©John Yerkes
Chapter 2:1-11 (ESV) - I said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy yourself.” But behold, this also was vanity. I said of laughter, “It is mad,” and of pleasure, “What use is it?” I searched with my heart how to cheer my body with wine—my heart still guiding me with wisdom—and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was good for the children of man to do under heaven during the few days of their life. I made great works. I built houses and planted vineyards for myself. I made myself gardens and parks, and planted in them all kinds of fruit trees. I made myself pools from which to water the forest of growing trees. I bought male and female slaves, and had slaves who were born in my house. I had also great possessions of herds and flocks, more than any who had been before me in Jerusalem. I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I got singers, both men and women, and many concubines, the delight of the sons of man.
So I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me. 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, and this was my reward for all my toil. Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun.
Question to consider: What is your definition of the American dream?
When he was still a boy, Solomon asked the LORD for an understanding mind so that he would know good and evil in order to rightly govern the people. The LORD’s response was, “Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you. I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that no other king shall compare with you, all your days. And if you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.” (1 Kings 3:12-13)
We learned in yesterday’s passage that this discernment and wisdom caused him vexation and sorrow because the crooked paths of this world could not be made straight. It was a curse to know the truth and have no power to bring it about. Even a king cannot change the heart of man.
For the sake of furthering his knowledge, he began to experiment with the philosophies of men. Today’s passage describes the hedonistic philosophy of pleasure and self-indulgence. Somehow he engaged in the pleasures of men while retaining wisdom “in his heart.” He did everything you’d associate with living the American dream. He built his dream house(s), owned vineyards and ranches, walked in his own forests, planted his own gardens, indulged in every earthly pleasure, and gathered treasures from all over the world. He essentially did everything someone dreams about doing if they were to amass or inherit wealth and had no responsibilities. If you were to ask a godless person what he thinks heaven would be like, Solomon probably experienced it in all its fullness.
By the grace of God, Solomon maintained his heart of wisdom in the midst of all of this and was able to realize that all of it was meaningless. We can verify the truth of this statement by looking at the lifestyles of celebrities and sports heroes. They can buy anything, travel anywhere, have throngs of followers, experience the latest trends, and yet they still destroy themselves with drugs. In the moments not caught on camera, they live in quiet despair, for none of it is real or lasting or meaningful— a chasing after the wind.
Dear heavenly Father, thank You for allowing us to experience beauty, pleasure, comfort and ease. May we receive Your good gifts with joy and generously share them with our neighbor but realize that these things are not the goal of life or the objects of our worship. You alone are worthy of our praise. Amen.