The Absurdity of Pleasure

Ecclesiastes 2:1-11

1 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.

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!

9 So I became greater than all who had lived in Jerusalem before me, and my wisdom never failed me. 10 Anything I wanted, I would take. I denied myself no pleasure. I even found great pleasure in hard work, a reward for all my labors. 11 But as I looked at everything I had worked so hard to accomplish, it was all so meaningless—like chasing the wind. There was nothing really worthwhile anywhere.

The teacher tried pleasure to find meaning and contentment in live. Simkhah is the Hebrew word for pleasure. It means self-indulgent and foolish pleasure as opposed to legitimate enjoyment of life. The self-indulgent and foolish pleasures are found in his laundry list of pleasures:

• Silly laughter
• Wine
• Foolishness
• Large houses
• Vineyards and gardens
• Slaves
• Greed
• Power
• Sex

The teacher was the judge who convicted himself of excess. He was the jury as well and the sentence was among the cruelest of sentences: the meaningless life.

We can learn two things learn from the teacher's mistakes:

1. More is not necessarily better. Modesty, humility, and balance are essential to a life full of contentment, purpose, and satisfaction.
2. Short-tern decisions effect our long-term well-being. We often make the easy and convenient choice that gives us instant gratification instead of the difficult and right choice that gives us long-term contentment.