Ecc 2:10 All that my eyes desired, I did not deny them. I did not refuse myself any pleasure, for I took pleasure in all my struggles. This was my reward for all my struggles.Ecc 2:11 When I considered all that I had accomplished and what I had labored to achieve, I found everything to be futile and a pursuit of the wind. There was nothing to be gained under the sun.
What are you trying to achieve in life? Many times as students and adult we will pursue things that at the time seem “important,” but in reality how important are they? What are we gaining by devoting our lives to their pursuit? Let’s look at a brief part of Solomon’s journey in this area:
We read that Solomon “built houses and planted vineyards” (vs. 4), “made gardens and parks for myself and planted every kind of fruit tree in them” (vs. 5), “constructed reservoirs of water… from which to irrigate a grove of flourishing trees” (vs. 6), “acquired male and female servants and had slaves who were born in his house” (vs. 7), “owned many herds of cattle and flocks, more than all who were before him in Jerusalem” (vs. 7), “amassed silver and gold for himself, and the treasure of kings and provinces” (vs. 8), and “gathered male and female singers for himself, and many concubines, the delights of men” (vs. 9). Solomon “…became great and surpassed all who were before him in Jerusalem; his wisdom also remained with him.”
We read that Solomon “built houses and planted vineyards” (vs. 4), “made gardens and parks for myself and planted every kind of fruit tree in them” (vs. 5), “constructed reservoirs of water… from which to irrigate a grove of flourishing trees” (vs. 6), “acquired male and female servants and had slaves who were born in his house” (vs. 7), “owned many herds of cattle and flocks, more than all who were before him in Jerusalem” (vs. 7), “amassed silver and gold for himself, and the treasure of kings and provinces” (vs. 8), and “gathered male and female singers for himself, and many concubines, the delights of men” (vs. 9). Solomon “…became great and surpassed all who were before him in Jerusalem; his wisdom also remained with him.”
Sounds like a lavish lifestyle, right? The life of a celebrity perhaps? The majority of which most of us would love to possess. What is wrong with these pursuits? They were all for Solomon to fill HIS desires, he was trying to fill a gap by his own futile efforts. As we continue to read, we see the realization coming over Solomon’s eyes that all his desires proved to be worthless, but at the end of this chapter he reveals to us an interesting truth that he saw acted out in his life- “For to the man who is pleasing in His sight, He gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy, but to the sinner He gives the task of gathering and accumulating in order to give to the one who is pleasing in God's sight. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.” (vs. 26).
Solomon realized that his efforts to gather for himself added up to nothing, but gathering for those who were pleasing to God. It wasn’t until he was pleasing in God’s eyes that he would gain His blessings. His life efforts meant nothing if they were not for the glory of God. As said before, what are you pursuing? Are they things to “fill” a void? Or are they things that will honor God?
Aaron
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