Solomon see futility

ECCLESIASTES Chapter 2

Solomon says to give pleasure a try and look for good things in life. But he found out that it does no good to seek only pleasure. He tried to find meaning in building large homes and by planting beautiful vineyards. he made gardens and parks, reservoirs. He bought slaves and owned great herds and flocks and collected silver and gold. He hired wonderful singers and had beautiful concubines and everything a man could desire.

And as Solomon became greater than any other kings who ruled Jerusalem, he tried to evaluate all these things and soon found that he took great pleasure in hard work. But later he still found it all meaningless. So he compared wisdom and folly. And he found wisdom was of more value than foolishness, yet he saw the wise and foolish suffer the same fate, because they both die and would be forgotten. So he became disgusted and decided to leave the fruits of his work to others. Then he thought there is nothing better than to enjoy food and drink and find satisfaction in work and he realized this pleasure came from the hand of God. Because it is God who gives wisdom, knowledge and joy to those who please him. But if a sinner becomes wealthy, God takes the wealth away and gives it to those who please him.

BIBLE NOTES SHOW: Solomon amassed wealth so great, but it was all meaningless to him because he pursued these things for the wrong reasons. We must look beyond our activities to the reasons we do them and the purpose they fulfill. God gives us meaning.

HOW DOES THIS CHAPTER RELATE TO US TODAY? Let me ask you what your own motives are in life? Your goals? As you examine them, you should know that without God as your foundation, you are living a meaningless life. Security and self-worth are found not in our accomplishments, but in the love of God.

Does Solomon recommend we make life a big, irresponsible party? No, he encourages us to take pleasure in what we are doing now because it comes from God's hand. Without God, satisfaction is a lost search. If everything we have is taken away, we still have God. God is all we really need!

Yours in Christ,
Mary

Prayer Requests are needed for:
HEALTH: Pray for Gabe.
Pray for Janice Long’s parents, especially her mother who faces another round of chemotherapy and her father with Alzheimer’s and now her mother in law also with Alzheimer’s. Their family is feeling the strain both emotionally and financially. Pray for them. Update on this family: Her mother-in-law is being taken to Oklahoma to live with an aunt who will care for her.
Pray for Arlene’s nephew David and for my neighbor Al who is nearing the end of his life.
Pray for Carolyn’s brother Ronald who has cancer and for her sister Wanda’s soul which went to heaven.
Pray for our friend Michelle who was diagnosed with MS.
UPDATE on Barb who went in for back surgery and had a heart attack and stroke, she has her speech back and is home , but continues to have a problem with one arm and hand. Thanks to your prayers, she is able to hobble without a cane and has been granted disability. She still has surgery scheduled on her hand, but I saw her recently and her attitude is fantastic.
Pray for Robert Sargent who is quite ill with lung cancer.
Pray for Gary Summers, my friend from church, who has cancer.
Pray for Judy’s husband who was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer. Pray for her too, that she can deal with the side effects of his illness.
Pray too for Charly’s husband Robert who is undergoing chemo for his prostate cancer. Update on Robert: he has one more treatment and then three months of waiting for his psat test to come back clean.
Pray for John’s recovery from a heart attack and for the doctors who have difficulty diagnosing his other symptoms.
Pray for James’s sister Cynthia whose chemo has lost its effect as the cancer grows powerful.
Pray for another friend named Carolyn whose faith remains strong, but is lost and confused about where and how to spend her elder years.
SPIRITUAL UPLIFTING: Gail, Mary
RESTORATION OF FAITH: Al, John
LOVE AND SUPPORT: Claire, Hunter, Brian
SUPPORT: Haiti, Chile, survivors of Japan’s earthquake, survivors of the devastating tornadoes in our southernmost states and Joplin, Missouri. Pray too, for our country’s leaders and our military people who die each day for our freedom.