Nothing to be Gained?

radition and Wisdom
Teaching and Learning:
Superiority of Wisdom

Ecclesiastes 2:1-11

The Message

    I said to myself, "Let's go for it—experiment with pleasure, have a good time!" But there was nothing to it, nothing but smoke.

   What do I think of the fun-filled life? Insane! Inane!
      My verdict on the pursuit of happiness? Who needs it?
   With the help of a bottle of wine
      and all the wisdom I could muster,
   I tried my level best
      to penetrate the absurdity of life.
   I wanted to get a handle on anything useful we mortals might do
      during the years we spend on this earth.

I Never Said No to Myself

 ^4-8 Oh, I did great things: built houses,
      planted vineyards,
      designed gardens and parks
         and planted a variety of fruit trees in them,
      made pools of water
         to irrigate the groves of trees.
   I bought slaves, male and female,
         who had children, giving me even more slaves;
      then I acquired large herds and flocks,
         larger than any before me in Jerusalem.
   I piled up silver and gold,
         loot from kings and kingdoms.
   I gathered a chorus of singers to entertain me with song,
      and—most exquisite of all pleasures—
      voluptuous maidens for my bed. ^9-10 Oh, how I prospered! I left all my predecessors in Jerusalem far behind, left them behind in the dust. What's more, I kept a clear head through it all. Everything I wanted I took—I never said no to myself. I gave in to every impulse, held back nothing. I sucked the marrow of pleasure out of every task—my reward to myself for a hard day's work!

I Hate Life

¹¹ Then I took a good look at everything I'd done, looked at all the sweat and hard work. But when I looked, I saw nothing but smoke. Smoke and spitting into the wind. There was nothing to any of it. Nothing.

For Reflection
Make a list of those things which are the most significant in your life.  Of all those things which ones have left you most fulfilled?

Pray
that you will count as the most significant those things which were born from a God-Centered life.  Pray that you will see through the smoky absurdity of life and focus on the truth of Grace.