Eld Ko Swee Chay

Introduction

The word “pleasure” literally means “good.” “Pleasure” is defined as the feeling of happiness or satisfaction that one gets from an experience he or she enjoys, believing that it is good. It covers a wide range of things and activities. These include climbing the corporate ladder that comes with higher salary, more power and authority; starting up a new venture or building a business empire that gives a sense of achievement; accumulation of wealth to buy the best; and lengthy lists of sports, hobbies, and entertainments .... for one’s good.

Ecclesiastes 2:1-11 gives an account of the pleasurable experiences Solomon strived after to find happiness and satisfaction in life. God used Solomon to show us a vivid picture of the unsatisfactory nature of earthly accomplishments and enjoyments in the life of a backsliding believer living for self and outside the will of God. When reading the book of Ecclesiastes, we need to keep in mind that Solomon did very well in the first 20 years of his 40-year reign as king of the united Israel. However, in the next 20 years he strayed away from God, pursued pleasures and lived a carnal life. This pursuit of pleasures led him into sin. In his evening years Solomon repented and returned to the Lord and wrote Ecclesiastes as he reflected upon his life of regret. This is invaluable for our learning and warning.

Pleasurable Enjoyments Worthwhile? (Eccl 2:1-3)

¹I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity. ² I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it? ³ I sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting mine heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was that good for the sons of men, which they should do under the heaven all the days of their life.

These three verses summarise the goal and conclusion of Solomon’s venture into pleasurable enjoyments to find happiness. He found it all worthless. Laughter: is mad, foolish, and empty and it does not fulfil or satisfy. And mirth or merrymaking: how does it benefit life? “They are nothing” is his answer. He tried sensual indulgence with wine-drinking and with wisdom (self-control) and “lay hold on folly”, i.e. dealt with folly to find out if this ought to be the way to deal with life’s problems. It numbs the soul temporarily. When reality returns the sorrows of life remain.     

Pleasure from Accomplishments (Eccl 2:4-6)

⁴ I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards: ⁵ I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all kind of fruits: ⁶ I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees:

Solomon built the house of the LORD, and his own house - a huge and lavish palace and did many building projects (1 Kings 3-11). He planted vineyards, gardens, and orchards. He built water pools. The motivation in all these projects was Solomon’s selfish pursuit of pleasure: “I made me” (3 times), “I builded me” (1 time), “I planted me” (2 times). These were delightful and brought the best comforts of life. The water features provided tranquillity. They calmed the soul with their beauty and manicured gardens. It must have been a sight to behold. Yet none of them lasted. They brought no true satisfaction to the soul. They provided temporary relief. They did not solve the problems of life.  

Pleasure from Massive Wealth and Entertainments (Eccl 2:7-8)

⁷ I got me servants and maidens, and had servants born in my house; also I had great possessions of great and small cattle above all that were in Jerusalem before me: ⁸ I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces: I gat me men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, as musical instruments, and that of all sorts.

Solomon procured male and female servants to serve him and his household. These servants begat children. He had cattle, big and small, more than all others before him in Jerusalem. Through gains from trading, gifts from visiting foreign dignities (1 Ki 10 and 2 Chr 9) and tributes of bond service, Solomon amassed immense treasures of gold and silver, rare and precious treasures of kings and from the provinces. He entertained himself with his own choir of male and female singers with the accompaniment of various musical instruments.

Pleasure in Financial Power (Eccl 2:9-10)

⁹ So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me. ¹⁰ And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour.

While Solomon was increasing his wealth and possessions, he also increased in popularity and influence. The God-given wisdom remained in him. Solomon had the most free and unabated enjoyment of his resources. All the pleasures that money could buy, Solomon tasted them. He was served hand and foot. He surrounded himself with the best things in life.  He fulfilled to his heart’s content all the pleasures of life that he thought was good. There was nothing on earth he did not experience.

Striving after Pleasure is Meaningless (Eccl 2:11)

¹¹ Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.

One day Solomon looked on, i.e. faced, all his earthly accomplishments and realized that they were “vanity and vexation of the spirit.” What a statement from a man who had “everything!”  A man can only see this after he had them all. He cannot see them as vanity while he is pursuing them. This is the tragedy. By the time he realizes their emptiness his life is spent and wasted. They are vanity because they are only good for the moment. They vanish away with time.

Application

Solomon’s council against the folly of striving after pleasures and wealth is most relevant in our day. Why did Solomon spend his precious life on earth building vanities when he could have spent it building God’s work that lasts for eternity? The experience of Solomon is a timely reminder to all believers that they must exercise wisdom to not be caught up in the pursuit of the wealth and pleasures of the world, and to manage how they spend their energy, time, and resources. May the LORD help us to focus our heart, mind, and soul on striving after things of eternal value. AMEN.