The Vanity of Self-Indulgence

 

Ecclesiastes 2:1-11

 

 

The Vanity of Self-Indulgence

I said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy yourself.” But behold, this also was vanity. I said of laughter, “It is mad,” and of pleasure, “What use is it?”   I searched with my heart how to cheer my body with wine—my heart still guiding me with wisdom—and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was good for the children of man to do under heaven during the few days of their life.   I made great works. I built houses and planted vineyards for myself.   I made myself gardens and parks and planted in them all kinds of fruit trees.   I made myself pools from which to water the forest of growing trees.   I bought male and female slaves and had slaves who were born in my house. I had also great possessions of herds and flocks, more than any who had been before me in Jerusalem.   I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I got singers, both men and women, and many concubines, the delight of the sons of man.

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.

 

The question has still not been answered, “Why are we here?  What is the purpose of life?  Where are we going?”  Solomon with all his wisdom and knowledge, was searching for these truths, and the best he can share is that being a seeker of pleasure did not have the answer, it was vanity.  He tried wine to make him not give thought to the question, but wine could not shut down his mind from seeking wisdom.

Now we find Solomon the builder and the acquirer of slaves and silver and gold greater wealth than any king before him in Jerusalem.  He also got whatever he desired, and none of this brought peace, it was like striving after the wind.

 

No one knows the power or wealth of Solomon, and none have been given his wisdom, but what good are knowledge and wisdom, if one cannot find the answer to the questions above?  You may be thinking if I can just do this, learn this, or acquire this, I will find true peace and joy in this life.  

 

One problem, the latter is on the wrong wall, Jesus Christ is the giver of real life, and He is the only one that has ever successfully lived the Christian life.  He will live it in you if you seek Him with all your heart, mind, and soul.

 

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice