Ecclesiastes 2: The Futility of Pleasure and Labor
I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity.
I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it?
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.
I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards:
I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all kind of fruits:
I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees:
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:
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.
So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me.
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.
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.
And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly: for what can the man do that cometh after the king? even that which hath been already done.
Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness.
The wise man’s eyes are in his head; but the fool walketh in darkness: and I myself perceived also that one event happeneth to them all.
Then said I in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool, so it happeneth even to me; and why was I then more wise? Then I said in my heart, that this also is vanity.
For there is no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool for ever; seeing that which now is in the days to come shall all be forgotten. And how dieth the wise man? as the fool.
Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit.
Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me.
And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun. This is also vanity.
Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour which I took under the sun.
For there is a man whose labour is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity; yet to a man that hath not laboured therein shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil.
For what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the sun?
For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity.
There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God.
For who can eat, or who else can hasten hereunto, more than I?
For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.
Ecclesiastes 2 delves into Solomon's relentless pursuit of meaning and satisfaction, a quest that leads him through the intoxicating highs of pleasure and the demanding grind of labor. This chapter, a critical piece in understanding the book's overall message, explores the emptiness of a life lived solely "under the sun," a phrase denoting existence detached from God's perspective. If you're seeking to understand the purpose of your pursuits and the source of true joy, this chapter offers profound insights.
The Allure and Illusion of Pleasure (Ecclesiastes 2:1-3)
Solomon, in his pursuit of meaning, embarked on an experiment with pleasure. He declared, "Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy what is good!" (Ecclesiastes 2:1). He sought to maximize life, to indulge in every possible delight. He wanted the "good times to roll," a perpetual party.
He explored how to satisfy himself with fun and enjoyment (Ecclesiastes 2:3), but this path proved ultimately futile. Like an amusement park ride that thrills for a fleeting moment before leaving you wanting more, pleasure offered only temporary satisfaction. It was akin to a child receiving every toy imaginable, only to find boredom setting in after a short time. Solomon himself questioned, "What does this accomplish?" (Ecclesiastes 2:2). While enjoyable in the moment, pleasure failed to provide lasting meaning or purpose. It's a crucial lesson for us: chasing fleeting pleasures will never fill the God-shaped hole in our hearts.
The Grand Experiment: Achievements and Accumulation (Ecclesiastes 2:4-10)
Undeterred, Solomon shifted his focus to achievement and accumulation. He possessed the resources to indulge his every whim. He built houses, planted vineyards, made gardens, constructed reservoirs, acquired servants, amassed silver and gold, and gathered many concubines (Ecclesiastes 2:4-8). He surpassed all who came before him in wealth and power (Ecclesiastes 2:9). He denied himself no pleasure (Ecclesiastes 2:10), indulging in the best that life "under the sun" could offer.
This section resonates with many of us. Have you ever felt the urge to shop away your depression or envied someone with a nicer car or fancier clothes? Solomon understood this feeling intimately. He pursued every desire, leaving no stone unturned in his quest for fulfillment.
The Bitter Aftertaste: Futility Revisited (Ecclesiastes 2:11)
But how did this material indulgence ultimately work out for him? He looked back on all he had achieved and concluded that it was all futile, "a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun" (Ecclesiastes 2:11). Accumulating wealth and indulging in pleasure proved pleasurable for a time, but they failed to answer life's deepest questions or provide enduring meaning. Solomon had it all, yet he felt empty. This verse serves as a stark warning: material possessions and achievements, however impressive, cannot provide lasting satisfaction.
Wisdom vs. Folly: A Qualified Victory (Ecclesiastes 2:12-13)
Solomon then turned his attention to the contrast between wisdom, madness, and folly (Ecclesiastes 2:12). He recognized the inherent advantage of wisdom (Ecclesiastes 2:13). After all, a wise person is more likely to secure a good job and a decent income than a fool. We all make wise and foolish decisions, and most of us, like Solomon, conclude that wisdom is preferable to folly.
The Great Equalizer: Death's Inevitable Reach (Ecclesiastes 2:14-17)
Despite the benefits of wisdom, Solomon was troubled by the fact that "one fate comes to all, to the wise and to the fool" (Ecclesiastes 2:14). In the context of life "under the sun," both the wise and the fool ultimately end up in the same place: the grave (Ecclesiastes 2:15). A college degree offers no advantage in death. Whether one is buried in a simple wooden box or an elaborate casket, death is the great equalizer. A dead genius and a dead fool are equally deceased. This realization led Solomon to hate life (Ecclesiastes 2:17), highlighting the despair that can arise when life is viewed solely from a temporal perspective.
The Burden of Legacy: Labor's Uncertain Future (Ecclesiastes 2:18-23)
The sense of futility deepens as Solomon contemplates his legacy. "I hated all my work that I had toiled at under the sun, because I must leave it to the one who comes after me" (Ecclesiastes 2:18). He knew that his extraordinary kingdom would one day be inherited by someone who might squander it all. This knowledge led to further depression (Ecclesiastes 2:20). Eventually, the fruits of our labor will be left to someone who may not have worked for them and who might even destroy them. This truth can be disheartening, emphasizing the transient nature of earthly achievements.
A Glimmer of Hope: Finding Joy in God's Gifts (Ecclesiastes 2:24-26)
Suddenly, a ray of light pierces through the darkness. Solomon arrives at a refrain that he will repeat throughout the book: "There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God" (Ecclesiastes 2:24). He acknowledges the depressing realities of life "under the sun" but strategically interjects God into the equation.
God does not begrudge our enjoyment of legitimate pleasures. He isn't upset that we enjoy our jobs, food, possessions, or relationships; in fact, these are gifts from Him. The problem arises when we seek meaning in these things, attempting to find in them something they were never designed to provide.
The crucial question, then, is this: Is God included in our pleasure? "For apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment?" (Ecclesiastes 2:25). We must look to God as the source of true meaning and joy. It's a sobering truth that God may give the sinner the task of gathering and accumulating for others. But to the person who is pleasing to God, He gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy (Ecclesiastes 2:26). True satisfaction is found not in the things we accumulate but in a right relationship with God.
I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity.
I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it?
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.
I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards:
I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all kind of fruits:
I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees:
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:
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.
So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me.
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.
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.
And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly: for what can the man do that cometh after the king? even that which hath been already done.
Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness.
The wise man’s eyes are in his head; but the fool walketh in darkness: and I myself perceived also that one event happeneth to them all.
Then said I in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool, so it happeneth even to me; and why was I then more wise? Then I said in my heart, that this also is vanity.
For there is no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool for ever; seeing that which now is in the days to come shall all be forgotten. And how dieth the wise man? as the fool.
Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit.
Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me.
And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun. This is also vanity.
Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour which I took under the sun.
For there is a man whose labour is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity; yet to a man that hath not laboured therein shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil.
For what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the sun?
For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity.
There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God.
For who can eat, or who else can hasten hereunto, more than I?
For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.
Ecclesiastes 2 delves into Solomon's relentless pursuit of meaning and satisfaction, a quest that leads him through the intoxicating highs of pleasure and the demanding grind of labor. This chapter, a critical piece in understanding the book's overall message, explores the emptiness of a life lived solely "under the sun," a phrase denoting existence detached from God's perspective. If you're seeking to understand the purpose of your pursuits and the source of true joy, this chapter offers profound insights.
The Allure and Illusion of Pleasure (Ecclesiastes 2:1-3)
Solomon, in his pursuit of meaning, embarked on an experiment with pleasure. He declared, "Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy what is good!" (Ecclesiastes 2:1). He sought to maximize life, to indulge in every possible delight. He wanted the "good times to roll," a perpetual party.
He explored how to satisfy himself with fun and enjoyment (Ecclesiastes 2:3), but this path proved ultimately futile. Like an amusement park ride that thrills for a fleeting moment before leaving you wanting more, pleasure offered only temporary satisfaction. It was akin to a child receiving every toy imaginable, only to find boredom setting in after a short time. Solomon himself questioned, "What does this accomplish?" (Ecclesiastes 2:2). While enjoyable in the moment, pleasure failed to provide lasting meaning or purpose. It's a crucial lesson for us: chasing fleeting pleasures will never fill the God-shaped hole in our hearts.
The Grand Experiment: Achievements and Accumulation (Ecclesiastes 2:4-10)
Undeterred, Solomon shifted his focus to achievement and accumulation. He possessed the resources to indulge his every whim. He built houses, planted vineyards, made gardens, constructed reservoirs, acquired servants, amassed silver and gold, and gathered many concubines (Ecclesiastes 2:4-8). He surpassed all who came before him in wealth and power (Ecclesiastes 2:9). He denied himself no pleasure (Ecclesiastes 2:10), indulging in the best that life "under the sun" could offer.
This section resonates with many of us. Have you ever felt the urge to shop away your depression or envied someone with a nicer car or fancier clothes? Solomon understood this feeling intimately. He pursued every desire, leaving no stone unturned in his quest for fulfillment.
The Bitter Aftertaste: Futility Revisited (Ecclesiastes 2:11)
But how did this material indulgence ultimately work out for him? He looked back on all he had achieved and concluded that it was all futile, "a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun" (Ecclesiastes 2:11). Accumulating wealth and indulging in pleasure proved pleasurable for a time, but they failed to answer life's deepest questions or provide enduring meaning. Solomon had it all, yet he felt empty. This verse serves as a stark warning: material possessions and achievements, however impressive, cannot provide lasting satisfaction.
Wisdom vs. Folly: A Qualified Victory (Ecclesiastes 2:12-13)
Solomon then turned his attention to the contrast between wisdom, madness, and folly (Ecclesiastes 2:12). He recognized the inherent advantage of wisdom (Ecclesiastes 2:13). After all, a wise person is more likely to secure a good job and a decent income than a fool. We all make wise and foolish decisions, and most of us, like Solomon, conclude that wisdom is preferable to folly.
The Great Equalizer: Death's Inevitable Reach (Ecclesiastes 2:14-17)
Despite the benefits of wisdom, Solomon was troubled by the fact that "one fate comes to all, to the wise and to the fool" (Ecclesiastes 2:14). In the context of life "under the sun," both the wise and the fool ultimately end up in the same place: the grave (Ecclesiastes 2:15). A college degree offers no advantage in death. Whether one is buried in a simple wooden box or an elaborate casket, death is the great equalizer. A dead genius and a dead fool are equally deceased. This realization led Solomon to hate life (Ecclesiastes 2:17), highlighting the despair that can arise when life is viewed solely from a temporal perspective.
The Burden of Legacy: Labor's Uncertain Future (Ecclesiastes 2:18-23)
The sense of futility deepens as Solomon contemplates his legacy. "I hated all my work that I had toiled at under the sun, because I must leave it to the one who comes after me" (Ecclesiastes 2:18). He knew that his extraordinary kingdom would one day be inherited by someone who might squander it all. This knowledge led to further depression (Ecclesiastes 2:20). Eventually, the fruits of our labor will be left to someone who may not have worked for them and who might even destroy them. This truth can be disheartening, emphasizing the transient nature of earthly achievements.
A Glimmer of Hope: Finding Joy in God's Gifts (Ecclesiastes 2:24-26)
Suddenly, a ray of light pierces through the darkness. Solomon arrives at a refrain that he will repeat throughout the book: "There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God" (Ecclesiastes 2:24). He acknowledges the depressing realities of life "under the sun" but strategically interjects God into the equation.
God does not begrudge our enjoyment of legitimate pleasures. He isn't upset that we enjoy our jobs, food, possessions, or relationships; in fact, these are gifts from Him. The problem arises when we seek meaning in these things, attempting to find in them something they were never designed to provide.
The crucial question, then, is this: Is God included in our pleasure? "For apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment?" (Ecclesiastes 2:25). We must look to God as the source of true meaning and joy. It's a sobering truth that God may give the sinner the task of gathering and accumulating for others. But to the person who is pleasing to God, He gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy (Ecclesiastes 2:26). True satisfaction is found not in the things we accumulate but in a right relationship with God.