Introduction: Last time, we learned, "...even from a casual reading of Ecclesiastes, that a life, lived away from God, is a hopeless life. Those, away from God, do not live with eternity's values in view. This is the very reason the Apostle Paul said, 'If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.' (1 Corinthians 15:19)"
We also learned that, when a man lives a life away from God, he is left to his own devices. Proverbs 19:21 states, "There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand." In other words, man can make as many plans as he wishes and come to as many conclusions as he cares to, but it is the counsel of the Lord that stands sure.
This brings us to chapter 2 where we find the result of Solomon's search for fulfillment and meaning in life. His search was not too different from man's search today. Remember now that Solomon is away from the Lord. His brutishness and the influence of the "strange women" he married has turned away his heart from the Lord. He now teaches his family, friends, and servants the uselessness of looking for fulfillment in all the wrong places.
Where did he look?
1. Pleasures. - Ecclesiastes 2:1-2
"I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity. I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it?"
- Much of life can be described as a bigger and better activity. There used to be simple pleasures, but now those do not suffice.
- When a man runs after pleasure, in order to remain fulfilled, he has to find a greater pleasure in life. How dangerous this is when a man is left to his own devices!
2. Alcohol. - Ecclesiastes 2:3
"I sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting mine heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was that good for the sons of men, which they should do under the heaven all the days of their life."
- Of the many bad decisions Solomon made, perhaps this was one of the worst. No man can retain wisdom while under the influence of alcohol. The Bible clearly teaches that wine is a mocker and a deceiver, "Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise." (Proverbs 20:1)
- Many proponents of alcohol today are lying to us telling us of the great health benefits to consuming alcoholic beverages. While they tout their so-called message of hope, might I remind all of us that wine is a mocker and a deceiver.
3. Accomplishment. - Ecclesiastes 2:4a
"I made me great works; I builded me houses..."
- Many men, who choose to live away from God, busy themselves in great building projects. Building things is not always just a "guy thing." Sometimes, it is a cover-up for being away from God. After all, a builder can only get his job done during church time!
- I've always loved working with my hands. There is something quite fulfilling when a building project has been completed, and the work is good. However, when a man is left to his own devices and lives his life away from God, even the work he does becomes old, and he is no longer fulfilled.
- The empty spot left in a man's life, when he leaves the will of God, cannot be filled with the works of his hands.
4. Vineyards. - Ecclesiastes 2:4b
"...I planted me vineyards."
- Once again, Solomon sought fulfillment in the works that he could do. In planting vineyards, much wine could be made, and many men's hearts could be made merry.
- Perhaps, he thought he was doing men a great service when he planted his vineyards, but even living for others is empty when a man's life is out of tune with God.
5. Beauty. - Ecclesiastes 2:5-6
"I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all kind of fruits: I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees."
- Here, we find Solomon building great recreational parks filled with beautiful and exotic trees.
- He surrounded himself, not only with beautiful women, but also with beautiful things; yet his life was empty.
6. Possessions.
- It seems that the more worldly a person becomes, the more emphasis he places on worldly possessions. For example, Solomon had:
* Slaves, "I got me servants and maidens, and had servants born in my house..." (Ecclesiastes 2:7a)
* Herds and flocks, "...also I had great possessions of great and small cattle above all that were in Jerusalem before me." (Ecclesiastes 2:7b)
* Silver and gold, "I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces..." (Ecclesiastes 2:8a)
* Music and musicians, "...I gat me men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, as musical instruments, and that of all sorts." (Ecclesiastes 2:8b)
7. Fame. - Ecclesiastes 2:9
"So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me."
- The applause of men, without the approval of God, is vanity. Solomon knew what it was to be well-known.
- A number of years ago, the Harris Poll asked young people what they someday hoped to become. The overwhelming answer that came back was, "A star." They, like many today, believed that this would bring happiness, fortune, and fame. Our society today worships stars. For example:* Sports heros
* Movie stars
* Singing groups
* Models- Many things have not changed from then until now. Christians are willing to throw away the will of God in order to have fame.
8. Hedonism. - Ecclesiastes 2:10
"And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour."
- Sadly, though hedonism is wrong, when a man is left to his own devices, hedonism becomes the only way to go. Just what is hedonism?
* By definition it is the "pursuit of or devotion to pleasure, especially to the pleasures of the senses."
* Philosophically, it is "the ethical doctrine holding that only what is pleasant or has pleasant consequences is intrinsically good."
* Psychologically, it is "the doctrine holding that behavior is motivated by the desire for pleasure and the avoidance of pain."- A life, lived without God, is a hopeless life. Therefore, a lack of hope must be substituted with the fulfillment of the lust of the flesh. Solomon did not withhold his heart from anything that brought him joy. In other words, to him, if it felt good, he did it.
It would seem that, having everything you could possibly want, would bring you all the happiness you could possibly hope for. But a life, without God, is empty. What Solomon found, he expounded in Ecclesiastes 2:11-16, "Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun. And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly: for what can the man do that cometh after the king? even that which hath been already done. Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness. The wise man's eyes are in his head; but the fool walketh in darkness: and I myself perceived also that one event happeneth to them all. Then said I in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool, so it happeneth even to me; and why was I then more wise? Then I said in my heart, that this also is vanity. For there is no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool for ever; seeing that which now is in the days to come shall all be forgotten. And how dieth the wise man? as the fool."
* He found that, everything he tried to fill his life with, was useless and empty.
* He found that every man dies, no matter who he is or what he's done.
That's what Solomon found. This is what Solomon feared, "Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit. Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me. And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun. This is also vanity. Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour which I took under the sun. For there is a man whose labour is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity; yet to a man that hath not laboured therein shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil. For what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the sun? For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity." (Ecclesiastes 2:17-23)
* He feared that all his works and all his labors would be left to fools. Is it no wonder that Solomon found, in his backslidden days, that life truly wasn't worth living?
Now, Solomon teaches his people an important truth: be content with what you have, and enjoy the work God has given you to do, "There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God. For who can eat, or who else can hasten hereunto, more than I? For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit." (Ecclesiastes 2:24-26)
Conclusion: I draw your attention to the last phrase in verse 26, "...This also is vanity and vexation of spirit." Even in his backsliddeness, he understood that blessings come from God; but, to a man away from God, it's still empty. These are the conclusions made by a man who chose a path that did not include God. A Christian will find the same conclusions when he is left to his own devices.