“I hated all the things I had toiled for under the sun, because I must leave them to the one who comes after me.” — Ecclesiastes 2:18 NIV

People love labels: athlete, musician, medical professional, academic, etc. I went from being insecure to quite confident when, in 6th grade, I discovered I was a pretty decent actor. Whenever I was cast in a play, I was on top of the world. Unfortunately, whenever I was turned down for a role, it was soul-crushing.

As soon as children can talk, adults start asking them what they want tobewhen they grow up, implying that what they do for a living will be the thing that most defines their lives. Is it any surprise that many of us grow up to be overworked and stressed out? Who are we if we aren’t accomplishing something significant?

Even worse, the amalgamation of occupation and identity leads countless retirees into a scheduled depression. They feel they suddenly become irrelevant in society. Whatever they accomplished while working is subject to becoming undone by younger hotshots who have no respect for their predecessors. This is the sad scenario we find discussed in chapter 2 of Ecclesiastes. But when we shift our focus from earth below to heaven above, we find hope in the realization that our true identity comes from being children of God. Our most enduring work is that which God began in us, that which God will continue to do until Christ returns (Phil 1:6).

Dear Lord, thank you that we aren’t required to labor and toil to earn your love. Help us to be secure in our God-given identities and to do all things for the sake of your kingdom. Amen.