Ecclesiastes 2

What encouragement we find in Chapter 2!

In the beginning the author is looking for pleasure. This is a man...a king who has at his disposal all things. His flesh can be pleasured in any number of ways. As we read the beginning we see that is exactly what the wise King Solomon did.

Verses 1-3: "I thought in my heart, "Come now, I will test you with pleasure to find out what is good." But that also proved to be meaningless. "Laughter," I said, "is foolish. And what does pleasure accomplish?" I tried cheering myself with wine, and embracing folly—my mind still guiding me with wisdom. I wanted to see what was worthwhile for men to do under heaven during the few days of their lives." (NIV)

Here he realizes life is short and he is looking for something good. At first blush one can read these few verses and say, "I have never had great riches at my disposal so I cannot relate." This is untrue. We have all chased after pleasures to a greater or lesser degree. My young life was about that very thing for a good many years. In the end I felt what I believe all have or will...emptiness.

The next section, if you will, He has moved on to labor and work to find fulfillment. Not in the peace of working at whatever for the Glory of God, but working for the glory, satisfaction and pleasure of self.

Verses 4-7: "I undertook great projects: I built houses for myself and planted vineyards. I made gardens and parks and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. I made reservoirs to water groves of flourishing trees. I bought male and female slaves and had other slaves who were born in my house. I also owned more herds and flocks than anyone in Jerusalem before me." (NIV)

His conclusion to all of this is found in verse 11 where Solomon states that it was all chasing after the wind...meaningless.
In all of this I see the stages many of us go through. At this point I picture a modern-day man in his 30s or 40s. He looks around and says, "Wow! Look at the years I have been alive and what have I done?"
Like many Solomon concludes he hates life. (v. 17) Ever been there? Finally, however, his wisdom shows through as we conclude this ride.

Verses 24-26: "A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment? To the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness..." (NIV)

In my mind and life I see verse 24 as finding pleasure in the simple things in life. A cool fall day, the laughter of my son, sitting on my boat, playing catch, drinking coffee on the back patio with my wife, building a bookcase. These are the things that are of life. And we read above that this is from the Hand of God. So, we praise and thank God and live his truth to the best of our ability and we find these simple pleasures all around...as if they suddenly popped up.

I stress to my sons to chose their work based on their God-given gifts and what they enjoy...not where the money is. I tell them from experience that no one finds lasting pleasure in work that is chosen based on income and that it will inevitably lead to a prison. I tell them it is chasing after the wind.

Gods Speed,Greg