Bill Akright
akright4@insightbb.com
(309) 243-9639
www.bethanycentral.org
Experiment 2 – Wisdom, Pleasure & Materialism
(Ecclesiastes 1:12 – 2:26)
Eccl. 1:1-3 1 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. 2 "Vanity of vanities," says the Preacher,"
Vanity of vanities! All is vanity." 3 What advantage does man have in all his work which he does under the sun?
Eccl. 12:13-14 13 The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies
to every person. 14 For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.
Looking for Wisdom in all the Wrong Places (Ecclesiastes 1:12-18)
1. Solomon reminds us of his unique position to carry out his experiment concerning Wisdom (verse 12)
a. He had a successful reign…possibly the greatest kingdom of his time
b. He had a special gift of wisdom & knowledge that was unparalleled (1 Kings 4:31)
i. People even came from all around to hear it (1 Kings 4:34)
2. He eventually succumbed to the sin of pride of intellect, wanting to learn even more for selfish gain (verse 13a)
a. He gave his heart to seek wisdom, not God and His will (“seek ye first the kingdom of God”)
b. But even Solomon concluded that this Godless pursuit becomes wearisome and too is vanity (verse 13b & 14)
3. Even with all the knowledge of a PhD (verse 16), without God, what is “crooked cannot be straightened and what is
lacking cannot be counted” (verse 15)
4. If wisdom without God is vanity, then what about madness and foolishness or stupidity?
a. Solomon concludes that this too is vanity (verse 17)
5. How is it that the more Solomon learned, the wiser he became, which lead to even greater pain and grief (verse 18)
a. He saw how mad and stupid even the wisest man can become in his sin as attested to by his own life when
God is left out of the equation
In the Book of Proverbs, Solomon wisely and exuberantly extolled wisdom and knowledge. However, in Ecclesiastes he
says it brings trouble and grief. The difference is that the one speaks of true wisdom and knowledge founded on the “fear of
the Lord” (Proverbs 1:7-9 & 9:10). In the other he laments the pseudo wisdom and secularized knowledge of those who
have built their wisdom on humanistic foundations. It is interesting that in Proverbs, the name “Lord” (Yahweh – the
redemptive name of God) is used 90 times but not once in Ecclesiastes. In Ecclesiastes, the name “God” (Elohim – God:
Creator and Judge) occurs 40 times but only 6 times in Proverbs. All men should recognize God as creator, but only those
who are saved can really know Him as their personal Redeemer.
Addicted to God or Pleasure (Ecclesiastes 2:1-11)
1. After deducing that wisdom without God was folly, Solomon now sets his mind toward exploring pleasures of all kinds
(verse 1)
2. Solomon even engages in the Sophomoric act of using strong drink to increase the effects of pleasure (verse 3)
a. Notice however he did not do so to get drunk…”while my mind was guiding me wisely” (Proverbs 23:29-35)
b. Solomon was truly engaging in an experiment…but he was flirting with danger (Proverbs 20:1)
3. After living a full life, many asks themselves exactly “what did I do with my life”. Here, Solomon engages in almost every
“good thing” that can be done “under the sun”. We can call this Solomon’s “yuppie phase” (verses 4-10)
a. However, notice how many times he uses the words:
i. “I” – 15 times
ii. “Myself or My or Me” – 17 times
b. So, what great goals did Solomon set out to accomplish?
i. Buildings (verse 4)
ii. Agriculture (verse 4-6)
iii. Household (verse 7)
iv. Livestock (verse 7)
v. Wealth (verse 8)
vi. Music (verse 8)
vii. Sex (verse 8)
viii. Power (verse 9)
ix. Fame (verse 9)
x. Miscellaneous (verse 10)
4. In light of this long list of accomplishments, what seems so odd about Solomon’s statements in the end of verse 10 and
then verse 11?
a. Is there a contradiction between the words “my heart was pleased because of all my labor” and “all was vanity
and striving after wind”?
“…taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:5
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Bill Akright
akright4@insightbb.com
www.bethanycentral.org
(309) 243-9639
i. In the midst of such activities, do you find yourself excited and enjoying great pleasure?
ii. But afterwards, when the letdown comes, does that pleasure without God last?
iii. The anticipation of the fruit of his labor was followed by a colossal letdown (verse 11)
b. When do we as Christians experience the same things?
i. When we devote ourselves more to the activities of life rather than to God
ii. Compare this with what God has planned for those who remain stayed on Him (John 14:2 & Psalms
16:11)
All that Glitters is not Gold (Ecclesiastes 2:12-26)
1. Although in the Proverbs, Solomon precisely exhorted that wisdom exceeds folly, this fact as he undergoes his great
experiment seemed of little comfort as he realized that even so, “one fate befalls them both” (verse 12-15)
a. In light of the two, wisdom and folly, without God, even the wise are as fools (1 Corinthians 1:17-19)
2. Even the greatest of men and their acts will eventually be remembered no more (verse 16)
a. “Only one life – ‘twill soon be past; only what’s done for Christ will last” (1 Corinthians 3:13-15)
3. Solomon concludes that he “hated life” because he realized that in his own self-sufficiency, he could not even trust what
he had “built” to the man who would follow him (verse 17-22)
a. He may have been referring to his son Rehoboam
i. This is an awesome reminder to Fathers as they prepare their children in the ways of the Lord.
ii. May it never be said of our generation, that their children “did not know the Lord”
iii. Just how important is discipleship in the life of the church (2 Timothy 2:2)?
b. This may be true of all work done “under the sun”, but it most certainly is not true of all work done “unto the
Lord” (Colossians 3:23)
4. Solomon, with all his wisdom and riches, had finally come to realize that this earthly life is one whose ”task is painful
and grievous” with a mind that “does not rest” (verse 23)
a. We live in a world that “groans and suffers pain” because of man’s sin and the curse (Romans 8:22 & Genesis
3:17-19)
5. But even Gods “common grace” can result in a measure of satisfaction in the heart of man (verse 24) although it would
be full of joy if done for the Lord.
a. In the midst of this experiment, Solomon recounts the fact that even this is from God’s Sovereign hand (verse
25 & 26)
b. God had provided abundantly for all His creatures in the garden as he saw that all was good (Genesis 1:31). All
today would receive this as great joy if not for the fall of man
After reading these verses one might think that Solomon believed in a life of apathy as his conclusions. However, I believe it
is better stated that he believed that deep disappointment, vexation in spirit, and the like are natural responses to a world in
which nothing lasts or ultimately satisfies. But he also believed that blessing in this life that one legitimately derives from
God’s hand should be enjoyed to the full. And, having eternity in his heart and the hope of righteous judgment in his future,
we too may rejoice throughout all our days if we fear God and keep His commandments.
Trading my Sorrows
1998 Integrity’s Hosanna Music
I’m trading my sorrows
I’m trading my shame
I’m laying them down for the joy of the Lord
I’m trading my sickness
I’m trading my pain
I’m laying them down for the joy of the Lord
I am pressed but not crushed
Persecuted not abandoned
Struck down but not destroyed
I am blessed beyond the curse
For His promise will endure
That His joy’s gonna be my strength
Though my sorrow may last for the night
His joy comes with the morning
Yes Lord, Yes Lord, Yes Lord Yes…Yes Lord, Yes Lord, Yes Lord Yes… Yes Lord, Yes Lord, Yes Lord Yes, Amen!!
“…taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:5
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