ECCLESIASTES 2:1–11 – 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.
THEME OF THE DAY: WHEN WE TRULY LIVE. It is a very good thing to do on a regular basis. It is something we need to do on a regular basis. It will keep us from being self-deceived and waste a lot of time, money, and energy. It will also prevent us from going down a road whose only destination is regret. This “it” is a periodic reading of the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes.
A little background on this wisdom book that really pulls no punches. It explodes with force showing us what life truly is this side of heaven and the folly of seeking contentment and purpose in this world. The author is recognized as King Solomon. He was the wisest man ever to live and the richest. The latter is not hard to miss. Go back up to the scripture of the day and look at all the things he owned, pursued and purchased to seek fulfillment and satisfaction. No small price tag! But here is the lesson we need to take away . . .
There is no material thing, no human relationship, no avenue of pleasure, and no amount of wealth that satisfies the human heart. Solomon had it all and it amounted to nothing. In fact, after he obtained everything and anyone, he concluded, “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.”
When we arrive to the point of seeing everything in this world as vanity and fleeting, never meant to satisfy us, it is in that place we truly learn to live. Apart from the Lord Jesus, there is no contentment, satisfaction, and purpose in life. There cannot be. God has ensured it cannot be.
PRAYER: “Father, protect me from the deception of seeking fulfillment in life in this life.”
QUOTE: “We only begin to live when we stop living for this world and abandon all to the Lord Jesus”