Ecclesiastes 2:1-11 FUTILITY The Preacher had considered when he began writing that everything was vanity – meaningless. Wisdom and study of all that he could think of ended with frustration and sorrow. So, he began to search in other areas of life to find rest to his troubled soul. He set about with his “heart,” full commitment, to find what was missing. This was not just a casual stroll through a life of pleasure. He pulled out all the stops and dove right into the “eat, drink and be merry” culture to try to find what people today are still looking for in pleasure.
What is there in pleasure that satisfies? Moses “chose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. Pleasure by its very nature is extremely temporary. That why there are so many different movies, so many different kinds of sports events, so many different attractions at an amusement park. None of them satisfies for more than a few moments. A child will finish one ride at a carnival and runs as fast as possible to get in line for another kind of ride or game to play. Children grow up getting used to short-term pleasure. Even expensive gifts given by parents and other loved ones, no matter what they are gives them pleasure for more than a very short time, and then they are bored and want something else.
Adults spend hours playing computer games or working at hobbies to pass the time away. Then they go back to the same things again to try to get a sense of fulfillment. Grown up people will lose their voices shouting at major league ball games, or sports events when their sons or daughters are playing. When the game is finished, they will go to a club or bar to try some different alcoholic beverage to loosen their tongue, and themselves, from their God-given inhibitions. Comedy shows and every kind of entertainment can be tried and experienced, but when a person comes back to reality after getting over a hang-over, there is still no satisfaction. Those things are all made to leave people dissatisfied so they will come back over and over again, and spend their money, but it is all empty and meaningless when it is over.
To give one’s self to the search for satisfaction by accomplishing some great task would surely give a sense of fulfillment. Solomon then threw himself whole-heartedly into great work projects instead of going after new pleasures. He built an amazing house for himself and another for his wife. He built the temple for the Lord. He designed and made beautiful gardens and then went into farming in a big way. As a successful farmer he hired good help to keep everything he made in order and productive. He was able to live a lavish lifestyle that he hoped would be fulfilling or at least, distracting from that empty void inside of him, but it didn’t work.
In our lives there are problems to be solved, and we find satisfaction when they are done. There are benefits to education and we celebrate when the learning time is past and it is time to go to work. There are injustices to be faced and rectified and when that happens, we are gratified. Wisdom encourages us to do this and these are good things to do. But there are limits within which we have to live. It is impossible to straighten everything out, so much of our lives have to be lived with no real solution to things that are beyond our capability to deal with. Looking back over life, how much change does a person really make in the end. The only things that last is what is done for our Lord and the glory of God. “Only one live, ‘twill soon be passed. Only what’s done for Christ will last.”
Solomon accumulated so much wealth that people like the queen of Sheba, were left speechless and breathless at the visible splendor that surrounded this king. Music of every kind possible at that time was there for him to listen to if he wanted it quietly in the background as he ate his meals or when he went to bed. On any occasion he wanted personally or for state business, he could have all the music he wanted at his slightest whim. In fact, all of his material possessions, and all of his attainments were beyond comparison to those who were before him. He was the epitome of success and attainment. Even in all of that profligacy, he was able to retain and maintain his human wisdom. He found delight and reward in all he did. He had access to all the resources he wanted, and had opportunity to use them all. But in the end, nothing was gained because nothing was lasting.
We can have lofty goals and attain them. We can use our time, energy and talents for good purposes. We can work hard and use our money to accomplish what we set out to do. But what is the real point of it all? God has put truth in all that is real and lasting. It is our responsibility to take that truth and that reality, and use it wisely. That means with a sense of responsibility toward mankind and society around us, we can do profitable things, but only if God is in it. When we do what we do for the glory of God, it will bring blessing to people and honor to our Lord. The results of furthering the Gospel by whatever possible and scriptural means, will be lasting in its benefits, because “Christ is preached.” When truth is practiced and taught, the faith of God’s people will be strengthened and they will be encouraged to live for the Lord and glorify Him in their “body and spirit which is God’s.”