Sunday's Comin' #276 - Ecclesiastes 2: 1-11

Kara Hackert, Director of Children & Family Ministries

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Kara Hackert  0:07 

Welcome to Elmhurst CRC's daily dose in the word of God! I'm Kara Hackert. This week's Alpha question: Is there more to life than this? Today I'll be reading from Ecclesiastes 2, verses 1 through 11. pleasures are meaningless.

Kara Hackert 0:23 

I said to myself, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure to find out what is good.” But that also proved to be meaningless. “Laughter,” I said, “is madness. And what does pleasure accomplish?” I tried cheering myself with wine, and embracing folly—my mind still guiding me with wisdom. I wanted to see what was good for people to do under the heavens during the few days of their lives. I undertook great projects: I built houses for myself and planted vineyards. I made gardens and parks and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. I made reservoirs to water groves of flourishing trees. I bought male and female slaves and had other slaves who were born in my house. I also owned more herds and flocks than anyone in Jerusalem before me. I amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I acquired male and female singers, and a harem[a] as well—the delights of a man’s heart. I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem before me. In all this my wisdom stayed with me. I denied myself nothing my eyes desired;  I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my labor,  and this was the reward for all my toil. Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done  and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind;  nothing was gained under the sun.

Kara Hackert  1:55 

Where and what do you spend time on for your pleasure? We could read over these verses and say having a harem, slaves, getting the best wine and embracing folly are not goals we have for our lives. But, look at your life. Take time to examine it. Are there things in your life that are pulling your focus away from what is truly important? This passage talks about focusing time on completing great projects, building big houses, and acquiring wealth and treasure - Items our society today would celebrate a success. But here, we're warned about. We then read on more about working to become great, and denying ourselves no pleasure.

Kara Hackert  2:38 

There are some parts of these verses that we can all relate to. There are things in our life that are distractions to us. Things in our lives that take our focus off of Jesus, the kingdom work he gives us to help others, and to be a blessing to those around us. The Alpha question this week: Is there more to life than this? Is there more to life than building up wealth and seeking earthly pleasures? Let this question percolate in your brain this week as you go through your days and examine how you use your time and resources.

Kara Hackert  3:13  

Let's pray. Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for the many wonderful and pleasurable things that you have created. Please help us to enjoy them and to be thankful for them, but at the same time, not let ourselves get off track in pursuit of them. Help us to keep our eyes focused on you, the loving creator of heaven and earth.