TRIVIAL PURSUITS (2 OF 15)
by Keith Krell
Scripture: Ecclesiastes 1:12, Ecclesiastes2:26
This content is part of a series.
Trivial Pursuits (2 of 15)
Series: ''The Good Life''
Keith Krell
Ecclesiastes 1:12-2:26
What would it take to make you happy? What if you had all the wealth of Bill Gates or Warren Buffet? Would this make you happy? What if you had the success of Oprah or Steven Spielberg? Do you think you could be happy? What if you had the brains of Terrence Tao or Christopher Hirata? Do you think you could be happy? Let me guess. Your answer is, ''I don't know, but I'd sure like to give it a try.''
A few people have been able to possess wealth, success, and intelligence just as I described. Solomon, the third king of Israel, was one of them. In some ways, he had everything. He had a thousand wives and concubines, enormous wealth, unparalleled wisdom, and international respect. What he didn't always have, however, was a reason for living. He didn't always have true happiness. He fits the pattern of the highly gifted, extremely ambitious person who climbs the ladder of success-only to contemplate jumping off once he's reached the top.
Solomon's experience demonstrates that you can have it all-looks, relationships, wealth, intelligence, and popularity-and yet be completely empty. Hence, in our study through Ecclesiastes we are seeking to discover what really constitutes, ''The Good Life.'' In 1:1-11 Solomon examined three broad categories in his search for the key to life: human history, physical nature, and human nature. Now, in 1:12-2:26, he narrows his search to his own personal experience. In a sense, he takes us on his own spiritual sojourn as he searches for satisfaction in life. In the memoirs that follow Solomon informs us that he sought satisfaction in four broad categories, but wound up empty-handed.
1. Satisfaction cannot be found in education (1:12-18). In this first section, Solomon states that even the best education is powerless against life's enigmas. In 1:12-15 he begins seeking wisdom externally: ''I, the Preacher, have been king over Israel i ...
Series: ''The Good Life''
Keith Krell
Ecclesiastes 1:12-2:26
What would it take to make you happy? What if you had all the wealth of Bill Gates or Warren Buffet? Would this make you happy? What if you had the success of Oprah or Steven Spielberg? Do you think you could be happy? What if you had the brains of Terrence Tao or Christopher Hirata? Do you think you could be happy? Let me guess. Your answer is, ''I don't know, but I'd sure like to give it a try.''
A few people have been able to possess wealth, success, and intelligence just as I described. Solomon, the third king of Israel, was one of them. In some ways, he had everything. He had a thousand wives and concubines, enormous wealth, unparalleled wisdom, and international respect. What he didn't always have, however, was a reason for living. He didn't always have true happiness. He fits the pattern of the highly gifted, extremely ambitious person who climbs the ladder of success-only to contemplate jumping off once he's reached the top.
Solomon's experience demonstrates that you can have it all-looks, relationships, wealth, intelligence, and popularity-and yet be completely empty. Hence, in our study through Ecclesiastes we are seeking to discover what really constitutes, ''The Good Life.'' In 1:1-11 Solomon examined three broad categories in his search for the key to life: human history, physical nature, and human nature. Now, in 1:12-2:26, he narrows his search to his own personal experience. In a sense, he takes us on his own spiritual sojourn as he searches for satisfaction in life. In the memoirs that follow Solomon informs us that he sought satisfaction in four broad categories, but wound up empty-handed.
1. Satisfaction cannot be found in education (1:12-18). In this first section, Solomon states that even the best education is powerless against life's enigmas. In 1:12-15 he begins seeking wisdom externally: ''I, the Preacher, have been king over Israel i ...
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