Solomon spent a good portion of his life (30 years) searching for true happiness. And he really searched. He had more money that you or I could ever imagine, he threw the biggest parties, he was famous and popular, he ate like a King (well he was a king so that makes sense!) He had all the women and sex he wanted with 700 wives and 300 concubines at his beck and call. Phew! That sounds exhausting! He had the most amazing house, gardens, vineyards, irrigation systems. From the outside he had it all. Anything he could think up or dream of, he could get. But what did he say after all of that? "It's all meaningless" Fun? Yes of course. But ultimately pointless. Easy for him to say though right? He had the chance to have all of those things and once he had tried it all, he calls it meaningless. It's easier for the wealthy to say that it's not all its cracked up to be and that they would still be happy without money than it is for the poor of society to believe that money is meaningless. For the most of us, it's not quite as extreme as it is in Solomon's case. But how often do we think "if I just got that house/partner/promotion/child/money/fame/new iPhone/new dress then I would be satisfied?" But would you? We are always chasing after something new and different. Why? Because that's the way God made us. He made us to be completed by our relationship with Him. But when sin entered the world, it broke that connection with God. It tore that relationship and left a hole in our lives. The Hebrew words for this is "Shalom" which basically means "universal flourishing, wholeness and delight". Or otherwise known as God's peace. See how that fits the desire inside us? We chase after things because we believe they will help us to flourish, fufill us and bring us happiness. But do they? Not according to Solomon. So what IS the point then? Well, I think that Paul took a leaf out of Ecclesiates when he wrote in Philippians 3:4-8 "If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless. But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ."
Knowing God and bringing Him glory should be our number 1 concern. Having all of these things is meaningless unless you know Christ. He wants to take your money, your power, your marriage, your children, your job, your study, your home, your status, and He wants to refocus them, so that everything you do will be about bringing glory to God. He wants you to live your life on purpose - to look at all aspects of your life and think "What's the point of this? Am I doing this to make me happy or am I doing it to honour God?" I know for me, there are areas in my life that a lot of the time I couldn't tell you my motivation because I'm not really sure myself. Those are the areas I need to lay before God and ask Him to purify. I need to let them go and ask God to keep them until He has focussed me on why I have them. So try it! Take some time to analyse your life and your motivation. Ask God to make it clear to you the areas where His agenda may not line up with yours. If it's money, firstly accept that it's a struggle for you. Pray God's forgiveness over this area and the times you have not honoured Him with your finances. Then each time you deal with money or make decisions about your money or take your credit card from your wallet, pray "Lord, you know I struggle with this. Help me to know if this purchase is honouring to you". You might find it helpful to tape a verse about honouring God with your money onto your credit card. Proverbs 3:9 is a good one "Honour the Lord with your wealth, and with the best part of everything your land produces". And do you know what follows that verse? A promise of God - "then your barns will be filled to overflowing, your vats will brim over with new wine". Classic God - you can't outgive Him.
Knowing God and bringing Him glory should be our number 1 concern. Having all of these things is meaningless unless you know Christ. He wants to take your money, your power, your marriage, your children, your job, your study, your home, your status, and He wants to refocus them, so that everything you do will be about bringing glory to God. He wants you to live your life on purpose - to look at all aspects of your life and think "What's the point of this? Am I doing this to make me happy or am I doing it to honour God?" I know for me, there are areas in my life that a lot of the time I couldn't tell you my motivation because I'm not really sure myself. Those are the areas I need to lay before God and ask Him to purify. I need to let them go and ask God to keep them until He has focussed me on why I have them. So try it! Take some time to analyse your life and your motivation. Ask God to make it clear to you the areas where His agenda may not line up with yours. If it's money, firstly accept that it's a struggle for you. Pray God's forgiveness over this area and the times you have not honoured Him with your finances. Then each time you deal with money or make decisions about your money or take your credit card from your wallet, pray "Lord, you know I struggle with this. Help me to know if this purchase is honouring to you". You might find it helpful to tape a verse about honouring God with your money onto your credit card. Proverbs 3:9 is a good one "Honour the Lord with your wealth, and with the best part of everything your land produces". And do you know what follows that verse? A promise of God - "then your barns will be filled to overflowing, your vats will brim over with new wine". Classic God - you can't outgive Him.