The Pursuit of Pleasure

Ecclesiastes 2:1–11 NIV84

1 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?” 3 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. 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. 6 I made reservoirs to water groves of flourishing trees. 7 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. 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. 9 I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem before me. In all this my wisdom stayed with me. 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.

Introduction

Are you happy in life?

Are you, for the most part, living a life that is marked with contentedness?

If not...

What is it that would need to happen in your life for you to be content?

What do you think will bring you pleasure in this world?

What needs to happen in your life in order for you to be happy?

If so...

What is it that is present in your life that is making you content?

If that had to be removed from your life, would you still be content?

In other words, if God did to you as He did to Job, how would you respond?

OR What is it that is not present (in the form of trials) that is allowing you to be content?

This morning we will see Solomon on one of his endeavours to find meaning.

As we consider what he teaches us, I would like you to consider if you've ever thought if you only have "XYZ" that he mentions, then I'd be happy...

The Test (v.1)

"I thought in my heart"

There is a process of heart desire here.

Does this speak of a longing?

A great search for meaning?

What would prompt a man to make this decision in his heart?

A man searching for greater contentment.

Jeremiah 17:9...? (APP)

Proverbs - do not follow your heart... bring it under subjection (APP)

“Come now, I will test you with pleasure to find out what is good.”

He plans to evaluate the pursuit of pleasure.

In a host of things in this world that bring pleasure to people, he's going to pursue those and determine what is good, and what it is that brings true, lasting pleasure.

And so, once again, we see Solomon, the teacher, setting out on a mission to determine which pleasures are good for a man.

What pleasures are there in life that are going to achieve ultimate joy, ultimate good in the life of a man?

But that also proved to be meaningless.

His conclusion is.... it proved to be meaningless, futile!

Even pleausure - those things which bring a sense of happiness in the world, are meaningless ultimately.

That's the conclusion.

Although you pursue joy and contentment and fulfilment in these aspects of life, you are bound, says Solomon, to come to the conclusion that they are meaningless.

Laughter (v.2)

Solomon now begins to outline the various pursuits in which he sought fulfilment.

Laughter, I said is foolish

I come from a family where humour was common place, and I was grateful for it.

My dad would often make jokes, and people who didn't understand his sense of humour could often take much offense.

So I appreciate a sharp sense of humour, and the benefit of using humour to bring relief.

Think of South Africa - Leon Schuster... practical joker.

"Laughter is the best Medicine..."

During a laugh, respiration, heart rate and blood pressure temporarily rise. This causes oxygen to surge through the bloodstream that then results in lower blood pressure.

Laughter improves the function of blood vessels and increases blood flow, which can help protect against a heart attack and other cardiovascular problems.

Laughter reduces pain and allows toleration of discomfort. Laughter reduces blood sugar levels, increasing glucose tolerance in diabetics and non-diabetics alike.

Laughter relaxes the whole body, relieving tension and stress. It has been shown that following a good, hearty laugh, muscles in the body are relaxed for up to 45 minutes afterward.

Laughing burns calories – laughter is sometimes referred to as “inner jogging”. A hearty laugh gives the muscles of the face, chest, shoulders, stomach and diaphragm a good workout.

Some of the best times of "escape from reality" come from sitting down and enjoying some good humour!

But Solomon says that this is foolish. Because ultimately, laughter does not fix that which is broken.

The word for foolish is "MAD" ....

Here “mad” does not refer to being out of one’s mind, the way we might use the word today, but to something sinful. According to Derek Kidner, it indicates “moral perversity rather than mental oddity.”3 A lot of laughter is like that: it is morally perverse. Not all of it, of course, because there is a kind of joyful laughter that brings glory to God (see, e.g., Proverbs 31:25). But a lot of joking is frivolous and superficial, or else cynical, sarcastic, and even cruel (see Proverbs 10:23; 26:19; 29:9).

Even laughter, although it may bring some temporal relief from the hurts, doesn't give a permanent release from the harsh realities of life that can confront us.

Proverbs 14:13 (NIV84)

13 Even in laughter the heart may ache, and joy may end in grief.

Laughter may bring some joy and relief, but ultimately, does it bring lasting benefit and good?

The answer is no!

If you've ever laughed in life, you will realise how quickly that laughter can turn to sorrow.

When they feel insecure, they make a joke about something. When they get down on themselves, they make fun of other people. When they are bored, they look for something to give them a giggle, like one of the sitcoms on television or a funny video clip on YouTube — anything to get a laugh. (Philip Ryken)

And what does pleasure accomplish?”

Very interesting question.

What does it accomplish?

Well, certainly, it accomplishes some measure of pleasurable experience in a person's life.

But is that meaningful?

We may think that Solomon was too deep, too philosophical...

But I would suggest to you that this is the wrong approach to take.

We are, as those created in the image of God, to seek that which has ultimate meaning in life.

If we had to be those who merely find meaning and fulfilment in the things of the world, surely that would mean that our sense of "fulfilment" is entirely corrupted.

Who doesn't enjoy some of the pleasures that the world has to offer?

And yet, they are not fulfilfilling ultimately.

I sometimes think to myself, if I could just live on a tropical island, drinking coconut juice on the sandy white shores under the palm trees... then I'd be happy.

The fact is, we were made for more.

The fact that some people think that they have found satisfaction in life apart from God, merely points out their own depravity and the effects of sin on their life.

In fact, the only person who would find what they think is complete fulfilment in the things of this world is surely the self-absorbed person who cares little for anyone else.

Alcohol (v.3)

"I tried cheering myself with wine and embracing folly"

"The Preacher-King found a lubricant for his laughter" (Ryken, 47)

How many memes haven't I seen celebrating the calming effects of wine?

After a long hard week, many look forward to that one great pleasure called "wine" / "alcohol"

That's not to say they want to get drunk on wine... but they certainly enjoy it for its apparent calming properties.

What Solomon did should not be confused with the typical student problem of today.

For the typical student - it is binge drinking... non-stop.

“Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise” (Proverbs 20:1)

He is very deliberate to add the words "my mind still guiding me with wisdom..."

Solomon applied wisdom, but sought to possibly gain some satisfaction through alocohol.

Was wine able to cheer him? Nope!

"... I wanted to see what was worthwhile for men..." etc.

He embraced all manner of pleasures...

He wanted to see what is it that being done in the world is pleasurable.

As he does this, he refers to the days of man as "the few days of their lives..."

This is the first time that this occurs, but it will be repeated through the book.

In a Calvin and Hobbes comic, young Calvin ponders the meaning of existence as he builds snowmen and watches them melt. Likewise Qohelet undertakes his examination of pleasure in the context of transient human existence. And just as a big screen television would be little comfort to a melting snowman, so the reality of death makes the pursuit of enjoyment seem trivial

Miller, D. B. (2010). Ecclesiastes (p. 54). Scottdale, PA; Waterloo, ON: Herald Press

Construction and Vineyards (v.4)

He goes on further to describe the great activities in which he engaged

He begins with constructions projects..

Perhaps a great project being completed will bring a sense of fulfilment.

He built houses for himself.

Main house was his own palace

1 Kings 7:1-12

Note that it took Solomon 13 years to build his own palace.

He also built the magnificent Temple of the Lord

Both Temple and Palace were magnificent structures...

But even these weren't the only buildings he built...

2 Chronicles 8:3-6

Then Solomon went to Hamath-zobah and captured it. He built Tadmor in the wilderness and all the storage cities which he had built in Hamath. He also built upper Beth-horon and lower Beth-horon, fortified cities with walls, gates and bars; and Baalath and all the storage cities that Solomon had, and all the cities for his chariots and cities for his horsemen, and all that it pleased Solomon to build in Jerusalem, in Lebanon, and in all the land under his rule.

Must understand that these are long-term activities that he engaged in.

It wasn't merely - oh this year, we'll try this, and then if that doesn't work, we'll try something else.

He invested many years of efforts towards these developments.

He planted vineyards for himself

Song 8:11

He had extensive vineyards to bring in his wine to drink!

Gardens and Parks (v.5)

Gardens and parks... beautiful places to relax and enjoy

Luxurious Gardens were characteristic of royalty and nobility

These are places that we prize today because we're able to just enjoy the "finer" things in life

Places where we enjoy family and friendships, picnics etc.

"Parks" here talks of large expanses of plantations.

In Nehemiah 2:8 - Nehemiah will receive wood from the kings park in order to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.

It says he planted gardens of Fruit trees - "Garden of Eden??"!

Paradise was lost in Eden, perhaps Solomon could regain some of that, without any forbidden fruit.

Again - Gardens and Parks... trees growing to maturity... long periods of time.

He invested heavily into these engagements over extended periods of time.

Dams (v.6)

He even had to build great big pools (dams of water) to water the trees that he was planting.

How much water do you need to store in order to water a forest?!

One can only think that rain could water a forest!

But Solomon built dams in order to bring water to gardens.

Slaves / Flocks and Herds (v.7)

He had slaves to serve him

He amassed for himself a great throng of slaves.

People to serve his needs.

People to cook, clean, work for him.

People to care for the horses... wash down the chariots... tend to the gardens.

Notice again, the duration of this activity... slaves were even born within his household.

In other words, they were born, grew up in his household, and later on in life when they were old enough, they became slaves to him

Surely life should have been easy.

A great throng of people to get done everything that you need to get done.

All those menial, insignificant chores in life can get done, while Solomon gets on with ruling the nation Israel.

He also had herds and flocks.

He great possessions of them... not just a few.

These would have been for the daily provision that they could give Solomon.

1 Kings 4:22–23 (NIV84)

22 Solomon’s daily provisions were thirty cors of fine flour and sixty cors of meal,

23 ten head of stall-fed cattle, twenty of pasture-fed cattle and a hundred sheep and goats, as well as deer, gazelles, roebucks and choice fowl.

1 Kings 4:26 (NIV84)

26 Solomon had four thousand stalls for chariot horses, and twelve thousand horses (ESV = horsemen)...

This was extensive!!!

So he has the herds and flocks, and the people to care for them.

Surely this is everything a man could want?

All you daily provision is there.... people to serve it to you...

This is the life!!!

Riches and Entertainers (v.8)

If this wasn't enough, he AMASSED silver and gold...

1 Kings 9:28 (NIV84)

28 They sailed to Ophir and brought back 420 talents of gold, which they delivered to King Solomon. (1 talent = 30kg)

The queen of Sheba gave Solomon 3.6 tons of gold (1 Kings 10:10)

King Solomon acquired annually 666 talents (20 tons) of Gold

1 Kings 10:21 (NIV84)

21 All King Solomon’s goblets were gold, and all the household articles in the Palace of the Forest of Lebanon were pure gold. Nothing was made of silver, because silver was considered of little value in Solomon’s days.

He had the treasure of kings and provinces....

He had it all, financially.

The billionnaire of his day.

Men and women singers... harem.

Not only did he have wealth, but he organised entertainment for himself.

Men and women singers, dancers, entertainers...

"the delights of a man's heart..." (sinful heart no doubt).

A harem (concubines...)

1 Kings 11:3 (NIV84)

3 He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines, and his wives led him astray.

Literally this man had it all. He had everything.

Wine, women, and song — the Solomon of Ecclesiastes had it all. Today his face would be on the cover of Fortune magazine, in the annual issue on the wealthiest men in the world. His home would be featured in a photo spread with Architectural Digest — the interior and the exterior, from the wine cellar to the lavish gardens. Pop stars would sing at his birthday party; supermodels would dangle from his arms.

Don’t you find it hard not to envy the man? Wouldn’t you like to live like a king? All other things being equal, wouldn’t you rather have a bigger, nicer house with better, more beautiful views? Don’t you wish that you had someone to do all your work for you, or at least all the work that you don’t enjoy doing? Think of all the money that Solomon had, with all of the choirs and concubines. Honestly, if you could get away with it, wouldn’t you be tempted to grab some of his gusto for yourself? (Ryken, 50)

Summary of his greatness (v.9)

Solomon became greater than any person / king that had every lived before him.

1 Chronicles 29:25 (NIV84)

25The LORD highly exalted Solomon in the sight of all Israel and bestowed on him royal splendor such as no king over Israel ever had before.

Through this all, his wisdom remained with him... or so he thought!!!

How could his wisdom have stayed with him, if he so poorly honoured the Lord?

Evaluation (v.10-11)

Whatever desired, didn't keep from himself

Everything that Solomon saw that captured his fancy, he pursued.

He got it... If he wanted something, he went and got it.

There was no obstacle in his way to obtaining it.

He simply went for it, and got it!!

I kept my heart from no pleasure.

Do we not sometimes wish that we could just get the desires of our hearts.

Man if I could just have these things that my heart desires, I would be so happy, and at peace, and at ease.

My life would be far easier.

Sure those things don't give you happiness... but certainly they take away a lot of strain... a lot of additional pressure can be brought on without those things!

Consider George Muller... content in the Lord.

My heart found pleasure in my toil...

This is a very pertinent admission from Solomon.

It is not as if he obtained 0 pleasure whatsoever from these endeavours in which he was engaged.

His heart found pleasure in them.

He enjoyed the activities that he was engaged in.

He delighted in these material benefits that are found in the world.

In fact, he saw that delight as the reward for all his work.

Sometimes we just look forward to some small taste of reward from all of our toil.

Yet, despite all of this...

Despite all that Solomon had and obtained and amassed for himself.

Despite the fact that he saw these things as the reward for his toil...

Ultimately, what he found in evaluating everything, was that it remained meaningless.

It was all, ultimately, vanity, and a chasing after the wind.

Application

Where are our hearts?

2 Tim 3 4 - Paul tells Timothy that in the last days people would become "lovers of pleasure..."

Without a doubt, this describes the times that we live in.

And what I want us to be careful of, is to think that it applies to everyone else but myself.

There is so much “me, myself, and I” in these verses that we get a strong sense of self-indulgence in the pursuit of self-centered pleasure.

So Qoheleth becomes an experimental hedonist. In other words, he chooses to make his own personal happiness his chief end in life. This is the way that many people live today, and it is a temptation for all of us — to live for ourselves rather than for God. (Ryken)

Today’s world is pleasure-mad. Millions of people will pay almost any amount of money to “buy experiences” and temporarily escape the burdens of life. While there is nothing wrong with innocent fun, the person who builds his or her life only on seeking pleasure is bound to be disappointed in the end.

Why? For one thing, pleasure-seeking usually becomes a selfish endeavor; and selfishness destroys true joy. People who live for pleasure often exploit others to get what they want, and they end up with broken relationships as well as empty hearts.

People are more important than things and thrills. We are to be channels, not reservoirs; the greatest joy comes when we share God’s pleasures with others.

Pleasure in this world does not bring pleasure.

We may learn this through Scripture, or we'll learn it through our own selfish endeavours.

Think of weeds in a vegetable garden. Weeds are not harmful because they are poisonous to the vegetables. They’re harmful because they steal water and nutrients. This is how desire works.

Often, like weeds, the pursuits that occupy a person’s life are not poisonous—they just steal water and nutrients from the vegetables. Pursuits show what values are deepest in a person’s heart. Often the main rivals to God are simple things like comfort, ease, amusement, respect, affirmation, pleasure, avoidance of pain, control, security, happiness . . . as the person conceives of it. The little pursuits that promise these things crowd out a pursuit of God as he reveals himself to be, which is more valuable than all else (Ps. 16). (Pierre, Jeremy. The Dynamic Heart in Daily Life: Connecting Christ to Human Experience . New Growth Press. Kindle Edition. )

Eternal Perspective is needed - Psalm 73

Let me go back to the questions I began with....

Are you happy in life?

Are you, for the most part, living a life that is contented

If not...

What is it that would need to happen in your life for you to be content?

What do you think will bring you pleasure in this world?

What needs to happen in your life in order for you to be happy?

If so...

What is it that is making your greatest satisfaction?

If that had to be removed from your life, would you still be content?

In other words, if God did to you as He did to Job, how would you respond?

I would urge you in this week, do some serious soul searching.

Ask yourself the questions that need to be asked.