The Meaning of Pleasure
September 25, 2021
Commentary
Solomon searched for life’s meaning as you would an experiment. He first tried pursuing pleasure (vv. 1-3). He undertook great projects, bought slaves and herds and flocks (vv. 4-7). Then he amassed great wealth, acquired singers and added many women to his harem (v. 8).
In his quest for pleasure he denied himself no avenue through which pleasure might be gained. As the richest and most powerful man who had ever lived in Jerusalem he surrounded himself with everything he could think of to satisfy his aesthetic needs and physical desires (vv. 9-10).
Even though he could gain some satisfaction from the joy of accomplishment, when he stopped to reflect on the real value of what he had accomplished, he concluded that it was all futile and meaningless. He described it as “chasing after the wind” (v. 11).
Just as we feel the wind as it passes by we can’t catch hold of it and keep it. In all of our accomplishments, even the big ones, our good feelings are only temporary. Security and self-worth come and go. Think about what you consider worthwhile in your life and where you place your time, energy and money. Will you one day look back on your life and decide, like Solomon did, that these too were a grasping for the wind.
Application
Is my goal in life to search for meaning or to search for God who gives meaning to life?
Ecclesiastes 2:1– 11 (NET)
1 I thought to myself, “Come now, I will try self-indulgent pleasure to see if it is worthwhile.” But I found that it also is futile.
2 I said of partying, “It is folly,” and of self-indulgent pleasure, “It accomplishes nothing!”
3 I thought deeply about the effects of indulging myself with wine (all the while my mind was guiding me with wisdom) and the effects of behaving foolishly, so that I might discover what is profitable for people to do on earth during the few days of their lives.
4 I increased my possessions: I built houses for myself; I planted vineyards for myself.
5 I designed royal gardens and parks for myself, and I planted all kinds of fruit trees in them.
6 I constructed pools of water for myself, to irrigate my grove of flourishing trees.
7 I purchased male and female slaves, and I owned slaves who were born in my house; I also possessed more livestock—both herds and flocks— than any of my predecessors in Jerusalem.
8 I also amassed silver and gold for myself, as well as valuable treasures taken from kingdoms and provinces. I acquired male singers and female singers for myself, and what gives a man sensual delight —a harem of beautiful concubines.
9 So I was far wealthier than all my predecessors in Jerusalem, yet I maintained my objectivity.
10 I did not restrain myself from getting whatever I wanted; I did not deny myself anything that would bring me pleasure. So all my accomplishments gave me joy; this was my reward for all my effort.
11 Yet when I reflected on everything I had accomplished and on all the effort that I had expended to accomplish it, I concluded: “All these achievements and possessions are ultimately profitless — like chasing the wind! There is nothing gained from them on earth.”