Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Ecclesiastes: what about pleasure and work?

I said to myself, "Come now, I will test you with pleasure to find out what is good." But that also proved to be meaningless. (Ecclesiastes 2:1 NIV)

The world chases after pleasure thinking there is meaning or hope in it. But is there anything real and significant that comes from chasing pleasure?

I amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I acquired male and female singers, and a harem as well—the delights of a man's heart. I denied myself nothing my eyes desired;
I refused my heart no pleasure.
My heart took delight in all my labor,
and this was the reward for all my toil. Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done
and what I had toiled to achieve,
everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind;
nothing was gained under the sun. (Ecclesiastes 2:8, 10, 11 NIV)

Solomon had it all and yet he knew it would not last and that in the end it was not worth living for. It is good that our hope is not in wealth and pleasure because billions do not have even basic necessities.

Pleasure is fleeting.
Work is fulfilling for a time but it does not last.

So what next?

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