Part 3 of 4
We have been studying Ecclesiastes 1:12-2:26 under the theme, six things to know about seeking satisfaction. We have seen that neither wisdom and knowledge nor wealth and pleasure can satisfy.
In this article, we will learn about another two things that cannot satisfy. We begin with success and pre-eminence (2:12-17).
Satisfaction cannot be found in Success and Pre-eminence (2:12-17)
Here, Solomon returns to a discussion of wisdom, but now he considers its benefits and significance. We know that he is beginning a new section because in verse 12, he says, “I turned myself to behold (or I turned my attention to) wisdom and madness and folly.”
The second part of verse 12 says, “for what can the man do that cometh after the king? even that which hath been already done.” This means that as a king, his efforts in this matter cannot be superseded by anyone who follows him and the implication is that if even he cannot find satisfaction here, then no one else can.
In verses 13 and 14, Solomon observes that wisdom excels foolishness just as light excels darkness, and the wise man’s eyes are in his head but the fool walks in darkness. In other words, it is better to be wise than foolish, because wisdom puts a man ahead of a fool.
The analogy is of wise people walking around with a clear head in a well-lit room whereas fools walk around blind. Wise people can get on with life much better whereas fools keep stumbling over the obstacles. A wise man can see what is ahead of him and he chooses his way accordingly, and in doing so avoids a lot of unnecessary pain while bringing to himself a good deal of happiness. A foolish man on the other hand gropes about in the dark and gets himself into all kinds of trouble and difficulties.
In short, wisdom profits a person in that it allows him to succeed in life. It puts him in front of the rest or ahead of the pack. It puts him in a preeminent position. It brings him success in life’s race.
But then from the second part of verse 14 onwards, Solomon gives us his assessment of the situation. He observes that the same event happens to both the wise and the fool. Both of them end up at the same destination. Those who are pre-eminent in this life have no lasting advantage over the rest of the pack. Death comes to all.
What is the point of being so wise and successful and running ahead of everyone if everyone ends up in the same place? And not only that, but the memory of the wise will be eradicated from the earth. He will be forgotten just like everyone else. The last part of verse 16 says, “And how dieth the wise man? As the fool.”
Then comes his conclusion, “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.” All his efforts were ultimately a waste of time. Everything that he does is futile and meaningless. It is all a chasing after the wind. The whole human rat-race is utter folly.
And the thought of this brings great frustration and bitterness to Solomon. Like a sharp needle, death comes and bursts the bubble of success and pre-eminence.
So we’ve gone to three places where true satisfaction cannot be found: wisdom and knowledge, wealth and pleasure, and success and pre-eminence.
But now the preacher explores a fourth possibility from verses 18-23, namely, hard work and labour, and once again, we will see that it cannot be found there as well.
Satisfaction cannot be found in hard work and labour (2:18-23)
The word ‘labour’ or ‘laboured’ appears eight times in these few verses. It can be translated ‘toil’ or wearisome effort or hard work. It’s interesting to note that Solomon did not spend all his time indulging himself in his riches and pleasures. He also gave himself to hard work and labour. He labored diligently in building up his kingdom. He was involved in building projects, in investment, in trading, in producing, and in establishing and maintaining diplomatic relations, in addition to seeking wisdom and knowledge, and pre-eminence and pleasure.
Solomon was a very busy man and a very hard worker. There is no question about that. He was not an idle or lazy or slothful king like so many other kings in history. He knew hard work and toil.
But what does he say? He tells us in verses 18-19 that he hated all his labour in which he toiled under the sun. Why? Because he must leave it to the man who will come after him. In other words, what’s the point of all the hard work and fruit of your labour? Everything you gain you will leave to someone else, and who knows what sort of person he will be? Will he be wise or foolish? No one knows and that frustrates him greatly.
The idea in verse 20 is that he is walking on the path of hard work, then he stops and turns around and takes a long hard look at what he has done and what it will all come to after he dies, and what he sees fills him with despair.
He then illustrates his point with a short story in verse 21. He tells of a person who worked very hard and with much skill and achieved success. Now you would envy such a man, wouldn’t you? Yet, Solomon goes on to tell us that this man left his fortune to someone who did not work for it, implying that he did not deserve to receive it.
Now it is unlikely that he is referring to the normal process of inheritance because he does not use the word ‘son’ but the word ‘man.’ Most likely, that man is a stranger who somehow manages to take over and enjoy the results of his many years of hard labour.
Solomon concludes with the words, “This also is vanity and a great evil.” He is outraged at the utter unfairness of the situation. Then he goes on to say, “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.”
What is the point of all the hard work, all the sorrows, all the anxieties, all the sleepless nights because of his work? Where is the lasting satisfaction and joy and delight and fulfillment? None at all. Truly this is vanity, meaninglessness, futility, an utter waste of time and effort, and a chasing after wind.
So wisdom and knowledge do not satisfy, wealth and pleasure do not satisfy, success and preeminence do not satisfy, and hard work and labour do not satisfy.
Next time, we will consider yet another thing that does not satisfy and then conclude with where it can be found.