What's the Use?

 Read Ecclesiastes 2.

Learning from one's mistakes is the road of personal growth.  Learning from the mistakes of others is the road to wisdom. 

Life is a pursuit.  When we do not know, when we have never had the experience, when we do not possess, we are left to our dreams and imagination.  But what if we could have it all?  What would that be like?  Would it bring the happiness and satisfaction we seek?

One of the great values of this book is to learn from the mistakes of Solomon.  He had it all.  Count the ways he tried to satisfy his soul.  Pleasure, laughter, wine, work, possessions, money, collecting, music, servants, anything and everything was his to the extreme.  But as Peggy Lee's old song asks, "Is that all there is?"  Solomon asked in verse 2, "What use is it?"  After amassing all this stuff, he concluded in verse 11, "There was nothing to be gained." 

Ignorance is bliss.  But when a person comes to a place of understanding that none of that stuff will meet their true needs inside and that all of it will one day be left behind, it can lead to despair (v.20).  Solomon understood and could not sleep at night thinking about it (v.23).

Ah, but he knew more.
1. All things come from the hand of God. (v.24)
"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change." (James 1:16)

2. Nothing in this life can be truly enjoyed apart from a personal relationship with the LORD and living a life that pleases Him. (vv.25-26)

“…we make it our aim to please him.  For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.” (2 Corinthians 5:9-10)