THE PURSUIT OF PLEASURE
It feels good to be writing again.
“Everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.” – Ecclesiastes 2:11
I really do like Ecclesiastes. It doesn’t have the lightest of tones, but it’s just so effective. It gets rid of all the noise. All the useless sound. All the opinions.
It allows me to resync.
Ecclesiastes tells the story of the search for meaning and purpose in life.
Read it today and you’ll see an account of experimentation: “I refused my heart no pleasure” (Eccl 2:10).
There’s a description of various methods.
Partying with friends.
Projects such as parks and orchards.
Accumulating possessions.
And engaging in all sorts of pleasures such as music and sex.
Yes. Sex.
Solomon, he enjoyed all “the delights of the heart of man” (Eccl 2:8)
But it wasn’t enough.
Looking at it with an eye of wisdom, these pursuits proved “meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained” (Eccl 2:3, 11).
As experiences sought for self-centred reasons, these pleasures failed to satisfy. They were inadequate to meet life’s deepest need.
Let me tell you a story.
A true story.
You know Elvis, right?
Elvis Aaron Presley, nicknamed the King of Rock and Roll, rose from poverty to fame in the 1950s. He built his Graceland mansion in Memphis, Tennessee. He was a chart topper, a Hollywood star. His fame and riches seemed to know no end, and he became recognized for his extravagant lifestyle, paying cash for Cadillacs and private airplanes.
But there was something his riches could not buy – happiness.
Twenty years later, Elvis’s life spiralled out of control, and in 1973 he died of a drug overdose, leaving everything he had so carefully acquired.
That was 1973, but centuries earlier, King Solomon discovered the same truth.
Earthly riches cannot satisfy.
Even the acquisition of all of life’s pleasures can leave a person empty and longing for more. The Holy Spirit inspired Solomon to share his experiences with us. When we’re reading the book of Ecclesiastes, we have to be careful not to jump to conclusions too quickly, because we don’t have Solomon’s final word on life until we’ve read the last verse.
The point of the book is not to come out saying: “Life is futile, meaningless chasing after wind.” Especially when we have the opportunity to look to God.
Solomon himself drew some preliminary conclusions at various points in the book and according to Solomon, we can scratch pleasure, indulgence, and achievements off the list of things that, in and of themselves, have the power to satisfy us and please God. For people who want to be good stewards of God’s gifts, this is valuable information.
Let’s take the advice of someone who went to the extreme and came back to tell us about his experience.
Real enjoyment is a gift only God can give.
And one more thing.
Yes.
Each of us has a private wish list—things we desire that seem out of our reach.
While these things are not necessarily bad, we must realize that even when we acquire them, they will not bring fulfilment and happiness.Life really does boil down to two basic choices.
We can live either to please ourselves or to please God.
Pray that God will help you see life through His eyes.
Hopefully, this is the first of many weekly posts in 2021.
Time to start writing again!
My Sunday Skl 