무익한 것에서 즐거움을 찾는 일은

💙 무익한 것에서 즐거움을 찾는 일은

 ✝  전도서 2:1 - 2:11 

“그 후에 내가 생각해 본즉 내 손으로 한 모든 일과 내가 수고한 모든 것이 다 헛되어 바람을 잡는 것이며 “
(전도서 2:11)

“나는 싫증나는 일을 좋아한다”는 블로그 창시자인 제임스 워드는 2010년에 “싫증 나는 컨퍼런스”라는 경연 대회를 개최 했습니다. 
그것은 간과하기 쉬운 보통 사람들의 평범한 하루 동안에 벌어지는 일을 기념하는 행사입니다. 과거에는 연사들이 주로 재채기나 자동판매기가 내는 소리, 1999년도 잉크젯 프린터 같이 별 의미 없는 주제들에 관해 강연했습니다. 
워드는 그런 것들이 싫증나는 주제일지 모르지만, 연사들이 평범한 주제로도 충분히 흥미롭고 의미 있을 뿐 아니라 즐겁기까지 한 이야기로 만들어 갈 수 있으리라고 생각했습니다.

수천 년 전, 가장 현명한 왕이었던 솔로몬은 별 의미 없고 평범한 일에서 즐거움을 찾는 일을 하기 시작했습니다. 그는 사업을 일으키고, 가축 떼를 사들이고, 부를 축적하며, 노래하는 사람들을 두고, 건물들을 지었습니다 (전도서 2:4-9). 
이런 일들 중 영예로운 일들도 있었지만 그렇지 못한 일들도 많았습니다. 솔로몬 왕은 그런 일들에 의미를 찾으면서 결국 모든 것이 헛되어 싫증날 뿐이라는 것을 알았습니다(11절). 

당시 솔로몬의 세계관에는 인간 경험의 한계를 넘어서는 하나님이 포함되어 있지 않았습니다. 하지만 궁극적으로 솔로몬은 하나님을 기억하고 경배할 때에만 비로소 평범한 일들 속에서 즐거움을 찾을 수 있다는 사실을 깨달았습니다(12:1-7).

우리가 온통 지루한 일들에 매몰되어 있을 때 날마다 우리 스스로 미니 컨퍼런스를 열어서 지루한 일들에 의미를 부여해 주시는 “[우리] 창조주를 기억”(1절) 합시다. 우리가 하나님을 기억하고 경배할 때, 일상에서 경이로움을, 평범한 것에서 감사를, 삶의 무의미해 보이는 것에서 즐거움을 찾을 수 있을 것입니다.

결코 만족할 수 없는 것에서 의미를 찾기가 힘든 이유는 뭘까요?
어떻게 하면 하나님께 헌신하며 그분을 경배하는 일에 우선순위를 재조정하고 하나님 안에서 당신의 의미를 찾을 수 있을까요?

<하나님, 제 삶의 대수롭지 않은 순간들을 하나님의 기쁨과 놀라움으로 가득 채워 주소서.>

1. 나는 내 마음에 이르기를 자, 내가 시험삼아 너를 즐겁게 하리니 너는 낙을 누리라 하였으나 보라 이것도 헛되도다 2. 내가 웃음에 관하여 말하여 이르기를 그것은 미친 것이라 하였고 희락에 대하여 이르기를 이것이 무슨 소용이 있는가 하였노라 3. 내가 내 마음으로 깊이 생각하기를 내가 어떻게 하여야 내 마음을 지혜로 다스리면서 술로 내 육신을 즐겁게 할까 또 내가 어떻게 하여야 천하의 인생들이 그들의 인생을 살아가는 동안 어떤 것이 선한 일인지를 알아볼 때까지 내 어리석음을 꼭 붙잡아 둘까 하여 4. 나의 사업을 크게 하였노라 내가 나를 위하여 집들을 짓고 포도원을 일구며 5. 여러 동산과 과원을 만들고 그 가운데에 각종 과목을 심었으며 6. 나를 위하여 수목을 기르는 삼림에 물을 주기 위하여 못들을 팠으며 7. 남녀 노비들을 사기도 하였고 나를 위하여 집에서 종들을 낳기도 하였으며 나보다 먼저 예루살렘에 있던 모든 자들보다도 내가 소와 양 떼의 소유를 더 많이 가졌으며 8. 은 금과 왕들이 소유한 보배와 여러 지방의 보배를 나를 위하여 쌓고 또 노래하는 남녀들과 인생들이 기뻐하는 처첩들을 많이 두었노라 9. 내가 이같이 창성하여 나보다 먼저 예루살렘에 있던 모든 자들보다 더 창성하니 내 지혜도 내게 여전하도다 10. 무엇이든지 내 눈이 원하는 것을 내가 금하지 아니하며 무엇이든지 내 마음이 즐거워하는 것을 내가 막지 아니하였으니 이는 나의 모든 수고를 내 마음이 기뻐하였음이라 이것이 나의 모든 수고로 말미암아 얻은 몫이로다 11. 그 후에 내가 생각해 본즉 내 손으로 한 모든 일과 내가 수고한 모든 것이 다 헛되어 바람을 잡는 것이며 해 아래에서 무익한 것이로다

 

💙 FINDING JOY IN THE MEANINGLESS

 ✝  Ecclesiastes 2:1 - 2:11 

“When I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was
meaningless, a chasing after the wind.”[ ECCLESIASTES 2:11 ]

In 2010, James Ward, the creator of the blog “I like Boring Things,” launched a conference called the “Boring Conference.” It’s a one- day celebration of the mundane, the ordinary, and the overlooked. 
In the past, speakers have addressed seemingly meaningless topics like sneezing, sounds that vending machines make, and inkjet printers of 1999. Ward knows the topics may be boring, but the speakers can take a mundane subject and make it interesting, meaningful, and even joyful.

Several millennia ago, Solomon, the wisest of kings, launched his own search for joy in the meaningless and mundane. He pursued work, bought flocks, built wealth, acquired singers, and constructed buildings (ECCLESIASTES 2:4-9). Some of these pursuits were honorable and some were not. Ultimately, in his pursuit of meaning, the king found nothing but boredom (V. 11). 

Solomon maintained a worldview that didn’t press beyond the limits of human experience to include God. Ultimately, however, he realized that he’d find joy in the mundane only when he remembered and worshiped God (12:1–7).

When we find ourselves in the whirlwind of tedium, let’s launch our own daily mini conference, as we “remember [our] Creator” (V. 1)—the God who fills the mundane with meaning. 
As we remember and worship Him, we’ll find wonder in the ordinary, gratitude in the mundane, and joy in the seemingly meaningless things of life.  MARVIN WILLIAMS

Why is it so hard to find meaning in things that can never satisfy? 
How do you need to reprioritize your commitment to and worship of God so you can find your meaning in Him?

<God, take the unremarkable moments of my life and infuse them with Your joy and wonder.>

1. I thought in my heart, "Come now, I will test you with pleasure to find out what is good." But that also proved to be meaningless. 2. "Laughter," I said, "is foolish. And what does pleasure accomplish?" 3. I tried cheering myself with wine, and embracing folly -- my mind still guiding me with wisdom. I wanted to see what was worthwhile for men to do under heaven during the few days of their lives. 4. I undertook great projects: I built houses for myself and planted vineyards. 5. I made gardens and parks and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. 6. I made reservoirs to water groves of flourishing trees. 7. I bought male and female slaves and had other slaves who were born in my house. I also owned more herds and flocks than anyone in Jerusalem before me. 8. I amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I acquired men and women singers, and a harem as well -- the delights of the heart of man. 9. I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem before me. In all this my wisdom stayed with me. 10. I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor. 11. Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.