Ecclesiastes 2:1-3

Rachel Workman: 2 I said to myself, “Come on, let’s try pleasure. Let’s look for the ‘good things’ in life.” But I found that this, too, was meaningless. ² So I said, “Laughter is silly. What good does it do to seek pleasure?” ³ After much thought, I decided to cheer myself with wine. And while still seeking wisdom, I clutched at foolishness. In this way, I tried to experience the only happiness most people find during their brief life in this world.

I think the last verse sums it up. I tried to experience the only happiness most people find during their brief life in this world. Can you imagine if this was all there was? It would seem meaningless honestly.

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John Burnett:  I said ^[a]to myself, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure. So ^[b]enjoy yourself.” And behold, it too was futility. ² I said of laughter, “It is madness,” and of pleasure, “What does it accomplish?” ³ I explored with my ^[c]mind how to stimulate my body with wine while my ^[d]mind was guiding me wisely, and how to take hold of folly, until I could see what good there is for the sons of men ^[e]to do under heaven the few ^[f]years of their lives. ⁴ I enlarged my works: I built houses for myself, I planted vineyards for myself;   Pleasure is futile unless done within the context of God’s will for marriage.  Part of the consequence for not following God’s plan are the consequences of never being satisfied and being a complete slave to sin.  These consequences are eternal.  Solomon tried for pleasure with his 700+ wives and however many concubines and obviously concludes here that it is all futile and useless to try.

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Pat Bell:  Without God in my life and heart, there is no happiness.

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Tomorrow’s reading for Ecclesiastes 2:4-8

⁴ I also tried to find meaning by building huge homes for myself and by planting beautiful vineyards. ⁵ I made gardens and parks, filling them with all kinds of fruit trees. ⁶ I built reservoirs to collect the water to irrigate my many flourishing groves. ⁷ I bought slaves, both men and women, and others were born into my household. I also owned large herds and flocks, more than any of the kings who had lived in Jerusalem before me. ⁸ I collected great sums of silver and gold, the treasure of many kings and provinces. I hired wonderful singers, both men and women, and had many beautiful concubines. I had everything a man could desire!