What and or Who are you chasing after?

Real Dudes,
​If I were to ask you to go outside and chase the wind, and report back once you’ve caught it…how would you respond?
If you chose to take on this challenge of attempting to chase the wind, then would you be able to come back and report that you were able to catch it, or that the task was meaningless? If meaningless, then why? 

King Solomon was the wisest man in scripture and he spoke much on this idea of chasing the wind.

Allow me to show a few scriptures in order for us to gain a better understanding of where King Solomon is coming from…

King Solomon, in all his wisdom states, in Ecclesiastes 1:14 (NLT) that, “I observed everything going on under the sun, and really, it is all meaningless--like chasing the wind.”

Ecclesiastes 2:11 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 2:17 (NLT) So I came to hate life because everything done here under the sun is so troubling. Everything is meaningless--like chasing the wind.

Ecclesiastes 2:26 (NLT) God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy to those who please him. But if a sinner becomes wealthy, God takes the wealth away and gives it to those who please him. This, too, is meaningless--like chasing the wind.

Ecclesiastes 4:4 (NLT) Then I observed that most people are motivated to success because they envy their neighbors. But this, too, is meaningless--like chasing the wind.

Ecclesiastes 6:9 (NLT) Enjoy what you have rather than desiring what you don’t have. Just dreaming about nice things is meaningless--like chasing the wind.

Other passages in scripture also speak to this idea of chasing…

• Proverbs 13:21: "Calamity will chase the wicked, but blessings will chase the righteous." 
• Proverbs 28:19: "The one who works his land will have plenty of food, but whoever chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty." 
• 1 Timothy 6:9-11: "But those who chase riches are constantly falling into temptation and snares. They are regularly caught by their own stupid and harmful desires, dragged down and pulled under into ruin and destruction." 
• Luke 12:29-34: "Don't chase after what you will eat and what you will drink. Stop worrying. All the nations of the world long for these things. Your Father knows that you need them. Instead, desire his kingdom and these things will be given to you as well." 
• Proverbs 31:3: "Don't waste your life chasing after women! This has ruined many kings." 
• Proverbs 8:10-20: [Wisdom says] "Prefer my life-disciplines over chasing after money." 

What are King Solomon and these other authors/passages attempting to communicate to us? 

These passages and Solomon’s point can be summed up in what the Apostle Paul teaches us in…

Philippians 3:8 (NLT) Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ

What are some common things we often find ourselves chasing after? 

• Materialism? Money, toys, additional properties, etc.
• Power? 
• Social Status? 
• Promotions?
• Popularity? 
• Selfish-gain?
• Self-gratification?

If you were to chase any of those things and actually get them, then how would that make you feel? King Solomon had everything any human being would ever want, and yet in all his wisdom he relays to us that it was all meaningless – like chasing the wind? 

Have you ever wanted something so bad that you just had to have it? And once you got it – it just didn’t feel right, it didn’t provide the joy you were anticipating it would provide...something was missing. And then all you're left with is buyer’s remorse? 

What or Who should we be chasing after? The common things we typically find ourselves chasing after aren’t necessarily sinful – it’s all about the heart motive behind it all. Why do you want _________ so bad? Do you want it more than you want a greater knowledge of and better relationship with Christ? If Christ comes in last place in your life, then all is meaningless – like chasing the wind. 
Practicing His Presence,
Nate