Ecclesiastes 1:12-2:26, "The Search for Satisfaction and Meaning"

Review:

Solomon opened the book by asking a very significant question in 1:3, “What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun?” We saw last week how he goes on to talk about the temporary nature of all of our lives. The world seems to go on forever when we are gone. In verses 4-7 he talks about generations going and coming, the sun rising and setting, the wind continually blowing, and the water’s continually cycling. All of life seems to be just an endless cycle. Ultimately nothing satisfies!

“Is there anything new?” he asks in verse 10. In other words, what can break this wearisome cycle and give life some meaning? We concluded last week talking about this desire pointing us forward to Jesus and his resurrection. Paul says the same thing in 1 Corinthians 15:32, “If the dead are not raised, ‘let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.’ Just before that he says in 1 Corinthians 15:14, “And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.” Indeed Solomon reminds us in this book that if Christ had not been raised, all of life is in vain.

What does a man gain?

This is the question, first asked in 1:3 that Solomon turns his attention to answer. So, this morning we are going to see Solomon’s live search for gain. In other words, what did Solomon do to find meaning in his life, and thus where can we find meaning in our lives? He searches in two main areas...

Attempted answer 1: Wisdom. (1:12-18; 2:12-17)

In verse 12, again the Preacher identifies himself as “king over Jerusalem.” Again, I have already argued that I believe this is Solomon.

Beginning in verse 12 we see his first attempt at finding meaning in this life by, “applying his heart to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven.” Though the use of wisdom (remember Solomon was given supernatural wisdom as a result of God’s gift in 1 Kings 3:10-12.

Solomon says in 16-17a that he acquired such great wisdom that he surpassed all who came before him. He applied his heart to know all wisdom and folly. Indeed we also read of the supernatural nature of Solomon’s wisdom in 1 Kings 4:29-34.

But what is the result of Solomon’s successful acquisition of wisdom? Did it satisfy his heart? The clear answer here is no!

He says, “I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind.”

A good question to ask is, “why can’t wisdom satisfy?” Certainly, wisdom is a great thing. We should strive for wisdom! Proverbs 8:11 says, “for wisdom is better than jewels, and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.” James 1:5, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” So we should seek wisdom, but not as an end in and of itself.

Solomon answers this question generally for us in 1:15 and 1:18. Now, he is going to give us a more through answer down in 2:12-17. But here, the first reason wisdom doesn’t satisfy is because some things in life just cannot be fixed. Look at 1:15, “What is crooked cannot be made straight, and what is lacking cannot be counted.” Everyone can see that life is broken, everyone can see that life is lacking; wisdom seeks to fix the brokenness. However, you just can’t fix every problem.

The second reason wisdom doesn’t ultimately satisfy is in verse 18, “For in much wisdom is much vexation, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.” Wisdom only brings more sorrow.

Parents often feel this way about their children. Think of the heartbreak a parent experiences when when they see a child make a choice that they know will end up in pain, but the child cannot see it. It is only the greater wisdom of the parent that enables them to see it.

Now let’s look down at his final evaluation of the pursuit of wisdom in 2:12-17. Three observations:

Solomon concludes that wisdom is better than folly. The advantage is that the wise person walks in the light. He is able to see where he is going and navigate this life better. The foolish person is like a man stumbling in the darkness. He cannot see where he is going.

However, the same brokenness of life affects those who are wise as those who are foolish. Solomon says in 2:15, “Then I said in my heart, ‘what happens to the fool will happen to me also. Why then have I been so very wise?’ And I said in my heart that this is also vanity (fleeting, temporary, a puff of air).” In the end, both the wise person and the fool die and they are forgotten. This leads Solomon to say, “so, I hated life, because what is done under the sun was grievous to me, for all is vanity and a striving after wind.”

Wisdom doesn’t satisfy because it isn’t permanent, it is temporary. Solomon says in 2:16, “For of the wise as of the fool there is no enduring remembrance, seeing that in the days to come all will have been long forgotten.” So, human wisdom just doesn’t give us all the answers we need, even though it is a worthwhile pursuit.

Application: Solomon’s pursuit of wisdom reminds us to put our hope in God. If we cannot fix our lives by gaining wisdom and understanding, then we must trust in our all-knowing God. God’s wisdom is totally different than ours. Our wisdom does not fix the complexities and problems of life. But God’s wisdom is sufficient for any problem. 2 Peter 2:6, Peter is reflecting on the justice of God’s wrath and his ability to save his children from evil days, he says, “then the Lord knows (is wise) how to rescue the godly from trials, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment...”

Our calling is to trust in God, to repent of sin, and to turn to the Lord. Proverbs 1:7 reminds us that the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.

Listen to Isaiah 55:6-9: “Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thought than your thoughts.

Jeremiah 9:23-24 says, “Thus says the LORD: ‘Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth.’”

Also, listen to Romans 11:33-36: “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor? Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid? For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.”

Friends, God is worthy of our worship and trust. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding (wisdom). But, in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your path. Proverbs 3:5. What are you trusting in today with the difficulties you are facing?

The last thing I want us to think about by way of application here is that God doesn’t leave us alone. He comes to rescue us by sending his Son, Jesus who is described in 1 Corinthians 1:24 as , “the wisdom of God.” Jesus came to make the crooked straight, where even Solomon in all of his wisdom could not do. Again, trusting in Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection is the only way of hope we have.

Attempted Answer 2: Labor, Pleasure, and Wealth. (2:1-10; 18-26)

In 2:1-10, Solomon makes quite a list of all his self-indulgence in life. Let’s consider some of what he sought to satisfy his heart.

Physical Pleasure-he lists things like enjoying himself, wine and food, entertainment, laughter and singers, sex (remember his 700 wives and 300 concubines. He sums up his pursuit of pleasure in 2:10, “And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure in all my toil...”

Work- Solomon was known as one of the greatest builders. In these verses he says he made many great works such as: houses, vineyards, gardens, parks, orchards, and pools to water his trees, such works required a massive workforce. He says in verse 7 he bought male and female slaves, and had slaves who were born in my house.

Wealth- this is a big one in our country today. We think wealth will satisfy. Let’s look at the wealth Solomon acquired: herds and flocks, more than any who had been before in all Jerusalem, silver, gold, the treasures of kings and entire provinces.

Notice twice he adds to this section, in vs. 3 and vs. 9 that on top of all this self-indulgence, he still had his wisdom!

He sums all this up in verse 9, “So, I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem.”

Notice something about these verses, notice how many times the word “my” and “myself” is used. Solomon spent his entire life pursuing and acquiring for himself every worldly pleasure. And, he did it all for himself.

And what is Solomon’s evaluation of all his labor, toil, and pleasure? Look at verse 11, “Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity (fleeting, a puff of air, a vapor) and striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun.”

He goes on in verses 18-23 to evaluate his labor and toil and he notes two things:

He works his entire life to gain all these things and…he has to leave it for someone else to enjoy. I love that Solomon adds in vs. 19, “and who knows whether he will be wise or a fool? Yet he will be master of all for which I toiled and used my wisdom under this sun. This is vanity!” It’s as if he says, “I’ve worked my whole life for this and that fool over there just gets to pick up and enjoy it all!”

This reminds us of God’s curse on man’s work in Genesis 3:17-19. Because of sin our labor is never enough, it’s never satisfying.

What do you when you have everything you’ve ever wanted and yet it still isn’t enough? Football superstar Tom Brady was once interviewed on the show 60 Minutes. At that time Brady had just won his third Super Bowl with New England. Since then he has won three more for a total of 6! And he is playing for his 7th this year! In that interview Brady said, “Why do I have three Super Bowl rings and still think there’s something greater out there for me? I mean, maybe a lot of people would say, ‘hey man, this is what is.’ I’ve reached my goal, my dream, my life. Me, I think, ‘…there’s got to be more than this.’ I mean this isn’t, this can’t be what it’s all cracked up to be.” The person interviewing Brady then asked, “Then what’s the answer?” to which Brady responded, “I wish I knew, man, I wish I knew.”

The answer is that our dissatisfaction with this life should point us back to God, not away from him. If nothing in this world can satisfy us, then we need to look beyond this world to God to satisfy our souls.

I think when we look to God for satisfaction, it gives more meaning to our lives here on earth.

Look down at 2:24-26. God intends that we enjoy the fruits of our labors. The stuff of this world, a good meal, laughter with friends, relationships, walks in the park, listening to good music, and even a hard day’s work, all of this is God’s good gift for us to enjoy. Solomon says in vs. 24, “There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God, for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment?”

God is not a spoilsport! he is not trying to take pleasure away from our lives, but he gives it to us. Enjoyment of life is one of God’s common graces, even unbelievers can enjoy life. But how much more can we enjoy God’s good gifts, because as Christians we can not only enjoy the gift, but we can enjoy relationship with the giver of the gift! So, look around at all that God has given to you and enjoy them. Find enjoyment in the simple things, the daily things that God gives you.

Conclusion:

Our unsatisfied longings give us a clue that we were made for something more. That is one of the reasons why God gives us Ecclesiastes, to remind us that we should not love the world or live our lives for the pleasures of this world. Satisfaction only comes in God himself. So, when we are dissatisfied with our life, let it be a reminder to you to look to Christ. This world is not all there is. God sent us his Son to be our savior. Now that Jesus has risen from the dead, he offers himself to us as the source of all satisfaction. He gives us the Holy Spirit as a downpayment for the eternal life that is to come. Trust in him. Find your hope and satisfaction in him. And enjoy all the good gifts he gives you by his grace.