When Geeking Leaves Us Wanting More (In Search Of Truth, Ecclesiastes 3:11)

(Ecclesiastes 3:11, ESV) He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.

Ecclesiastes largely deals with the purpose of life and how we ought to view the every day grind of work. I had a great time off for the Christmas break, but unlike previous years I didn't end my time off with renewed energy and desire to get back into creative endeavors and other parts of the ministry I'm doing. I had gotten an almost unprecedented amount of physical rest and more time than usual on vacation to do the things I enjoy. But when it all came to an end I still just wanted more rest. How is that possible? What did I not do enough of? Was my entertainment time not as fun as it should have been?

I think a small part of the blame in my case can be placed on the type of games I like to play, which often involve a loot/experience progression loop that never ends and always begs me to do "just one more quest". Like potato chips, which I once heard were specifically designed not to be as satisfying as they could be, but rather to leave you with a lingering aftertaste that creates a craving for "just one more".

But the larger issue is that the rest we are able to experience in this life, even as believers on our best days of full dependence on the love and promises of Jesus, is limited. The ultimate and complete rest we are promised is something that is only partially fulfilled now and completely and perfectly fulfilled in Christ's future, eternal kingdom. Right now we have to strive to enter the rest God offers (Hebrews 4:10-11) but in Christ's future kingdom we will enter it fully.

(Revelation 21:4, ESV) He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

The Greek word for "pain" here means "great trouble, intense desire, pain, labor or toil."
Right now the book of Ecclesiastes calls us to look for and appreciate what good can possibly be found in our daily work. But one day we won't have to look for it, because the joy of work will be the only element left as the toil and labor of it is stripped away in the new creation.

There is beauty to be found in our work now, but God has also placed an awareness of an unending future in our inward being. Not enough that we can understand all that God is doing and planning, but enough to give us an awareness and even a hunger to find eternal significance in the daily grind.  (Ecclesiastes 3:11)

Maybe you're feeling the post-holiday blues, or maybe some geek entertainment let you down or left you wanting more at the end of the holiday break. The solution is not "more entertainment". You can give that a try but experience and virtually unlimited resources taught the author of Ecclesiastes that entertainment is not the solution. The answer, and what rest we can have now, is found in pursuing that built-in awareness of eternity and taking on the "yoke" of Jesus.

(Matthew 11:28-29, ESV) Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

A "yoke" in this context was an expression in ancient Jewish culture referring to collected teaching. Taking on the teaching of Jesus and learning from him brings rest to our souls, not a heavy burden. If we find ourselves burdened by life we are probably buying into a false "yoke" teaching us to find our worth and identity in the wrong things.

This is the time of year when we tell ourselves we'll start eating better, exercising or maybe even developing a new spiritual habit.

(1 Timothy 4:8, ESV) bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.

Positive physical habits have value. They result in bodies that work better and last longer, which can be of great use in both serving God and enjoying what he gives us. But "godliness" (in the Greek "reverence, respect toward God") has eternal value. And the foundation of pursuing godliness is a habit in scripture. (After all, scripture is where we learn what it even means to pursue godliness in day to day life.)

If you don't have a daily habit in the Bible, I want to encourage you to start one, or re-start one. Did you fall behind in your intended Bible reading schedule? Don't try to catch up! Just pick up the book and read today's portion. Read it cover to cover or skip around and avoid the parts that seem boring or strange. But put yourself in it every day.

That's something I'm still working on. I'm in scripture 6 days a week for one reason or another (prepping this content, research for writing, answering some one's question, etc.) And usually during the work week I'm in it for about 30 minutes "extra" each day as I just read the book for me. But all it takes is a hiccup in my schedule to take me away from that time, and I completely dropped it over my Christmas break. But God's mercies are brand new every morning, which means we really can hit that reset button as many times as we need to and God never gets tired out by our inconsistency. Every day is a new day to hit that reset button and start again.

If you don't have any ideas where to start and you're feeling the "back to reality blues", you might start with the book of Ecclesiastes, which deals with issues of work, depression, fulfillment and purpose and is a great place to start as we head into a new year.