. We work at a job that doesn’t give us a sense of satisfaction. We fill our lives with things that give us temporary pleasure. We fill our free time with endless scrolling on our electronic devices, which negatively impacts our well-being. We start to wonder what this life that we have been given is all about.

Our Worthwhile Offering

God, our Grand Designer, has not designed us for futility. God knew His intentions for us when He designed us, even before we were born. His intentions are not for us to live futile lives. We have not been placed here on earth at a whim, at the behest of an autocratic Creator. No, we have been lovingly and intentionally designed and formed by the hand of our Father. 

But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand. Isaiah 64:8 (ESV)

Our Father has good intentions, good plans for us (Jeremiah 29:11). His intentions for us are to be part of His grand and magnificent plan for the world we live in. To use the gifts and talents that He has given us so that we can positively impact our spheres of influence. When we partner with Him in restoring the brokenness in this world, we will seek justice for the oppressed (Isaiah 1:17).  

This is what James calls pure and undefiled religion. (James 1:27). Religious service that extends love, grace and mercy to the marginalised in society. Our heavenly Father has given us the remedy for futility. He calls us to partner with Him in His plan of restoration. This is a call to all followers of Jesus Christ, whether we are immensely talented or not. Whether we have little or much. Our miracle-working God can take the little we have and multiply it when we give it to Him. This will be our worthwhile offering to Him.

Give justice to the poor and the orphan; uphold the rights of the oppressed and the destitute. Psalm 82:3 (NLT)

Reflection:

Do you feel that your life has somehow gotten into a rut, become mundane or even futile? Ask the Lord to show you what you can do to partner with Him.

Prayer:

Thank You, Lord, that You did not design and form me to live a futile life. Show me, Lord, how to get out of the rut that I find myself in. Help me partner with You in Your plan of restoring what is broken in this world. In Jesus’ name, amen.