Ecclesiastes - Eccl. 2:4-11 DailyBibleStudy.Org

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Ecclesiastes 2:4-11

Lesson # Eccl. 2:4-11
Study Material - Eccl. 2:4-11

You must be in fellowship prior to your Bible study, so that the spiritual information you receive can become a source, of blessing to your soul and produce spiritual growth.

Eccl. 2:4-11

4 I enlarged my works: I built houses for myself, I planted vineyards for myself; 5 I made gardens and parks for myself, and I planted in them all kinds of fruit trees; 6 I made ponds of water for myself from which to irrigate a forest of growing trees. 7 I bought male and female slaves, and I had homeborn slaves. Also I possessed flocks and herds larger than all who preceded me in Jerusalem. 8 Also, I collected for myself silver and gold, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I provided for myself male and female singers and the pleasures of men-- many concubines. 9 Then I became great and increased more than all who preceded me in Jerusalem. My wisdom also stood by me. 10 And all that my eyes desired I did not refuse them. I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure, for my heart was pleased because of all my labor and this was my reward for all my labor. 11 Thus I considered all my activities which my hands had done and the labor which I had exerted, and behold all was vanity and striving after wind and there was no profit under the sun.

Solomon continues with his experiments in life. He engaged in construction projects, building houses, palaces for himself. He planted huge vineyards, gardens, orchards. He designed huge landscape projects with ponds and flowing fountains. He planted tees, but not just a few trees like you and I would plant. He planted entire forests with waterworks to provide irrigation for the trees.

With His great wealth he purchased slaves and families of slaves. Such that even they had children while in his service. Solomon acquired herds and flocks of cattle, sheep, goats. In other passages we learn that he had huge stables of the finest horses in the world. And what rich man does not have the female fancy for his pleasure. Concubine is a kind word for those ladies who were kept for his calling. No doubt Solomon always had a bed warmer for those long cold winter nights, as well as every other night of the year. We have our radios and stereos, but Solomon had live music. Singers and choirs to entertain and keep the atmosphere festive round the clock.

And the money that paid for it all? There was no shortage there either. Solomon inherited over 100,000 talents of gold from David, and much more than that. There were tens of thousands of acres of land, silver, gems beyond counting. Today, if we were to place a value on Solomon's net worth, he would far surpass those wealthiest people in the world by 100 times or more. He was certainly a trillionaire by today's standards. And his wealth was in liquid assets. Not like those of today whose wealth is in stock values which can disappear overnight with a market drop. Stock values and even land values can drop to near nothing, but gold never loses its value. It is intrinsic and will always be in demand regardless of the state of an economy.

Now all of these activities took a lot of time and energy. Lots of planning and labor and material to accomplish them all, but which of them remain today? None. And where is Solomon today? In the new Paradise which is in heaven (after being transferred there, by Christ after the victory of the Cross, from the old Paradise, which was one of the four compartments in Hades, or the underworld).

Did any of these activities help Solomon in his spiritual life? No. Yet he expended tremendous resources in accomplishing them, only to have his sons, in the next couple of generations, squander it all. Such tremendous wealth virtually lost almost overnight.

Solomon retained his wisdom, that is his human wisdom, his common sense, his street smarts if you will. He impressed all who met him, with his great knowledge and good decisions with respect to earthly matters.

His conclusion after it was all accomplished? It was all for naught, emptiness. None of it fulfilled his contentment of soul, or happiness. We know that these things in themselves are not wrong, that is the gardens and such. Of course we know that slavery is not right and loose sex is a sin to say the least, but the other activities of construction and landscaping and such are certainly good ventures. Except if you are a workaholic and that is what drives you to success, and you ignore God in your life. Or, you place your happiness goals on your accomplishments, your self indulgent desires, some philosophy of good feelings based on things that entice the senses. Then you are on the wrong track in life.

In contrast your Bible study expends far less energy, far less resources, doesn't utilize sin or its temptations at all, and you can accomplish infinitely more results. Than Solomon did with all his billions. And I would think that it is pretty safe to say that very few of you out there in the internet world reading this study actually have billions to spend anyway. Yet your accomplishments will far exceed those of the richest man in history, if you stick with your daily Bible study, stick with an open mind, maintain a willingness to learn, keep yourself in fellowship, and persevere throughout your life in your daily study, by advancing to spiritual maturity and remaining there until God calls you home.

Now is the time to post a prayer.

End Of Lesson

Study to show thyself approved (mature) unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing (studying/discerning), the Word of truth.

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