1^st – Looking for answers … vs. 1-11

• 1^st – Entertainment… vs. 1-2
  • Good times… vs. 1
    • I said in my heart: Come now I will test you with mirth – [to see if there is anything good]!
    • But surely this also was vanity!
    • Solomon was determined to see if ANYTHING could give meaning to his life…
    • He said in his HEART [לֵב] – go [imperative] and try [piel] having FUN [שִׂמְחָה]
    • He would try to be ENTERTAINED – to see [רָאָה] if that did any GOOD [טֽוֹב]
    • BUT [וְ] – the answer was a quick NO – it was also VANITY [הֶבֶל]
    • The word AMUSEMENT – means to NOT [a] think [muse]
    • We live in a world that is CONSUMED by the desire to NOT think [entertainment]
    • The average person [Philippines] watches over 100 hours of social media every month…
    • But those movies – apps – restaurants – do NOT give our life more meaning!
  • Laughter… vs. 2
    • I said of laughter: Madness! And of mirth: What does it accomplish?
    • To think that LAUGHTER is the meaning of life – is CRAZY [הוֹלֵלָה]
    • Because no matter how much fun we are having – what does it really DO [עָשָׂה]!
    • I have been guilty of binge watching a show on Netflix…
    • It was enjoyable while it lasted – but once it was done – I felt EMPTY…
    • The truth was I just wasted HOURS of my life – and got NOTHING for it!
• 2^nd – Alcohol… vs. 3
  • I searched in my heart how to gratify my flesh with wine while guiding my heart with wisdom.
  • How to lay hold on folly – till I might see what was good.
  • For the sons of men to do under heaven all the days of their lives!
  • Solomon set his HEART [לֵב] to try and FIND [מָשַׁךְ] purpose in WINE…
  • This was the GOOD [טֽוֹב] – the sons of MEN [אָדָם] said he could find UNDER heaven…
  • BUT [וְ] – although Solomon was trying to be WISE – he instead found [אָחַז] FOLLY!
  • The Bible does NOT say we cannot drink – it does say it is SIN to be drunk – Ephesians 5:18
  • Many people try and live by the POWER of alcohol – to get through the day…
  • But the moment they sober up – the reality of their poor choice is there to greet them…
  • Because alcohol has no power to change our lives!
• 3^rd – Real estate… vs. 4-6
  • I made my works great. I built myself houses and planted myself vineyards.
  • I made myself gardens and orchards and I planted all kinds of fruit trees in them.
  • I made myself water pools from which to water the growing trees of the grove!
  • Solomon tried to find the answer in Real Estate…
  • He build GREAT [גָּדוֹל] houses – planted vineyards and orchards filled with ALL [כָּל] fruits…
  • Even building POOLS to store the water for all his TREES!
  • Solomon built a palace called the FOREST of Lebanon – I Kings 7:2
  • It likely got its name because of the large quantity of trees used in its construction…
  • It was 45 meters – 23 meters wide – and 13 meters high [over 1000 square meters]
  • When we walk through nice neighborhoods – take note of the houses…
  • There are always some being BUILT – and the owners fret over every detail…
  • But there are others that are abandoned – because houses are NOT the answer…
  • They are a distraction while they are being built…
  • Then they are a frustration because we have to maintain them!
• 4^th – Business… vs. 7
  • I acquired male and female servants and had servants born in my house. 
  • Yes I had greater possessions of herds and flocks than all who were in Jerusalem before me!
  • Solomon tried his hand at being a businessman…
  • He had a LOT of employees [עֶבֶד] – both men and women [even their kids]
  • He had a LOT [רָבָה] of animals – both cows and sheep…
  • So that he had MORE possessions that ANYONE [כָּל] that came before him!
  • There is WISDOM in owning your own business…
  • Because when you are the BOSS – you get the PROFIT – set your own HOURS…
  • But the question becomes what is ENOUGH [Solomon did not know when to stop]
  • Because more employees – more stock – equals more STRESS!
• 5^th – Money… vs. 8
  • I also gathered for myself silver and gold – the special treasures of kings and of the provinces!
  • Solomon then tries to find meaning in MONEY…
  • He gathered SILVER and GOLD – which is the treasure of KING [מֶלֶךְ] and NATIONS…
  • But MONEY is never an answer – we cannot BUY the meaning of life!
  • There is a saying that even the world acknowledges – we CANNOT buy happiness…
  • The idea that MONEY is the answer – is a devious LIE…
  • Because while money can buy things – life is NOT about having a LOT of stuff…
  • The wealthiest people in the world – are often the poorest spiritually!
  • Luke 12:15 – “Beware! Guard against… greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.”
• 6^th – The Arts… vs. 8
  • I acquired male and female singers the delights of the sons of men.
  • And musical instruments of all kinds!
  • Solomon also tried MUSIC – he trained [עָשָׂה] male and female singers…
  • And he had all kinds of INSTRUMENTS [שִׁדָּה] – only here in OT [also translated concubines]
  • There are those who look to the ARTS for meaning in life…
  • And the things they make are the DELIGHT of men – people LOVE what they create…
  • What they do is a REFLECTION of the amazing creativity of God…
  • But ART is NOT a replacement for God – it cannot give us MEANING!
• 7^th – Success… vs. 9-10
  • Greater than all… vs. 9
    • So I became great and excelled more than all who were before me in Jerusalem. 
    • Also my wisdom remained with me!
    • Solomon was GREAT [גָּדוֹל] – more so than ALL [כָּל] who came before him…
    • If anyone looked at his life – he was the very definition of SUCCESS…
    • He had FUN – new how to PARTY [alcohol] – had his PROPERTIES – and BUSINESSES…
    • He was WEALTHY – donated to the ARTS – and he was still WISE [חָכְמָה]
  • Had everything… 10
    • Whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them.
    • I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure.
    • For my heart rejoiced in all my labor – and this was my reward from all my labor!
    • And all of his SUCCESS meant he could get ANYTHING [כָּל] he wanted…
    • ANYTHING [כָּל] his eye saw that it liked – he made sure to get it…
    • He did not DENY his heart [לֵב] – but gave himself EVERYTHING [כָּל] he desired…
    • And that made him momentarily HAPPY – because he knew he has WORKED for it!
    • If I were to think of a modern equivalent to Solomon – it would be Elon Musk…
    • His current net worth [November 2024] is over 18 TRILLION pesos…
    • He can literally afford anything he wants – there are NO limits!
    • We might think having that much money would be great…
    • But what it really means is that we have run out of things to give us meaning…
    • Once you have EVERYTHING – and still are not HAPPY – what is next!
• 8^th – Grasping for wind… vs. 11
  • Then I looked on all the works that my hands had done and on the labor in which I had toiled.
  • And indeed all was vanity and grasping for the wind. There was no profit under the sun!
  • Which is why Solomon looked at his SUCCESS – all that he HAD done…
  • And his conclusion was that it was all [כָּל] VANITY [הֶבֶל]
  • Trying to find MEANING in ANYTHING under the sun [in this life] – was like CHASING the WIND!
  • As I go through the exhaustive LIST of things that Solomon tried…
  • I cannot help but think of specific people for each one…
  • I know people who are trying to find meaning in FUN and PARTIES [alcohol]
  • I know people who are chasing after REAL estate – caught up in BUSINESSES…
  • I know a LOT of people who think MONEY is the answer!
  • But they are NOT going to find the answer – Solomon already tried…
  • They are CHASING the wind – and as is always the case – they will end up EMPTY handed!

• 2^nd – Wisdom or Folly… vs. 12-17
  • 1^st – Which is better… vs. 12-14
    • The question… vs. 12
      • Then I turned myself to consider wisdom and madness and folly.
      • For what can the man do who succeeds the king? Only what he has already done!
      • In light of there being NO answers UNDER the sun…
      • Solomon turned to look [רָאָה] at a simple question…
      • Is there any benefit to being WISE [חָכְמָה] – over being CRAZY [הוֹלֵלָה] – or a FOOL…
      • FOOL [כְּסִיל] – those whose heart does NOT want to learn about God…
      • Because [כִּי] – as the wisest KING – there was no one better than him to find that ANSWER!
    • Wisdom is better… vs. 13-14
      • Then I saw that wisdom excels folly as light excels darkness.
      • The wise mans eyes are in his head – but the fool walks in darkness!
      • At first the answer seemed obvious – WISDOM is better [יִתְרוֹן] than being FOOLISH…
      • Just as it is better [יִתְרוֹן] to walk in the LIGHT rather than the DARK…
      • The WISE man can see [eyes] where he is going – but the FOOL is in the DARK!
      • There is no question that it is BETTER to know the answer…
      • If we KNOW that there is NOTHING in this world that will ever give us PURPOSE…
      • Hopefully we are NOT going to waste our lives chasing after the WIND…
      • Only those who are CRAZY – or FOOLS – look for answers where there are NONE!
  • 2^nd – The same end… vs. 14-17
    • Why be wise… vs. 14-15
      • Yet I myself perceived that the same event happens to them all.
      • So I said in my heart: As it happens to the fool – it also happens to me.
      • And why was I then more wise? Then I said in my heart: This also is vanity!
      • BUT [וְ] – Solomon also SAW [יָדַע] that the same EVENT happens to EVERYONE [כָּל]
      • And if the same event that happens [imperfect] to the FOOL – also happens to him…
      • The EVENT he was talking about is DEATH – everyone DIES…
      • He SAID [piel] in his heart [לֵב] – what [מָה] is the benefit of being WISE – this is also VANITY! 
    • Forgotten… vs. 16
      • For there is no more remembrance of the wise than of the fool forever.
      • Since all that now is will be forgotten in the days to come.
      • And how does a wise man die? As the fool!
      • Because [כִּי] – NO [אִין] one remembers the FOOL [הַכְּסִיל] or the WISE [חָכָם]
      • And in the days to come – EVERYONE [כָּל] will be forgotten [niphal]
      • The WISE and the FOOL both die the same way – they are NOT remembered!
    • Hating life… vs. 17
      • Therefore I hated life because the work that was done under the sun was distressing to me.
      • For all is vanity and grasping for the wind!
      • Solomon HATED life – because [כִּי] EVIL [רַע] are the works done under heaven…
      • Because [כִּי] – whether we are WISE and can see – or a FOOL and are blind…
      • NOTHING we do here lasts – it is all [כָּל] FORGOTTEN…
      • Even being WISE – knowing life has no answers – is VANITY and grasping for the WIND!
      • The problem with KNOWING life does NOT have the answers…
      • Is that does NOT mean we are looking up to get the solution…
      • If we asked people to raise their hands – who thinks the answer is Jesus – all would say YES…
      • But at the same time if we were HONEST – who is living for Jesus [not everyone]
      • Too many believers HATE life – because they are DIVIDED…
      • They KNOW this world does NOT have the answer – but they will NOT let go of it…
      • But because they are still holding onto the world – Jesus always seems far off!
      • James 1:6 – “He who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.”

• 3^rd – Hard work… vs. 18-26
  • 1^st – Useless money… vs. 18-20
    • Cannot take it with you… vs. 18
      • Then I hated all my labor in which I had toiled under the sun.
      • Because I must leave it to the man who will come after me!
      • Solomon did not just HATE life – he HATED all [כָּל] the work [עָמָל] he had done…
      • Because he realized when he DIED – he would leave all his wealth to another MAN [אָדָם]
      • I saw a bumper sticker once – he who dies with the most toys wins!
      • That is pretty much the mantra of this age – people live to try and get more STUFF…
      • But what is never addressed is what happens when they come to the END of this life…
      • All the STUFF – it is all LOST – because we CANNOT take it with us!
        
    • Next generation… vs. 19-20
      • Who knows whether he will be wise or a fool? Yet he will rule over all my labor.
      • In which I toiled and in which I have shown myself wise under the sun. This also is vanity.
      • Therefore I turned my heart – despaired of all the labor in which I had toiled under the sun!
      • Solomon did NOT know [יָדַע] – if his children would be WISE [הֶחָכָם] or FOOLS [סָכָל]
      • BUT [וְ] – either way they would get EVERYTHING he worked hard for…
      • This was also VANITY – and it caused his heart [לֵב] to be very [piel] DEPRESSED [יָאַשׁ]!
      • Rehoboam was NOT very wise son – his poor choices led to the DIVIDED kingdom…
      • Because he rejected the counsel of the older [wise men]
      • And instead listened to his younger [foolish] friends – I Kings 12:8
      • The greatest inheritance a father can give to his children is NOT money…
      • There are endless examples of FOOLISH kids squandering the wealth of their parents…
      • The best gift a dad can give – is to teach his children about the LORD!
      • Ephesians 6:4 – “Fathers… bring up [your kids] in the training and admonition of the Lord.”
  • 2^nd – Hard days… vs. 21-23
    • Not earned… vs. 21
      • For there is a man whose labor is with wisdom – knowledge – and skill. 
      • Yet he must leave his heritage to a man who has not labored for it. 
      • This also is vanity and a great evil!
      • Solomon knew a man who was hard WORKING…
      • He was WISE [חָכְמָה] – and had KNOWLEDGE [דַּעַת] – and was SUCCESSFUL [כִּשְׁרוֹן]
      • BUT [וְ] – when he died he would leave all he had to a man who did NOT [לֹא] work hard…
      • Which was very [רַב] WRONG [רַע] – because it made all his hard work MEANINGLESS [הֶבֶל]!
    • Why work hard… vs. 22-23
      • For what has man for all his labor.
      • And for the striving of his heart with which he has toiled under the sun?
      • For all his days are sorrowful and his work burdensome.
      • Even in the night his heart takes no rest. This also is vanity!
      • Because [כִּי] – what [מָה] does man get for all [כָּל] his HARD work UNDER the sun…
      • He works EVERY [כָּל] day – in pain suffering at his job…
      • Working so hard he does NOT even LAY down to rest his heart [לֵב] at night…
      • The man literally works himself to DEATH – just to give it to someone else – VANITY!
      • There is wisdom in working hard – but what are we working for…
      • MONEY is NOT the most important thing in this world…
      • No one ever comes to the end of their life and wishes they had more CASH…
      • We need to be careful not to WASTE our time chasing after things that do NOT last!
      • Ephesians 5:16 – “Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”
  • 3^rd – Simple life… vs. 24-26
    • Eat and drink…  vs. 24
      • Nothing is better for a man than that he should eat and drink.
      • And that his soul should enjoy good in his labor
      • Therefore – since there is NO benefit to working ourselves to DEATH…
      • There is NOTHING [אִין] better [טֽוֹב] than to have a SIMPLE life…
      • As long as we have enough to EAT and DRINK – let our soul be CONTENT [טֽוֹב]
      • Hebrews 13:5 – “Be content with such things as you have.”
      • We are to be CONTENT – with whatever we CURRENTLY have…
      • Because God has promised to give us EVERYTHING we NEED – Luke 12:31
    • Hand of God… vs. 24-26
      • This also I saw was from the hand of God.
      • For who can eat – or who can have enjoyment – [apart from Him]?
      • For God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy to a man who is good in His sight.
      • But to the sinner He gives the work of gathering and collecting.
      • That he may give to him who is good before God!
      • Solomon saw [רָאָה] that was the plan [hand] of God for men…
      • Because [כִּי] – who can do anything apart [πάρεξ] from the hand of God [אֱלֹהִים]
      • God gives [perfect] to the GOOD [טֽוֹב] man – wisdom – knowledge – and joy…
      • BUT [וְ] – to the SINNER God lets him gather up riches – to give to the GOOD [טֽוֹב] man!
      • Everything we have we received from God – so it is not ours to BOAST about…
      • Our intellect – our abilities – our family – all were given to us…
      • We have nothing that we have not been given – so all the credit goes to God!
      • I Corinthians 4:7 – “What do you have that God has not given you? If all you have is from God, why boast as though you have accomplished something on your own?”
    • Still vanity… vs. 26
      • This also is vanity and grasping for the wind!
      • But lest we think Solomon had found the answer…
      • Just be CONTENT and live a SIMPLE life – because this is what God has given to us…
      • This is ALSO [גַּם] MEANINGLESS [הֶבֶל] – like grasping for the wind…
      • Because a SIMPLE life – even a CONTENT one – still has NO purpose under the SUN!
      • As Solomon continued his journey – the answer still remained allusive…
      • For there is NOTHING under the sun – that will ever give us MEANING…
      • The ONLY solution to the question – comes from looking up and seeing Jesus!