Confident in his control over his desires, the Teacher deliberately immerses himself in the full range of the world’s temptations, declaring, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure to discover what is truly good.” However, this path of indulgence soon turns into a search for meaning, revealing the emptiness of laughter, the madness of hollow joy, and the futility of chasing pleasure for its own sake. Through this self-imposed experiment, he becomes a subject in a deep investigation of the human condition. Even as he indulges in folly and seeks joy in wine, he believes his mind remains guided by wisdom, striving to discern what is truly valuable for people to pursue during their brief time on earth.
“Laughter,” I said, “is madness. And what does pleasure accomplish?” – Ecclesiastes 2:2 (NIV)
The Transitory Nature of Pleasure
In a world where we all seem to be in a prison of our own making, passing the time with fleeting pleasures, the question arises: What does pleasure truly accomplish? The pursuit of pleasure without purpose, he discovers, is not just a waste of time as it is a path that leads to temporary happiness and eventual emptiness.
Pleasure becomes problematic when it is pursued as the primary goal rather than as part of a balanced life. While it can offer temporary happiness, this satisfaction is often short-lived and does not provide deeper fulfilment. Spending time solely in pursuit of pleasure can be a distraction from more meaningful endeavours. It’s important to remember that while many things are permissible, not all are beneficial, and the value of pleasure depends on how and why it is sought (1 Corinthians 6:12).
The Pursuit of Grand Projects
The Teacher embarked on numerous grand projects, including building houses, planting vineyards, creating gardens and parks, and constructing reservoirs. He accumulated wealth, slaves, herds, and treasures, and indulged in various pleasures, claiming to have retained his wisdom despite surpassing all who came before him in Jerusalem.
Through his pursuits, the Teacher is attempting to use his wisdom in a constructive way by creating tangible, lasting achievements rather than indulging in fleeting pleasures with no lasting impact. He invests his time and resources in building houses, gardens, parks, and reservoirs, aiming to recreate a sense of paradise, similar to the Garden of Eden. However, his efforts are centred around personal fulfilment and enjoyment, lacking the spiritual connection and presence of God at the core. Despite being one of the wisest individuals, his quest to replicate paradise without God ultimately falls short of true fulfilment.
The Teacher is undertaking such projects to be remembered by future generations, to achieve prosperity and success, and to create a lasting legacy. By building grand structures, accumulating wealth, and indulging in pleasures, he aims to make a significant mark on the world and secure his place in history. However, despite these efforts to leave a lasting impact, he ultimately discovers that true fulfilment comes from a deeper, spiritual connection rather than mere material success.
We, too, try to carve out our own paradise on this earth—our getaway from the toil of the world and the stress of our jobs. It can be as simple as a backyard pool, a basketball hoop in the driveway, an art studio or a cottage in the woods, but all of this will only provide temporary respite from our daily grind. It will not give us the meaningful connection we so desperately desire. True rest can only be found through a connection with God.
I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my labor, and this was the reward for all my toil. Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun. – Ecclesiastes 2:10-11 (NIV)
The teacher found no lasting meaning in worldly pleasures, acknowledging their futility after having indulged in them extensively. Despite his conclusion, many of us continue to test ourselves with these pleasures, seeking fulfilment in them, even though they often leave us feeling empty. We indulge in them in the hope of finding satisfaction, but like the teacher, we will eventually realise that true meaning cannot be found in fleeting pleasures alone.
Wisdom Versus Folly
The Teacher reflects on the pursuit of wisdom versus folly, recognising that wisdom is undoubtedly superior, much like light surpasses darkness. The wise can see clearly, while fools stumble in the dark. However, he also realises that despite this advantage, both the wise and the foolish share the same inevitable fate—death. This insight leads him to question the ultimate value of wisdom, as in the end, both the wise and the foolish are destined to be forgotten, making wisdom seem as meaningless as folly.
For the wise, like the fool, will not be long remembered; the days have already come when both have been forgotten. Like the fool, the wise too must die! – Ecclesiastes 2:16 (NIV)
Is it better to be a fool than to be wise? A fool seems free from the obligations of responsibility, while wisdom can sometimes feel like a heavy burden. The Teacher was perhaps the wisest man on earth yet he began to question the value of wisdom when he realised that both the wise and the foolish share the same inevitable fate—death. This led him to wonder if wisdom truly benefits us in the end. This line of thinking appears contradictory to the wisdom found in the book of Proverbs and may have come during a time of weakness. The Teacher grappled with the idea that his fate was no different from that of a foolish person. Ultimately, without finding God and the promise of eternal life with Him, the realisation of our mortality can lead to overwhelming grief.
Wisdom, like a job, should bring fulfilment and happiness, but without God’s guidance in applying it, wisdom can become futile. Wisdom is meant to be dynamic, flowing and influencing our lives and the lives of others, not something that stagnates within us. Ultimately, without God, even the greatest wisdom can feel like a burden, leaving us to ponder whether the pursuit of wisdom is truly worthwhile.
The Burden of Legacy
So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me. All of it is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. – Ecclesiastes 2:17 (NIV)
The Teacher expresses deep frustration and despair over the meaninglessness of life. Despite all his hard work and achievements, he realises that everything he has toiled for will eventually be left to someone else, who may not value it as he does. This thought fills him with despair, as he sees that all his efforts have been in vain. He questions the purpose of labour, noting that it often brings more grief and anxiety than satisfaction.
Do you find yourself hating life because of the heavy workload you bear? The constant toil can make us resent our lives. Parents often spend their entire lives working hard to provide a better life for their children, yet what their children truly need is more time and connection with them—something parents struggle to give due to the demands of their labour.
For a person may labor with wisdom, knowledge and skill, and then they must leave all they own to another who has not toiled for it. This too is meaningless and a great misfortune. – Ecclesiastes 2:21 (NIV)
We often feel frustrated when someone else takes over our projects and alters the work we invested so much time and effort into. This reluctance to let go mirrors the sentiment of modern-day pastors who face new assignments that move them away from their established congregations. They find it difficult to leave behind the relationships and progress they’ve built over the years, having to start anew in a different place.
Similarly, we may develop a possessive mindset about those we serve, believing they are ‘our’ flock. However, everyone who comes to us has been sent by God and is part of His greater plan. God has a unique purpose for each of us, and to fulfil His kingdom’s work, we must be open to new assignments He provides. With these new challenges, He will grant us renewed energy and purpose to tackle the tasks ahead.
Ultimately, the Teacher finds contentment in simple pleasures like eating, drinking, and enjoying one’s work is a gift from God. Without God’s presence, even these small joys are meaningless. God grants wisdom, knowledge, and happiness to those who please Him, while sinners are left to toil and accumulate wealth that will eventually go to others. Yet, even this pursuit is ultimately futile, like chasing after the wind and that seems like a great misfortune to the teacher.
Discussion Questions
- Why does the pursuit of pleasure as a primary goal fail to provide lasting fulfilment?
- What was the Teacher trying to achieve through his grand projects and pursuits?
- Is there no difference between a wise and a foolish person?
- Why do we have trouble moving on to new projects?
The Jordan Valley 
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