1 Samuel 1, Ecclesiastes 2, James 5

Reading Hannah's story makes me cry. Her inability to conceive brought shame, scorn and ridicule. She lived daily in misery, each month fresh with disappointment. For years. And prayer changed everything. Prayer changed everything for her personally and for her nation. She was not only a woman of prayer, but of her word. When the time came to relinquish her son, she didn't back out.

Hard things drive us to prayer. It is when life eases up that we find out if we meant what we prayed.

Solomon discovered that accumulating things didn't bring fulfillment. Not even wisdom was able to make him content. He failed to recognize two things. In the words of John Maxwell,  "All . . . have two major voids:

1. The God-sized vacuum inside their heart; only the Lord can fill it.
2. The life-sized vacuum inside their heart; only their life mission can fulfill it."

James recognized the vacuums. He addresses them here. Accumulating things not only leaves a void, but also leads to sin. Solomon worried that his descendants would do foolish or sinful things with his wealth. And he searched for the meaning Hannah found. A life mission. James found it, too, and encourages his readers. He instructs us how to live while we wait for the ultimate fulfillment--the return of Christ.

Ruth 4, Ecclesiates 1, James 4

The story of the redemption of Ruth is powerful. The whole concept of the rite of redemption was instituted by God to show us what Jesus Christ would do for us: buy us back. Boaz bought Naomi's property back, and that included Ruth. He was not the closest relative, so he was not obligated to do it. But he wanted to. I think he loved Ruth. Jesus Christ didn't have to redeem us either, but He wanted to because He loves us. Boaz and Ruth became the great-grandparents of King David, who was an ancestor of Jesus.

Solomon's perspective as he wrote Ecclesiastes sounds hopeless. And it was, as long as he focused on earthly pleasures and systems. Only in looking above and beyond what we see and experience on earth do we find purpose and meaning. Ruth found purpose in following God. Solomon should have followed her example.

James draws the conclusion Ruth drew and Solomon ultimately did. Focus on the world and ourselves leaves out God and is worthless. Waiting on God and trusting Him for the outcome is priceless.