(Ecclesiastes 2:1-26)
I said to myself, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure. So enjoy yourself.” And behold, it too was futility. 2 I said of laughter, “It is senseless,” and of pleasure, “What does this accomplish?” 3 I explored with my mind how to refresh my body with wine while my mind was guiding me wisely; and how to seize foolishness, until I could see what good there is for the sons of mankind to do under heaven for the few years of their lives. 4 I enlarged my works: I built houses for myself, I planted vineyards for myself; 5 I made gardens and parks for myself, and I planted in them all kinds of fruit trees; 6 I made ponds of water for myself from which to irrigate a forest of growing trees. 7 I bought male and female slaves, and I had slaves born at home. I also possessed flocks and herds larger than all who preceded me in Jerusalem. 8 I also amassed for myself silver and gold, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I provided for myself male and female singers, and the pleasures of the sons of mankind: many concubines.
9 Then I became great and increased more than all who preceded me in Jerusalem. My wisdom also stood by me. 10 All that my eyes desired, I did not refuse them. I did not restrain my heart from any pleasure, for my heart was pleased because of all my labor; and this was my reward for all my labor. 11 So I considered all my activities which my hands had done and the labor which I had exerted, and behold, all was futility and striving after wind, and there was no benefit under the sun.
12 So I turned to consider wisdom, insanity, and foolishness; for what will the man do who will come after the king, except what has already been done? 13 Then I saw that wisdom surpasses foolishness as light surpasses darkness. 14 The wise person’s eyes are in his head, but the fool walks in darkness. And yet I know that one and the same fate happens to both of them. 15 Then I said to myself, “As is the fate of the fool, it will also happen to me. Why then have I been extremely wise?” So I said to myself, “This too is futility.” 16 For there is no lasting remembrance of the wise, along with the fool, since in the coming days everything will soon be forgotten. And how the wise and the fool alike die! 17 So I hated life, for the work which had been done under the sun was unhappy to me; because everything is futility and striving after wind.
18 So I hated all the fruit of my labor for which I had labored under the sun, because I must leave it to the man who will come after me. 19 And who knows whether he will be wise or a fool? Yet he will have control over all the fruit of my labor for which I have labored by acting wisely under the sun. This too is futility. 20 Therefore I completely despaired over all the fruit of my labor for which I had labored under the sun. 21 When there is a person who has labored with wisdom, knowledge, and skill, and then gives his legacy to one who has not labored for it; this too is futility and a great evil. 22 For what does a person get in all his labor and in his striving with which he labors under the sun? 23 Because all his days his activity is painful and irritating; even at night his mind does not rest. This too is futility.
24 There is nothing better for a person than to eat and drink, and show himself some good in his trouble. This too I have seen, that it is from the hand of God. 25 For who can eat and who can have enjoyment without Him? 26 For to a person who is good in His sight, He has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, while to the sinner He has given the task of gathering and collecting so that he may give to one who is good in God’s sight. This too is futility and striving after wind.
TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:
If anyone could have had the resources to test all these things out to the max, it was Solomon, who has been deemed the richest man in the world, as well as the smartest (even more than Elon Musk!). With this, Solomon decided to seek out all the things of life that the world strives after: all kinds of leisure activities, entertainment, partying to the extreme, and pleasures, including promiscuous sex. It might seem pleasing for a while, but he discovered that all of this was empty, senseless, foolish and a waste of time.
Solomon also chased after the "god" of work, wealth, power and possessions, but found that this too was futile. And, so what if one has amassed a legacy! We die, and it will all go to someone else, who will either carry on the futility, or they will squander it. Therefore, all your hard work, pain, worry and sleepless nights will be for nothing, because you cannot take it with you.
As well, Solomon pursued gathering more knowledge, but realized that this in itself can also be foolish. It is said that "ignorance is bliss". Kids are learning and hearing about things through social media, etc., that are age inappropriate. Without having answers or solutions that are satisfactory, it then has the potential to bring about temptations, depression and/or anxiety, especially when one is privy to how evil and cruel the world can be. All things are done in darkness, when it is void of light. Even laughter and joy will be void of real joy. And whether smart or not, whether rich or poor, it all leads to death and despair - unless one turns to the Lord.
Real wisdom is when a person opens their eyes to the light of Jesus, and makes the decision to follow after Him. We were created to enjoy working and serving one another, but we need a real and greater purpose, which only the Lord can provide. Only what we build, with the help of the Lord, will last forever. Jesus invites us to the table of salvation, to eat, drink and fellowship with Him, so we can be nourished and strengthened by Him, and experience His everlasting joy.
All good things come from God. And while here on earth, everyone is able to experience and enjoy these things. The key is not to make these good things our god and our idols, but to make the Lord Jesus Christ our God and personal Savior. This is the most purposeful relationship we could ever have. And then through Him, we will learn to have more meaningful relationships with others.
So as God blesses us with His goodness, we should be thankful and give Him the praise and the glory, while applying and using everything He gives us, in the way that He intended. THEN, and only then, we will find true happiness and satisfaction. The Father of lights gives good gifts to His children, which includes wisdom, knowledge purpose, and joy...
(James 1:16-18) Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers and sisters. 17 Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. 18 In the exercise of His will He gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures.
(Ephesians 2:8-10) For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
(Romans 8:28) And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
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