Who Does It Benefit?
If I tried everything, why didn’t anything satisfy me?
At some point, we all sacrifice ourselves for a purpose. For example, when someone studies to become a professional in their field, they don’t go out much, they devote themselves to their studies, and do whatever it takes to stay on track. Another example is an athlete: to perform at a high level, they don’t eat whatever they want but what is necessary, they practice every day, and above all, they stay committed.
But these two examples have something in common: a purpose.
The student wants to improve; the athlete wants to perform at the highest level.
However, even though both have discipline and a human purpose, they still may feel empty. They try everything—even achieve success—yet still feel like something is missing.
Here comes the key question: Could it be that human purpose actually works against us?
“Oh, I did great things:
I built houses,
planted vineyards,
designed gardens and parks
and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them.
I made pools of water
to irrigate groves of trees.
I bought male and female slaves,
who then had children—giving me even more servants.
I acquired great herds and flocks,
more than anyone before me in Jerusalem.
I piled up silver and gold,
treasures taken from kings and provinces.
I gathered male and female singers to entertain me,
and—the most exquisite of all pleasures—
beautiful, voluptuous women for my bed.
Oh, how I prospered! I left everyone before me in Jerusalem far behind; I left them in the dust. And even then, I kept my sanity through it all.
Everything I wanted, I took—I never said no to myself.
I indulged every impulse, holding nothing back.
I drained the pleasure from every task—
my reward for a hard day’s work.
Then I looked carefully at everything I had accomplished, all the sweat and hard work.
But when I looked, I saw nothing but smoke. Smoke… and the wind spitting in my face.
Nothing meant anything. Nothing.”
— Ecclesiastes 2:4–11
Here, King Solomon is describing the guilt and emptiness he found when he lived far from God. Solomon had everything in abundance, yet still felt empty. In these verses he admits that everything he did, he did for himself and because of himself—but not for God.
That’s why the Bible says:
“Each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own desire.
Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin;
and when sin is fully grown, it brings forth death.”
— James 1:14–15
Our own desires and will open the door for evil to enter. In Solomon’s case, he had wisdom and human success, but over time that same greatness drew him away from God. When he saw how much he had achieved, he became filled with the human rather than the divine. His heart drifted from God’s will toward his own.
Everything that comes from the flesh—and not from the Spirit—separates us from God. So here is the final question:
What are we sacrificing for… our own will or God’s will?
Reflect on this: A student or athlete may sacrifice a lot, but if they don’t have the true purpose, they will feel empty—even if they reach success. And if the Lord Jesus had not sacrificed Himself—if in Gethsemane He had not said, “Let Your will be done, not Mine”—He would not have become our Savior.
