Part 1 of 4
It is a sad fact that most people in this world are seeking for satisfaction in life in all the wrong places. It is, however, an even sadder fact that many Christians are following in the footsteps of the world and trying to find satisfaction in places where it cannot be found.
There is a need for us to regularly examine ourselves in this matter, and if we have gone astray, to return again to the only path of true satisfaction.
We are continuing in our study of the book of Ecclesiastes and in this portion from chapter 1 verse 12 to chapter 2 verse 26, we learn six things about seeking satisfaction.
In this article, we will consider the first of these, found in 1:12-18, namely, satisfaction cannot be found in wisdom and knowledge.
Satisfaction cannot be found in Wisdom and Knowledge
(1:12-18)
Verse 12 is a little autobiographical note, where the author tells us something of himself. “I, the preacher, was king of Israel in Jerusalem.” It is clear that this refers to Solomon since verse 1 says that he is the son of David.
We also know from the book of Kings that Solomon was the wisest King in Israel’s history. And so when he speaks about wisdom, we need to pay careful attention to what he says since he knows what he’s talking about.
In fact, in verse 16, he says, “Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem: yea, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.” In other words, here was a man who surpassed all his predecessors in terms of wisdom and knowledge.
Verse 13 says that he set his heart to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven, that is, all activity on earth. And he calls this a burdensome task which God has given to the sons of man to keep them occupied and afflicted by it. Then he explains why this is such a burdensome task – because after a careful study and examination of all things under the sun, the conclusion is that all is vanity and meaningless.
Why is that so? Verse 15 says, “that which is crooked cannot be made straight, and that which is wanting or missing cannot be numbered.” This is a proverb and it tells us that there is something fundamentally wrong with life on earth, and there is absolutely nothing that human beings can do about it. One cannot change the world as it is. The world remains full of problems that cannot be solved. Even wisdom and knowledge cannot change things. And the cause of all the problems in this world may be traced back to the fall of mankind and the resulting curse of God.
Creation and the world of nature were subject to the curse. Genesis 3 explicitly says that God cursed the ground so that it brought forth thorns and thistles, and it would not readily yield its fruit to man. The apostle Paul tells us in Romans 8 that the whole creation was subjected to vanity or futility and it groans and travails in pain together until now.
It is God who has sovereignly subjected creation to futility and vanity, and no man, however wise or knowledgeable or intelligent, will be able to change what God has done. Only God has the power to straighten what He Himself has made crooked or to count what He Himself has caused to be lacking. And He has promised to do that through His Son, who is the great creator and redeemer of creation as Colossians 1 tells us.
In verse 17, Solomon says that he set his heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly, and his conclusion was that this was a grasping for the wind. And the reason is that the more he learned, the more he discovered that his quest for wisdom brought only vexation, frustration and futility. The more he learned, the more he realized that he was no nearer to his goal than before. And oh the bitterness and grief and disappointment that that brought to his heart!
Now remember again that Solomon was a very wise and learned man. 1 Kings 4 gives us a description of Solomon the wise. We read there, “And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart (or comprehensiveness of knowledge), even as the sand that is on the sea shore. And Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt.
For he was wiser than all men…and his fame was in all nations round about.”
But here in Ecclesiastes, we read that, for all his exceeding great wisdom and comprehensiveness of knowledge, he could find no real satisfaction.
And so it stands to reason that if even such a wise and learned man as Solomon could not find it in learning, how much more us, who are people of far less intellect and understanding than him?
Are you seeking satisfaction in life through wisdom and knowledge and intellectual accomplishments? Perhaps you think, “If only I could get a Master’s degree or a PhD or even a post-doctoral qualification…or if only I could become a great scholar or a famous scientist or professor or author or public speaker or some recognized intellectual authority in this world, then I would be truly happy?”
Or perhaps if you’re a student, you think that if you can get straight A’s in your major exams, then you will be truly satisfied.
Or perhaps you’re a parent and you think that if your child is a prodigy or produces outstanding results at school, then you will have satisfaction.
Let us all take heed to the words of Solomon the wise in this passage.
So the first wrong place to go looking for true meaning and fulfilment in life is wisdom and knowledge. These may bring temporary happiness and satisfaction but nothing lasting and permanent and substantial. The key to life is not found in intellectual pursuits or achievements.
Ah, but some of us might say, “I’m not aiming for academic or intellectual success. I’m not cut out for that anyway. Instead, I will look to wealth and pleasure to satisfy me.”
Well, King Solomon has something to say about that as well.
… to be Continued
—Ps Linus Chua