A Lesson from King Solomon

King Solomon listed 27 achievements in his life saying: ‘I denied myself nothing of all my eyes desired. I did not refuse my heart any joy meaning physical pleasure’ (Ecclesiastes 2:10). This means that he completely ignored the word of God by acquiring wealth, similar to so-called business today if that absorbs you so totally that there is less time for the word of God.

King Solomon repeatedly used the expression ‘Everything is vanity’ and this refers to what is of no lasting value. Solomon, after living his life in vain, conceded that a man is a fool who thinks that he can achieve fulfilment in life by amassing material possessions, because he always wants more (Ecclesiastes 5;10-20; 6:1-9). And he later described himself when he said: ‘A poor youth who is wise is better than an old king who is foolish and no longer pays attention to warnings’ (Ecclesiastes 4:13).

Therefore I find this book to be a confession of the worthlessness of all the earthly treasures and the impossibility of finding satisfaction apart from God. Solomon spent a life-time searching for satisfaction through wealth, women and possessions, and later recognised that man’s true contentment lies only in full obedience to God. His conclusion was: “Remember your creator because you are his property in the days of your youth while the evil days are still in the future, and the years have not arrived that will cause you to say, ‘I have no delight in them’” (Ecclesaistes12:1).

Bro Moses Dhlakama (Chimoio, Mozambique)