Ecclesiastes 2:24-26

The Preacher had discovered that he could waste his life accumulating things only to lose them all at the end.  His experiment in seeking pleasure by means of pouring himself into productive work – had reached its result.  The result was that there was a missing element in the equation – without which toil was meaningless.  That missing element is God.  The person who  pleases God gets enjoyment as well as wisdom and knowledge.  Those who try to get things without cultivating a relationship with God are only given the business of gathering and collecting.

LORD, above all things, we seek you.  You can make things bring joy.  Without you, they are only things.