Ecclesiastes 2:1-11, Delighting in the LORD (3)

Our hearts cry out for the living God, the God who made us in His image.  So now let us ask,

II.                  How can we satisfy our hearts?

There is a wrong way, which is the most common approach, which Jesus called the “broad way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it” (Matt. 7:13).  And there is the right way, which Jesus went on to say was entered into through a narrow gate, and “difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matt. 7:14).  Let’s let Solomon tell us about the wrong way.  After all, he was obviously quite experienced with the “broad way.”

Ecclesiastes 2:1-11

If you are not familiar with Ecclesiastes, it was written by Solomon.  It records his search for meaning in life (i.e. the satisfaction of the heart) “under the sun.”  By “under the sun” he meant meaning in life apart from God.  He was continually running into dead ends where he had to keep on giving in to the need for God.  Today’s passage tells us the many things he tried so as to “test” his heart.  In other words, he tried to find ways to bring lasting happiness to his heart, to satisfy his heart.  As you read today’s passage did you see what he tried out?  If you were paying attention you would have seen that he did the same kinds of things people do in our own day.  Nothing has changed.  Truly, as Solomon said (Eccl. 1:9), “there is nothing new under the sun.”  Here’s what he tried:

·       v1: the general category is “pleasure.”  This was the Greek approach, and we Americans think like the Greeks.  In Paul’s day, what he called “joy” was the Biblical answer to what the Greeks called “hedone,” pleasure.  The Greeks, and most Americans, will say: if you want joy then do what pleases you.  Solomon did this and concluded, “this also was vanity.”

·       v2: laughter, madness and mirth.  It’s interesting that there are radio stations devoted to nothing but comedy. 

·       v3: wine, with understanding.  In other words, he studied how to drink wine without letting it control him.  He wasn’t drunk all the time. 

·       v4: he built magnificent buildings.  Solomon wasn’t alone in this.  Herod the Great had the same approach to a satisfying life.  I saw in the news that the “former royal couple” is looking for a new house.  The $15 million home they have now, as well as the “cottage” they have in England, are not enough or sufficient.  Just saying!  Ever hear the saying “just keeping up with the Jones’s”?  It describes a person who gains heart-satisfaction from being at least as good as, or better than, the neighbors when it comes to their house or yard.

·       v5: speaking of yards, Solomon planted great gardens, vineyards and orchards.  Growing things can be a great approach to padding one’s ego, and thus satisfying the heart.

·       v6: Solomon even had a “hi-tech” irrigation system for all his “farmy” stuff.

·       v7: then he poured his life into his possessions, including people he "owned" as well as useful animals. 

·       v8: then there was his treasury.  He had, literally, boatloads of gold and silver.  I love 2 Chronicles 9:21: Once every three years the merchant ships came, bringing gold, silver, ivory, apes and monkeys (or peacocks, depending on the manuscript).  We have been to Israel, and spent a week with missionary friends in Sri Lanka where monkeys pretty much had the run of the place.  Hard to imagine that "monkey business" going on in Israel and Solomon being happy about it.

·       v9: with all the “stuff” he had, Solomon remained the wisest man of his time.

·       v10: Whatever his eyes desired he got.  That is called “sensuality.”  And these words are important: “I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure.  For my heart rejoiced in all my labor; and this was my reward from all my labor.”

Now here is the question.  Did Solomon, as he was doing all this, ever come to the place where he said, “That’s it!  I don’t need any more stuff, any more gold or buildings or monkeys.  My heart is forever happy.”  The answer is NO!  Indeed all was vanity (i.e. “empty”) and grasping for the wind (v11).

The question is, “how can we satisfy our hearts?”  So far, the answer is not by any of the things Solomon tried.