Ecclesiastes 4:13-16 Better a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to heed a warning. The youth may have come from prison to the kingship, or he may have been born in poverty within his kingdom. I saw that all who lived and walked under the sun followed the youth, the king’s successor. There was no end to all the people who were before them. But those who came later were not pleased with the successor. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
Looking back on life can be very disturbing, if one has set out on life with the wrong foundation. Riches will fail you. Success and advancement will fail you. Popularity is fading. Almost hidden in this lament of one who knew - Solomon the king, who had all the riches, power, and popularity, is the one goal and guideline that will not leave you empty: wisdom. He had that too. That's why he was still around to share his stories. He did not check out, bail, cash in, give up and die. The only thing that will help as you look back on life are the wise decisions you have made - to follow Christ, to die to self, to live for God and others, and on down the line. Those are the things that matter and give peace to the aging soul.
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