The Book Of Ecclesiastes Pt. 6 Life With God Is The Best Life

 

Ecclesiastes 2:18-19  Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me. 19)  And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun. This is also vanity.  

King Solomon reflects upon the purpose of his works and massive wealth. He grappled with the futility of working very hard to accumulate wealth, property and many goods, only to know it will go to someone else.

Solomon wondered who would inherit all of it and what kind of man he would be. Would his son be a wise man, or a fool? Would he be industrious and purposeful with his time, or lazy and indolent?

Remember, Solomon is writing this later in his life, after his heart was turned away by his pagan wives. He is beginning to see evil fruit in his own family from straying after false gods. 

King David's godly guidance to Solomon.

1 Chronicles 28:9-10  And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever. 10)  Take heed now; for the LORD hath chosen thee to build an house for the sanctuary: be strong, and do it. 

King David was not a perfect man, but for most of his life, he followed Jehovah with all his heart. He taught Solomon well and gave him excellent guidance. 

King David in essence said: "Know the God I serve, Solomon, and serve him with a perfect heart and a willing mind." 

He reminded Solomon that Jehovah searches out hearts and thoughts and He will reveal Himself to those who seek Him. 

However, David also warned his son that if Solomon turned away from Jehovah, He would cast him off forever. 

How is this connected to Solomon's thoughts in our text today? 

Rehoboam was Solomon's son, born to an idolatrous Ammonite, named Naamah. She was one of Solomon's strange wives who turned his heart to idolatry.  

Rehoboam turned out to be an haughty fool whose reckless actions ultimately caused Israel to be split into two distinct nations serving two kings (See 1 Kings 12:1-18; 14:21-31). 

Thus Rehoboam answered Solomon's concerned question: "And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool?"

Rehoboam was a fool. Solomon's fears about how his legacy would be cared for, were legitimate fears. 

Jehovah judged Solomon's idolatry.

1 Kings 11:9-10  And the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the LORD God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice, 10)  And had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods: but he kept not that which the LORD commanded.

No saint of God can willfully sin against God and get away with it. Jehovah was angered because Solomon turned away from Him to follow false gods made by men.  

Most of Solomon's kingdom would be given to another.

1 Kings 11:11-13  Wherefore the LORD said unto Solomon, Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded thee, I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant. 12)  Notwithstanding in thy days I will not do it for David thy father's sake: but I will rend it out of the hand of thy son. 13)  Howbeit I will not rend away all the kingdom; but will give one tribe to thy son for David my servant's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake which I have chosen. 

Out of the twelve tribes of Israel, God said that only one tribe, Judah, would be governed by Solomon's son. 

Solomon was concerned that his son would be a fool, and it turned out that he was a fool. He worried that his works would be taken over and mismanaged by an inferior ruler, and that is what happened.

Sadly, Solomon, the wisest of all men, made the worst use of his wisdom. He took three hundred wives and seven hundred concubines, and only had one son as his heir, to possess his estates and his throne. His one son was the worst of fools! 

Ecclesiastes 2:20  Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour which I took under the sun. 

The idea here is that Solomon gave up all hope of having any solid, lasting fruit from all of his works. This sad state of affairs caused Solomon much grief and a sense of hopelessness. 

I hope you see how all of this study is connected with our modern culture and the propagation of evolution as a fact instead of a theory. A natural conclusion of those who believe in evolution, is that life has no higher purpose or intrinsic value, because all is random and accidental. 

Ecclesiastes 2:21  For there is a man whose labour is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity; yet to a man that hath not laboured therein shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil. 

It is as if Solomon said, “I have labored to cultivate my mind with wisdom, science, and knowledge of men and things. I have endeavored to establish equity and dispense justice. And now I find I shall leave all the fruits of my labor to a man that has not labored like me, and will not value what I have wrought.” 

Thus, Solomon spoke of his foolish son, Rehoboam. 

Without knowing God, work is not fulfilling. 

Ecclesiastes 2:22-23  For what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the sun? 23)  For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity. 

The best end of all man's work is mere vexation of heart, a disquieted spirit that knows all is vain. All that we manage to accomplish in life does not satisfy the deep longing in our heart. 

Many of our days will be filled with hard work because of the curse (See Genesis 3). Worries may invade our thoughts at night when we seek rest. 

We worry about what we must do, or how we will undertake our work. We worry about how to provide for our needs. These are worries common to all people. 

Solomon tells us he found it all to be vexation of heart and an empty pursuit. 

Life without God leads to self indulgent hedonism. 

Ecclesiastes 2:24-25  There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God. 25)  For who can eat, or who else can hasten hereunto, more than I? 

Here is the natural conclusion of living your life without God. You might as well eat, drink and be merry. Experience all that you can right now. Use your resources to enjoy life to the fullest because this is all there is. 

Thus, Solomon said that no one else could pursue eat, drink and be merry as heartily as he could, because of his tremendous wealth and resources. 

Life with God is the best life possible. 

Ecclesiastes 2:26  For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit. 

God will give wisdom and the knowledge of Himself. He will give light to direct those who seek Him, in the way of salvation.

When a sinner sincerely seeks God and repents of his or her sins, God will give understanding. He will help us discern His mighty works as we experience walking with Him. He will help us by dispensing His grace and the gifts of his Spirit.

God will give joy to them that believe, and send peace of conscience, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

Proverbs 13:15  Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard.

Good understanding in how to live, is given to those who believe God's Word and walk by faith. 

However, the latter portion of Ecclesiastes 2:26, shows us the hard life of sinners. 

As Solomon wrote in the book of Proverbs, the way or life of a transgressor is a hard path. It leads to a harsh life, causing others pain and suffering the consequences of sin.  

Thoughts to Ponder...

God made us to work and sometimes we must work by the sweat of our face as we battle the effects of the curse (thorns and thistles). Genesis 3:17-19 spells out some of the impact of man's fall into sin. 

Our view of work will be dictated by our view of God.  

Our view of wealth and happiness will be shaped by knowing God and finding satisfaction in Him alone.

However, Solomon turned away from God and lived an empty life that seemed hopeless. His focus became eat, drink, be merry and expend your time and resources on yourself. 

1 Timothy 6:6-8  But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7)  For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8)  And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 

Perspective from the New Testament helps us see what Solomon could not see at that time in his life.

Godliness, that is a life pattern marked by loving and serving God and others, makes us content with what we have, whether little or much. 

Paul reminds us that we did not bring anything into this world and we cannot carry anything with us when we die.

Thus, believers in Christ can be content when God supplies for our basic needs of food, clothing and shelter. 

The remaining portion of the text seems to get at the heart issues of Solomon. He sought riches and pleasures, but found that they did not satisfy. He turned away from the God who could satisfy him, and acted foolishly. 

I pray that we all experience the great blessing and joy that comes from knowing God. I pray that we seek His face each day when we rise, and that we ask Him to direct our paths.

I pray that we faithfully witness to those around us who do not know God, and whose lives look like what Solomon describes: empty, self centered, purposeless and hopeless. 

Let us always be ready to give and answer to anyone who asks us about the blessed hope we have in Jesus Christ (1 Peter 3:15)

Bob