The American Dream vs. The Kingdom Dream | Ecclesiastes 2:9-11

We’re told that if we work hard enough, chase success, and indulge in life’s pleasures, we’ll finally be happy. That’s the American Dream, right? But what if that dream is too small?

Solomon had his own version of the dream—call it the Israeli Dream. He built an empire, amassed legendary wealth, indulged in every pleasure, and gained unmatched wisdom. And when he finally had it all, he looked back and said: “It was all a smoke show.” If the wisest, wealthiest man in history found no lasting fulfillment in his dream, maybe we should rethink ours.

Welcome to The Daily. We go through the bible verse-by-verse, chapter-by-chapter, every single day.

Our text today is Ecclesiastes 2:9-11.

So I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me. And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my reward for all my toil. Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun. — Ecclesiastes 2:9-11

Solomon chased every earthly prize. And for a moment, it felt good. He enjoyed his wealth, his wisdom, and his work. But then he had that aha moment—the realization that everything he had built, earned, and experienced was just smoke in his hands. He thought bigger than most, yet even his dream was too small.

Sounds familiar, doesn’t it? We grind, climb, accumulate, and consume—always thinking the next thing will finally bring peace. A better salary, a bigger house, a longer vacation, a newer toy. But as Mick Jagger famously sang, “I can’t get no satisfaction.” And neither can we.

But our problem isn’t that we dream too big—it’s that we dream too small. We chase temporary things when we are made for eternal things. When God calls us to a Kingdom Dream, we settle for the American Dream.

Don't settle. Dream bigger. Invest better. Live smarter. Live for eternity.

So today, ask yourself: Am I chasing things that fade? If so, divert your heart, mind, and soul to something that lasts and is permanently fulfilling. You weren’t made for the Temporary Dream—you were made for Eternity.

#KingdomDream, #EternalPerspective, #ChasingWind

ASK THIS:
What temporary things am I tempted to chase for fulfillment?
How can I redirect my desires toward things of eternal value?
What does Solomon’s realization teach me about my own pursuits?
How can I practically live out a Kingdom Dream instead of a Temporary Dream?
DO THIS:

Evaluate what you’re chasing—does it have eternal value? If not, realign your heart with God’s Kingdom Dream today.

PRAY THIS:

Lord, open my eyes to the things that truly matter. Help me chase after You and invest in what lasts forever. Amen.

PLAY THIS:

Bigger Than I Thought.