(“The Futility of Having It All”) (II)

Ecclesiastes 2:1-11 (NASU)

10“All that my eyes desired I did not refuse them. I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure, for my heart was pleased because of all my labor and this was my reward for all my labor. 11Thus I considered all my activities which my hands had done and the labor which I had exerted, and behold all was vanity and striving after wind and there was no profit under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes 2:10-11)

(A) THE KING WHO “HAD IT ALL”

(1) Many people believe if they could find a way to “have it all” (so to speak), they’d be happy and content. For some that might mean having enough money to buy (or do) whatever they wanted – for others it would mean achieving something they and/or the world regards as a great accomplishment – for someone else it might mean throwing off all moral restraints so they can indulge their passions.

(2) By most people’s standards King Solomon “had it all” and then some.

He had great wisdom and enormous wealth (c.f. I Kings 3:12-13) – he personally designed and oversaw the construction of some of the most impressive building projects of that era, including the Temple at Jerusalem which took seven years to finish (c.f. I Kings 6:38), and his own royal residence which took thirteen (c.f. I Kings 7:1) – kings and queens came from all over the world to honor him, listen to his wisdom, marvel at his accomplishments, and shower him with expensive gifts (c.f. II Chronicles 9:22-24) – Solomon also had seven hundred wives and three hundred concubines (c.f. I Kings 11:3).

The point is, God put King Solomon in a position to have all the things most people only wish for, and/or do all the things most of us only dream of doing – for according to verse ten of this evening’s text, Solomon did not refuse his eyes anything they desired – nor withhold anything from his heart that might bring it pleasure (c.f. Ecclesiastes 2:10).

(3) So what was Solomon’s assessment of “having it all”? Would he recommend it to others? Is it really the secret to lifelong happiness and/or lasting fulfillment?

Not everyone will believe his answer – for he says in verse eleven: “(When) I considered all my activities which my hands had done … behold all was vanity and striving after wind and there was no profit under the sun” (c.f. Ecclesiastes 2:11).

(B) EAT, DRINK, AND BE MERRY

(1) In tonight’s Scripture lesson, Solomon tells us how he came to this conclusion. In verse one, for example, he set out to find what pleasure had to offer, saying: “I said to myself, ‘Come now, I will test you with pleasure. So enjoy yourself” (c.f. Ecclesiastes 2:1).

Having found (in the previous chapter) that rationalism (i.e. wisdom and knowledge) is futile as an end in itself (c.f. Ecclesiastes 1:12-18), Solomon decided to try hedonism. Would life’s sensual pleasures bring lasting satisfaction? Can indulging the senses bring true happiness and/or peace to a man’s soul.¹

(2) The first “pleasure” he tested was “laughter” – but quickly concluded “it (was) madness”, in part, because it doesn’t “accomplish” anything of lasting value (c.f. Ecclesiastes 2:2).

In the Book of Proverbs Solomon said, “A merry heart does good, like medicine” (c.f. Proverbs 17:22a, NKJV) – so he wasn’t suggesting laughter and mirth have no positive benefits – or that Christians should always be somber and never enjoy a funny story. His point was, that having a sense of humor is not the key to happiness. People may find certain amusements give them momentary relief from life’s problems – but once the laughing stops (as it always does), the problems are still there. Indeed, some people use humor to cover their unhappiness, as Solomon insightfully pointed out in another place, saying: “Even in laughter the heart may be in pain, and the end of joy may be grief” (c.f. Proverbs 14:13).

Besides, some things in life just aren’t funny no matter hard we try to find the humor in them. Hence, Solomon concluded “laughter”, as an end in itself – or as a means of finding lasting happiness – is nothing but “vanity and striving after wind” (c.f. Ecclesiastes 2:11).

(3) The second pleasure Solomon tested was “wine”, saying (in the first part of verse three), “I explored with my mind how to stimulate my body with wine while my mind was guiding me wisely …” (c.f. Ecclesiastes 2:3a).

Most commercials for any kind of alcoholic beverage show people laughing and having a good time – regardless of whether they’re out dancing, on a camping trip, watching a ball game, or just sitting in someone’s living room talking with their friends. If we took these commercials at face value, the conclusion would be that the way to turn a good time into a great time is to drink – and/or, that people who drink enjoy life more than those who don’t.

Solomon set out to see if this was true – for he goes on to say (in the last part of verse three) that he “(took) hold of folly, until (he) could see what good there is for the sons of men to do under heaven the few years of their lives” (c.f. Ecclesiastes 2:3b) – in other words, he wanted to see what all the hype was about – what is there about “wine” that makes “the sons of men” think it’s so wonderful?

He concluded, however, that all the hype was just that – hype! And that “wine”, as an end in itself – as the key to finding real happiness or satisfaction in life – is nothing but “vanity and striving after wind” – that there was “no profit (to be gained from it)” (c.f. Ecclesiastes 2:11) – i.e. nothing in it of any true or lasting value.

(C) PROJECTS, POSSESSIONS AND “THE PLEASURES OF MEN”

(1) Having found that the frivolous² pleasures of life are futile, Solomon turned to some of life’s more serious and/or responsible pleasures – starting with the planning and completion of numerous great projects. Look at verses four through six: “I enlarged my works: I built houses for myself, I planted vineyards for myself; I made gardens and parks for myself and I planted in them all kinds of fruit trees; I made ponds of water for myself from which to irrigate a forest of growing trees” (c.f. Ecclesiastes 2:4-6).

(a) The first thing we notice is that Solomon “enlarged his works” (c.f. Ecclesiastes 2:4a). It wasn’t that he didn’t already have a house, or vineyard, or gardens and fruit trees – for he would have surely inherited these things (in some measure) from his father David. Rather, he “enlarged” them – i.e. he added to them – increased their number – and/or made them bigger. Like an ever-expanding Disney World, where Adventure Land isn’t enough – where there has to be an Epcot Center, then Disney-MGM Studios, then Disney’s Animal Park Kingdom, not to mention golf courses, water parks, hotels, and other amenities – Solomon kept adding to what he already had, with each project being “bigger and better” than the one before.

For example, First Kings chapter nine says: “Solomon rebuilt Gezer and the lower Beth-horon and Baalath and Tamar in the wilderness, in the land of Judah, and all the storage cities which Solomon had, even the cities for his chariots and the cities for his horsemen, and all that it pleased Solomon to build in Jerusalem, in Lebanon, and in all the land under his rule” (c.f. I Kings 9:17-19).

First Kings chapter ten tells us Solomon “made a great throne of ivory and overlaid it with … gold. There were six steps to the throne and a round top to the throne at its rear, and arms on each side of the seat, and two lions standing beside the arms. Twelve lions were standing there on the six steps on the one side and on the other; nothing like it was made for any other kingdom” (c.f. I Kings 10:18-20).

Scripture also tells us when the Queen of Sheba came to visit, she was overwhelmed by what she saw, saying in part: “It was a true report which I heard in my own land … Nevertheless I did not believe (those) reports, until I came and (saw it with) my (own) eyes … And behold, the half was not told me” (c.f. I Kings 10:6-7).

Solomon’s building projects were so numerous and great that remnants and ruins still dot Israel’s landscape some three thousand years later.⁷ On the other hand, part of their futility is that all that’s left are “ruins” – that all that’s left from the past are “remnants” – thereby underscoring the fact that even man’s greatest achievements are ultimately vain.

(b) The second thing we notice is the refrain “for myself”, which occurs four times in verses four through six, and twice more in verse eight – as in, “I built houses for myself … planted vineyards for myself … made gardens and parks for myself … (and) ponds of water for myself … I … collected for myself silver and gold … (and) provided for myself male and female singers” (c.f. Ecclesiastes 2:4-6, 8).

Self is always the focus of the hedonist. Indeed, the natural man (c.f. I Corinthians 2:14) who lives life “under the sun” (c.f. Ecclesiastes 1:3, 14; 2:11) is always a self-centered man. Even when a project seems to be a “worthwhile cause” – even when it has “an aura of public service”⁴ – it’s simply another way for the natural man to indulge his desires, feel good about himself, and/or bask in the praise and admiration of others (much like the Pharisees, whom Jesus said, “love(d) to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so … they [might] be seen by men”) (c.f. Matthew 6:5).

Solomon did derive a certain amount of pleasure from what he was able to achieve, for he says in verse ten: “my heart was pleased because of all my labor and this was my reward for all my labor” (c.f. Ecclesiastes 2:10b). What he discovered, is that his “reward” had an expiration date – that any initial satisfaction a man manages to draw from his achievements (no matter how great they appear to be at the time) eventually fades – hence, he went on to say in verse eleven: “(when) I considered all my activities which my hands had done and the labor which I had exerted … behold all was vanity and striving after wind and there was no profit under the sun” (c.f. Ecclesiastes 2:11).

(c) Solomon found that “self” is a cruel and insatiable master – that to invest one’s time and effort in pleasing “self”, hoping to receive the dividend of lasting happiness and/or contentment, is like putting your money in a bankrupt institution – it simply gobbles up your investment and gives you nothing in return.

Jesus once made a similar point when He said: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal” (c.f. Matthew 6:19-20) – thereby underscoring the limited value of investing in anything the world has to offer, verses the lasting value of investing in the things of God. Hence, the Scripture exhorts Christians to “always (abound) in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord” (c.f. I Corinthians 15:58).

(2) In conjunction with his various projects, Solomon also “enlarged” his personal possessions. Look at verses seven and eight, where he said: “I bought male and female slaves and I had home born slaves. Also I possessed flocks and herds larger than all who preceded me in Jerusalem. Also, I collected for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. (And) I (also) provided for myself male and female singers …” (c.f. Ecclesiastes 2:7-8).

(a) “Opulence” is a word we don’t use often – but when we do, we usually use it to describe how the excessively wealthy live – to describe those who have more money than they know what to do with, so they spend it on all kinds of lavish, extravagant things – to describe the Scrooge McDuck’s of the world, who use dollar signs ($) to spell their name instead of S’s.

“Opulence” describes how Solomon lived. Here’s a brief biblical summary from First Kings chapter ten: ^{11“ships … brought gold from Ophir (and) a very great number of almug trees … 12(from which Solomon made) supports for the house of the Lord and … the king’s house, also lyres and harps for the singers; such almug trees have not come in again nor have they been seen to this day … 14the weight of gold which came in to Solomon in one year was 666 talents … 15besides that from … traders and … merchants and all the kings of the Arabs and … governors of the country”} (c.f. I Kings 10:11-15).

We need to pause here and try to grasp what we’ve just been told. A talent of gold weighed about 75 pounds³ – so 666 talents would weigh close to 50,000 pounds⁵ – which at today’s price of over $400 per ounce,⁶ would have been worth in excess of $320 million dollars! – per year!! – for who knows how many years?!?!

So what did Solomon do with all this gold? First Kings chapter ten goes on to say: ^{16“King Solomon made (500 shields of gold) … 17and … put them in the house of the forest of Lebanon 18… the king made a great throne of ivory and overlaid it with refined gold … 21All King Solomon’s drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon were of pure gold. None was of silver; it was not considered valuable in the days of Solomon 22… once every three years … ships … came bringing gold and silver, ivory and apes and peacocks … 24All the earth was seeking the presence of Solomon … 25every man (brought) his gift, articles of silver and gold, garments, weapons, spices, horses, and mules, so much year by year 26… Solomon … had 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horsemen, (which) he stationed … in (his) chariot cities and … in Jerusalem. 27The king made silver as common as stones in Jerusalem, and he made cedars as plentiful as sycamore trees that are in the lowland. 28… Solomon import(ed)… horses (and chariots) 29 … (at) 600 shekels of silver (per chariot), and (150 per) horse … (he also) exported (horses and chariots) to … the kings of the Hittites and … Arameans”} (c.f. I Kings 10:16-29).

(b) I can’t begin to imagine the extent of Solomon’s wealth, or the number and variety of his possessions, or the opulence in which he lived. But I do know happiness can’t be bought – nor can possessions ultimately satisfy a man’s heart. I know it because I’ve tried it – and so have you.

As a little child I used to spend hours looking at cowboy outfits in Spiegel’s catalogues thinking how great life would be if I could dress like that. Later, I thought my life would be complete if I could own a 1965 Chevrolet Impala. “Things” can/do bring a measure of enjoyment – BUT, eventually the newness wears off – or they break – or someone comes along with something better than what we have. The point is, I was wrong both times (and many times since) – but then, Solomon could have told me that would happen (if I had been listening)!

Have you ever tried to “cure the blues” (so to speak) with food? Have you ever gone out and bought something new (whether cheap or expensive) to try and make yourself feel better? Did it work? It did!? You mean you’ve never felt sad or depressed since then – not ever? Oh, you have! Well, then, I guess it didn’t work after all – did it?!

Even when “things” do help us feel better, it’s like a shot of Novocain –eventually it wears off – and then we’re left with all the old aches and pains of the soul that were there before.

Sometimes getting something new doesn’t work at all – sometimes we actually feel worse afterwards, because we know we just wasted our money on something we really didn’t need and/or didn’t really want.

(c) Solomon told us this would happen three thousand years ago. He had possessions galore – he had slaves and singers, flocks and herds, silver and gold, peacocks and apes coming out his ears. So if possessions could ever make a man happy, Solomon should have been ecstatic – for he says (in verse nine): “I became great and increased more than all who preceded me in Jerusalem. (And) My wisdom also stood by me” (c.f. Ecclesiastes 2:9).

I take that last phrase about “wisdom” to mean even as his possession piled up, he never lost sight of the fact he was trying see if there was anything of lasting, soul-satisfying value in them.⁸ And while he confessed he found some pleasure (c.f. Ecclesiastes 2:10b), his final conclusion was that “all was vanity and striving after wind and (that) there was no profit under the sun” (c.f. Ecclesiastes 2:11b) in anything he possessed – that any pleasure possessions brought him was short-lived at best, and therefore worthless (in and of themselves) so far as any real happiness and/or lasting contentment in life was concerned.

(3) Finally, in addition to his projects and possessions, Solomon said: “I provided for myself … the pleasures of men – many concubines” (c.f. Ecclesiastes 2:8c).

(a) The Bible says Solomon had seven hundred wives and three hundred concubines (c.f. I Kings 11:3). I’m not trying to be crude, but in a fallen world this is every natural man’s fantasy. The late Wilt Chamberlain claimed to have “known” over one thousand women. How do you suppose Magic Johnson get aids? Do you really think polygamy used to be popular among Mormons solely for religious reasons? Why does Osama ben Laden promise his followers that if they fly a commercial plane into an office building, or kill as many people as they can by blowing themselves up in a public place, there will be seventy virgins waiting for them in paradise? Why is pornography a multi-billion dollar business?

(b) The answer is, because many people (including more and more women) believe they will be happy and/or content if they throw off all moral restraint and indulge their passions to the limit.

(c) Some Historians suggest many of Solomon’s wives may have been diplomatic marriages,⁹ rather than erotic or romantic attachments – i.e. that he married them to strengthen foreign relations or ratify peace treaties with other nations.¹⁰

One wonders if seven hundred different nations even existed in those days. And if they did, that still leaves three hundred concubines who apparently had no foreign policy connection. Besides, Scripture says: ^{1“King Solomon loved many foreign women along with the daughter of Pharaoh: Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, Sidonian, and Hittite women, 2from the nations concerning which the Lord had said to the sons of Israel, ‘You shall not associate with them, nor shall they associate with you, for they will surely turn your heart away after their gods.’ Solomon held fast to these in love. 3He had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines, and his wives turned his heart away. 4For when Solomon was old, his wives turned his heart away after other gods; and his heart was not wholly devoted to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his father had been. 5For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians and after Milcom the detestable idol of the Ammonites. 6Solomon did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, and did not follow the Lord fully, as David his father had done. 7Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the detestable idol of Moab, on the mountain which is east of Jerusalem, and for Molech the detestable idol of the sons of Ammon. 8Thus also he did for all his foreign wives, who burned incense and sacrificed to their gods”} (c.f. I Kings 11:1-8).

(d) Taken at face value, all the biblical indications are that Solomon did not confine himself to one woman – that he was not monogamous – that he would not have been qualified to serve as an elder in Christ’s church because he was not a “one-woman-man” (c.f. I Timothy 3:2a) – that when First Kings says “Solomon loved many foreign women” (c.f. I Kings 11:1), it’s not just talking about a warm fuzzy emotion – and that when tonight’s Scripture lesson says Solomon “provided for (him)self … the pleasures of men – many concubines” (c.f. Ecclesiastes 2:8c), it’s being delicate (to say the least).

(e) Today you and I (and our children) are bombarded with the idea that the road to happiness is sexual freedom – that multiple relationships are the way to really enjoy life. Solomon had an opportunity to find out whether or not this is true – and to do so under something akin to ideal conditions (so to speak), in part, because he didn’t have to worry about disease, jealous husbands, or what other people thought.

Many will not believe his conclusion – but it’s true none-the-less, that even throwing off all moral restraints and indulging one’s fantasies to the limit is “vanity and striving after wind and there (is) no profit under the sun (to be gained from it)” (c.f. Ecclesiastes 2:11b).

(f) Edward Reynolds, one of the men who helped write the Westminster Confession of Faith and Catechisms, summed up Solomon’s conclusion in the following manner: “After all this (i.e. all the projects, all the possessions, all the pleasures of men) (“After all this”), (Solomon) turned and looked back, or took an impartial survey of all (his) works, which with such painful labors and troubles (he) had wrought: and found, that the fruit was not answerable to the toil which was sustained from the reaping of it: but that this also was vanity, a perishing, withering … dying comfort, a feeding upon wind, and that it left no abiding benefit behind it.”¹¹

(g) Ultimately, beloved, real happiness and lasting contentment is only found in Jesus Christ – and then, only when a person actually repents of their sin, professes faith in Him alone for their salvation, and by His enabling grace seeks to obey His commands.

Solomon put it like this: “The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil” (c.f. Ecclesiastes 12:13-14).

²Kidner: The Message of Ecclesiastes; p. 31.

⁴Keddie: Ibid; p. 53.

⁵The Bible Knowledge Commentary: Old Testament; p. 507.

⁶http://www.monex.com/.

⁷Pritchard: Something New Under The Sun; p. 44.

⁸Reynolds: A Commentary on the Book of Ecclesiastes; p. 65.

⁹The New Geneva Study Bible: Footnote on I Kings 11:1;

p. 491.