Which are you going in for, "No Profit" or "Great Gain"? Which is to be yours as the result of all your toil and labor in life? Are you wisely directing your efforts? Are you employing your energies in the right direction to get the best as the reward of their expenditure?
Solomon labored and strove for satisfaction. He put out all his strength. He engaged all his wisdom. He employed all his wealth in the pursuit of true happiness. But he found it not. After the vain search—a lifetime long—he wrote his experience. We have it in the book of Ecclesiastes. His verdict upon his prolonged efforts is: "In all my labor which I have taken under the sun," there is no profit.
The Apostle Paul, after his conversion, spent his whole endeavor for the glory of Christ who had saved him, and for the blessing of others. He had little of this world's goods. He was poor and yet he made many rich. He had nothing and yet he possessed all things. He could say towards the end of his career, "Godliness with contentment is great gain."
He had secured success where Solomon had failed. He had learned in whatsoever state he was to be perfectly satisfied. He had Christ as Savior and as Satisfier. The Holy Spirit within him gave him joys and delights which filled him to the full with satisfaction. In the service of God he found great gain.
It was Augustine of old who cried, "O God, Thou hast made us for Thyself, and our hearts are weary till we rest in Thee."
It is ever so. Earth's cisterns all are broken: they can hold no water. Seek not rest or contentment in aught below. "No profit" is written on it all.