SOLOMON'S PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS
By David J. Riggs
Intro.
A. Solomon was in better position than anyone to pursue happiness
to its greatest extent.
B. He left no stone unturned in his indulgence of the proverbial
pursuit of "wine, women, and song" and more.
C. The books of Eccl., Prov., 1 Kings, and 2 Chron. reveal things
about Solomon's pursuits.
1. After each endeavor, Solomon had a favorite expression
which summed up the whole matter.
2. It was, "All is vanity and striving after the wind." Eccl.
2:11
3. Let's look at some of his endeavors. Happiness is not found
in: (See Chart #1)
I. WINE. "I searched in my heart how to gratify my flesh with wine."
A. However, he wrote in Prov. these things about wine. Prov. 20:1;
23:29-35
1. Alcohol does not deliver the happiness it seems to promise.
2. In the end, the alcoholic reaches the point where he hates
the whole thing; however, it has already taken control, and
he has become it slave.
II. WOMEN.
A. Solomon had a thousand women, but they didn't bring him
happiness and contentment.
1. Instead, they lead him astray. 1 Kings 11:1-8
2. It seems that whenever Solomon saw a beautiful woman, he
said, "I want her" and he took her to be his wife.
a. In this, the wisest man in the world seems to be the
greatest fool.
3. Can you imagine a thousand women scheming to have first
place with Solomon? It seems this would bring misery
instead of happiness.
B. Eccl. 7:26-29
1. Solomon couldn't find one good woman among a thousand
because of the kind of women he dealt with.
2. His dealings were with beautiful woman, not with god-
fearing woman. Prov. 31:25
III. SONG. Eccl. 2:8
A. Solomon didn't need a stereo, radio, or TV to listen to music
because he had the real thing.
B. Many people today seek out beautiful music and the singers who
present it.
IV. MONEY. 2 Chron. 9:13-14
A. The gold coming to Solomon each year equaled around 200
million dollars, not to mention all the other wealth he had.
1. He was so wealthy he would make Bill Gates look like a
pauper.
B. Many people think, "If I only had money, it would solve all my
problems.
1. The abundance of the rich will not permit him to sleep.
Eccl. 5:10-13
2. It is better to have only a little, than to much with have
sorrow and trouble. Eccl. 4:6
V. EDUCATION (WISDOM, PHILOSOPHY). Eccl. 1:13
A. He started out by becoming a great engineer and architect but,
apparently, he tried to "square the circle" and got into
mathematics of the infinity.
1. He wanted to know everything there was to know, so he
enrolled in "Madness and Folly, 101."
2. However, all this later proved to be a worthless endeavor.
3. He said, "Of making many books there is no end, and much
study is wearisome to the flesh." Eccl. 12:12
B. There are advantages to higher education, but when academic
education becomes a substitute for God, or causes one to not
put God first, it becomes evil.
VI. FAME AND POWER. Eccl. 2:9a; 2 Chron. 9:22-26
A. All this notoriety and power did not bring lasting peace,
because he had to protect his kingdom at all times.
1. For example, he considered Jeroboam as a threat and tried to
kill him. 1 Kings 11:40
VII. POSSESSIONS.
A. He said, "Whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them."
Eccl. 2:10
B. He had animals of all kinds. 2 Chron. 9:21
C. He had possessions of all kinds. Eccl. 2:4-8
D. He even made himself an elaborate ivory and gold throne. 1
Kings 10:18-19
VIII. SOLOMON'S CONCLUSION. (See Chart #2)
A. In all worldly pursuits, Solomon concludes that all vanity.
1. He used the word "vanity" about thirty times in the book of
Eccl., beginning and closing the book with it.
2. Let's look at a few of those. Eccl. 1:2,14; 2:1,11,21; 4:4;
6:2
B. Fear God and keep his commandments. Eccl. 12:13-14
1. Though he gave the greatest advice, it appears that he did
not follow it.
2. He was not to multiply horses, wives, or silver and gold.
Deut. 17:16-17
a. As we have seen, he failed in all three of these things.
b. His wives led him astray. Neh. 13:26
Concl.
A. In spite of Solomon's failures, his message is a great one.
1. Any effort to obtain happiness which doesn't put God first
is vanity.
B. Let us not be "minding earth things" or "chasing the impossible
dream," but serving God with fear and trembling.
Chart #1
Solomon's Pursuit Of Happiness
Wine
Women
Song
Money
Education (Philosophy)
Power and Fame
Possessions
Chart #2
Solomon's Conclusion
All Worldly Pursuits Are Vanity
Fear God and Keep His Commandments