SCRIPTURE: ECCLESIASTES 2
MEMORY VERSES:
“I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor. Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes 2:10-11)
“For the wise man, like the fool, will not be long remembered; in days to come both will be forgotten. Like the fool, the wise man too must die!” (Ecclesiastes 2:16)
“For a man may do his work with wisdom, knowledge and skill, and then he must leave all he owns to someone who has not worked for it. This too is meaningless and a great misfortune.” (Ecclesiastes 2:21)
“What does a man get for all the toil and anxious striving with which he labors under the sun? All his days his work is pain and grief; even at night his mind does not rest. This too is meaningless.” (Ecclesiastes 2:22-23)
“A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God. For without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?” (Ecclesiastes 2:24-25)
PLEASURES ARE MEANINGLESS (VS. 1-11)
Solomon was convinced that life is meaningless. He looked around and saw nature functioning as it has since the creation. He looked back and saw history repeating itself. He looked within and discovered that his wisdom and experiences could not explain the mysteries of life or solve life’s problems. Everything is vanity.
Solomon tried to search life’s meaning by doing these:
- He tried pursuing pleasure.
- He undertook great projects.
- He brought slaves , herds and flocks.
- He amazed wealth.
- He acquired singers.
- He added many concubines.
But he said all his pursuits were so meaningless. It was like chasing the wind.
WISDOM AND FOLLY ARE MEANINGLESS: (vs. 12-16)
Solomon asked wisdom from God. But he realized that wisdom cannot guarantee eternal life. The same fate happens to both the wise man and the fools. This too is meaningless.
TOIL IS MEANINGLESS (vs. 17-26)
Then Solomon became cynical and hated life. All the things he hard toiled under the sun must be left to the one after him who exert no effort in getting them. He realized all his days, his work was pain and grief that gave him no rest at night. This too is meaningless. So he advised people to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work.
THOUGHTS:
Solomon tested his heart with pleasure, work and the acquisition of wealth, but they could not satisfy him. Those things may bring some enjoyment but at the end it is emptiness. Enjoyment without God is only entertainment not enrichment. He will find everything useless and meaningless after death. Who is going to remember him?
Hard work enables us to earn money and possessions. But everything will be left behind to people who have done nothing to earn it. It may not be well cared for so all that we gained may be lost. The toil of our hard work done may bring grief when it is being passed to those who may lose or spoil it. But work done for Christ leads to everlasting joy.
In all our activities that we do, we should look into the reasons and purpose. Our goal is to pursue God who gives the meaning to all our activities.
Solomon realized that wisdom cannot guarantee eternal life. Since everyone will die, we must not build our life on perishable pursuit but on the solid foundation of God.
Solomon encourages us to know how to enjoy life. Eat, drink and be merry and find satisfaction in your life. Take life each day as a gift from God and thank Him by serving Him.