Ecclesiastes Part 4 - The Man Who Had It All....
Eternity Online: John Edmiston (Editor)
Eternity-Inspiration for 3rd October 1997
Web page: http://www.eternitymag.com/etinsp.htm
Tell your friends to subscribe!
(Ecclesiastes 2:1-11 NIV) 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. {2} "Laughter," I said, "is foolish. And
what does pleasure accomplish?" .......
{4} I undertook great projects: I built houses for myself and planted
vineyards. {5} I made gardens and parks and planted all kinds of
fruit trees in them.... {8} I amassed silver and gold for myself, and
the treasure of kings and provinces. I acquired men and women
singers, and a harem as well--the delights of the heart of man. .....
{10} I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no
pleasure.
My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all
my labor. {11} Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and
what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing
after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.
Materialistic hedonism is the predominant philosophy of the Western
world. Life consists of "having". Having money, having pleasure,
having sex, having possessions, having power and having success.
This philosophy is bankrupt. Those who are "successful" and who
"have it all" often testify to feeling empty. They seek out gurus,
take drugs and frequently take their own lives. Many are alcoholics.
When I was young I moved in wealthy circles and saw the lives of
people who "had it all". I concluded, with the brutal logic of the
young, that they lived meaningless lives and I determined not to be
like them. My ascetic and naive reaction was really no better,
poverty has no advantages either. Meaning is only found in Christ.
Solomon's experiment was destructive. His projects involved heavy
taxation and huge amounts of slave labour. He alienated the nation
from the Davidic dynasty and introduced idolatry to the land in the
form of temples for his many wives. His pursuit of pleasure in the
end led to a divided kingdom. If Solomon had managed to be content
with one wife and one God Israel would have remained whole. The
pursuit of pleasure is not just futile it is dangerous. We ruin
everything around us as we crave for more and more. As Solomon
ruined Israel so we ruin our families, neighbourhoods, environments
and nations.
Learning to be content, learning to appreciate more and more deeply
what we do have is the secret to stopping the madness. When husbands
really learn to love and appreciate their wives they won't need
mistresses. When people can appreciate the computer they have they
won't waste money and resources on "the latest". When people can
appreciate what is just around the corner they won't have to travel
the world for one more pleasure for a jaded palate. Contentment
would stabilise the West. We have whole industries of advertising
and media to keep us discontent and to tantalise our lusts. We need
to resist their pull.
How do we become content? Contentment comes from two foundational
beliefs:
1. That we are loved just as we are. Thus we do not need x,y, or
z in order to be loved or lovable.
2. That life is going to turn out well because God will make it turn
out well. Thus we do not need x or y or z to ensure life will be
happy or good.
The two truths listed above are keys for knocking the wind out of
materialism in our lives.Is life meaningless wthout Nike Air shoes
and Bolle sunglasses? Do you have to have a Pentium to be a valid
human being? NO! These are lies that ruin our happiness. No thing
makes us loved or valid. No thing makes life turn out the way it
should. God does that. Having is not the answer. Poverty is not the
answer either. Jesus is the answer and the fundamental gospel truths
are the key to a truly abundant life.
I will finish with a quote from Luke:
(Luke 12:15 NKJV) And He said to them, "Take heed and beware of
covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the
things he possesses."
Prayer:
Lord forgive us, for like Israel in the wilderness we unknowingly
malign your goodness every time we are not content. Our desire to
accumulate more and more is insane and unbelieving. Yet we are
addicted to it Lord, we have grown up with it and the way out seems
so long and so risky. Give us a vision of the Kingdom and the
heavenly city that lasts. Help us to grasp that we are loved and that
You are working out our lives for good. Help us to trust. O Lord be
merciful! O Lord help us as we wobble towards saintliness! Lord
grant us the insight and the strength we need to put this world's
cravings behind and to feel truly happy and content. Amen.
---------------------------------------------------------------
This devotional may be freely distributed for ministry purposes
Questions and comments may be sent to:
[email protected]
(not to the list please)
John Edmiston ([email protected])
Editor - Eternity Online Magazine http://www.eternitymag.com/
A Biblical Corner of The Internet
Eternity Inspiration - Free daily devotionals
http://www.eternitymag.com/etinsp.htm