Anything I wanted, I would take. I denied myself no pleasure. (Ecclesiastes 2:10a)
The book of Ecclesiastes teaches us some incredibly valuable lessons. It was written by the one and only great King Solomon, the wisest and richest man that ever lived. Let me say that again: Solomon was the wisest and richest man the world has ever known! He ruled most of the known world during his reign, and so when he said “Anything I wanted, I would take”, you can believe it! And being the richest man that ever lived (this guy was rich like, ‘Bill Gates’ total accumulated wealth is pocket change to me’ – that kind of rich), when he said “I denied myself no pleasure”, you better believe he had the means to do it!
Still today, so many of us go through life looking for happiness in the moment. We spend our money and time on pleasure - particularly those of us who were blessed to be born and raised in the United States – we are the richest and most materially blessed people on the earth today! Yet, we are also some of the most depressed and unsatisfied people…. Why, you ask? Solomon gives us the answer in the very next verse:
But as I looked at everything I had worked so hard to accomplish, it was all so meaningless – like chasing the wind. There was nothing really worthwhile anywhere. (Ecclesiastes 2:11)
Here is the most famous, powerful, rich, and wise man in the entire world – and he finds everything meaningless. If the man that could have anything at the snap of his fingers cannot find happiness in the things of this world, how could we ever hope to? Just look at this great man’s despair:
So I came to hate life because everything done here under the sun is so troubling. Everything is meaningless – like chasing the wind. (Ecclesiastes 2:17)
This dude sounds almost suicidal! He could have anything and everything his heart desired on this earth, and he found it completely pointless. Perhaps you have come to the same conclusion – what’s the point? When I work, it’s meaningless – when I party, the fun never lasts – when I buy all the material things I can afford – they are never enough…
The problem is, we are looking for completeness - in a world that isn’t whole. We are looking for permanence - in a temporary dwelling. This wise king tasted the very best this world had to offer him – the best food, drink, clothing, palaces, women, accomplishments – and was completely empty for it.
What did this great wise teacher conclude? The same thing we will - either now or later:
Then I realized that these pleasures are from the hand of God. For who can eat or enjoy anything apart from him? God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy to those who please him. (Ecclesiastes 2:24b – 26a)
There is nothing wrong with enjoying the good things that God gives on this earth, as long as we keep them in perspective. Food, drink, shelter, relationships, accomplishments – these can all be good things! But they will never provide the everlasting love, joy and contentment that can and will only come through our relationship with God.
#LoveMatters