TLIC FAMILY. DAY 77. MARCH 18: ALL IS VANITY.

THINK TOGETHER

What makes you feel important?

READ TOGETHER

There’s a book in the middle of your Bible called Ecclesiastes. Can you find it? Ecclesiastes is a difficult book to read because it’s all about how hard life is. The book of Proverbs said that if we trust God, we can have a good life. But Ecclesiastes says that it’s really hard to have a good life because things go wrong and they don’t last. Ecclesiastes is not a very fun book. Listen to how it begins:

Ecclesiastes 1:1-3. The words of the Teacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. ²Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity. ³What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun?

Have you ever watched steam coming off your hot cocoa, or your breath on a cold winter’s day? The Teacher says that’s what our lives are like. Short. Very short. Like steam. And worse, he’s saying that our lives aren’t very important.

Do you remember The Circle of Life song at the beginning of The Lion King? The song describes life as one big circle that we are all born into. And in this circle there’s too much to do, and too much to see, and too much to “take in.” And so we each have to “find our place on the path unwinding in the circle of life.” Ecclesiastes warns us about chasing after things that we think will help us find our place in life. Things like being rich or smart, or by working hard at something. All of these things are good things that God gives to us to help us enjoy life and worship him. But none of these things will last forever. Eventually they will all come to an end. They are like the steam on your hot cocoa.

The truth is only one thing lasts forever. God. When you trust in Jesus, and his death on the cross for you, then you can share in God’s eternal life of goodness and love. No more being a vapor. No more circle of life. Jesus becomes the most important thing in your life. Now being loved by Jesus and loving like Jesus, and helping others to know Jesus’ love is what gives life it’s meaning.

Because of Jesus my life is important to God.

With Jesus I can make knowing and sharing God’s love the most important thing.

DO SOMETHING TOGETHER

Watch “The Circle of Life” together. Talk about how the lion family is putting their hope in something that will eventually end (baby Simba – later Mufasa will say they all just turn into grass). But Jesus offers us unending life and happiness.

PRAY TOGETHER

Jesus, thank you for loving me and teaching me how to love others. Amen.