I, I, I

1 I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity. 2 I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it? 3 I sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting mine heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was that good for the sons of men, which they should do under the heaven all the days of their life. 4  I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards: 5  I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all kind of fruits: 6  I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees: 7  I got me servants and maidens, and had servants born in my house; also I had great possessions of great and small cattle above all that were in Jerusalem before me: 8  I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces: I gat me men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, as musical instruments, and that of all sorts. 9 So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me.   Ecclesiastes 2:1-9

I said in my heart…

I sought in mine heart…

I made me…

I got me…

I gathered me…

So I was great…

Solomon was searching, searching, searching for a peace and quietness of soul. He was looking for happiness in things.

He looked for happiness in:

Wine v3

Great works v4

Houses and vineyards v4

Gardens, orchards and planted trees v5

Pools of water to water his greenery v6

Servants to do the work for him v7

Great amount of cattle v7

Gold and silver v8

Singers and musicians v8

In all of this I noticed that the most important thing Solomon looked for was satisfying himself. It was all about him. The more he obtained the more he was not happy.

What about our world today? We want more and more and more. We own a car but we want a better one. We buy a better one and after a short time the novelty wears off and we want a better one. The vicious circle goes around and around.

Unfortunately believers in Christ are not immune to the “wanting more syndrome.” I like my house but … I can’t afford to do this but I have credit cards… The never satisfied feeling was not only in Solomon’s time but in our time as well.

It is so sad to see someone buying “things” trying to obtain happiness. I have an acquaintance that has put himself in debt so many times and keeps claiming bankruptcy. True happiness is not found in “things” and Solomon knew this firsthand.

Where is your focus? Is it on possessions? Is it on your accomplishments?

Join me the next time to learn more of what Solomon has to say.

Have a blessed day, 

Donna

Seeking and Searching

12 I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13 And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith. 14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit. 15 That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered. 16 I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem: yea, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge. 17 And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit. 18 For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.  Ecclesiastes 1:12-18

Solomon, the wisest king, who ever lived (I Kings 3:12) searched for wisdom. He searched everywhere. “His giving himself to the study of natural history, philosophy, poetry, etc., are sufficient proofs of it. He had not intuitive knowledge from God; but he had a capacity to obtain every kind of knowledge useful to man.” –Adam Clarke

In all the studying and searching he came to the conclusion, “all is vanity (emptiness) and vexation (a feeding upon, that is, grasping after) of spirit.” All the studying and searching of subjects was useless and without a purpose.

He knew he had more wisdom than all those before him but still felt an emptiness. The more wisdom he had the more grief he felt. When one increases knowledge the sorrow also increases. What a peculiar thing to say.

Pondering this verse I see it as; the more wisdom we get the more grief because our eyes are open to the happenings (in all realms i.e. Christian, world and politics) in the world. The more God reveals to us (knowledge & wisdom) we are grieved because we can understand more clearly what is taking place in the world around us.  As one reads the prophecy to come it saddens the heart. When we speak to others about it, most will not listen.

It is up to us to continue to be witnesses and testimonies in this dark world realizing this world is not our home.

Have a blessed day,
Donna