What do pleasures accomplish? Absolutely nothing. It's another day and another chance to dig a little bit more into the book of Ecclesiastes. In this life, what do the things that give you pleasure accomplish? Seriously think about, pleasure is so short term. Especially the pleasure that we often search for. Pleasure is defined as being something that gives you happiness and satisfaction. Which is true, but it't not eternal. It's brief. What are some things that give you pleasure? Money? New clothes? Sex? Swearing? Porn? There are lot of things in this world that Satan uses to make us think that we need those pleasures. It's a shame too because he deceives us so well. He makes us feel like we have to have what is wrong and what is sinful. All of those pleasures are meaningless. Why? All of them are under the sun and a chasing after the wind. Here is an example of something that I just happened to be talking about with my best friend last night, comedians. Comedians are funny and that is what they were most likely born to do. I guarantee that comedians are just as funny if their shows are clean and free of cruel humor and bad language. What do they add cruel humor and language? Pleasure. They known that is what the audience wants because it will make them feel good. It will also make them feel like they are still missing something. Remember. God set eternity on man's heart.
In Ecclesiastes chapter 2, there are 11 verses about King Solomon and how he tried to find pleasure in things under the sun. Solomon had such a longing for more that he said to himself, "Come now, I will test you with pleasure to find out what is good." As soon as he began doing that, he found it to be meaningless. He tired cheering himself with wine, and embracing folly. With that being said, his mind still guided him with wisdom and he wanted to see what was good for people to do under the sun during the few days of their lives. Solomon undertook great projects. He built houses for himself and planted vineyards. He made gardens and parks and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. He bought slaves, and those slaves had other slaves who were born in his house. He owned more herds and flocks than anyone in Jerusalem had ever owned. He amassed great amounts of silver and gold for himself. He became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem before him. In all of those things his wisdom stayed with him. Here is what Solomon had to say:
"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 the 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.
Solomon seemed to have it all. He turned his lifestyle into paradise and still wanted more. We might have the last iPhone that came out last year and really want the newest one that just came out. It's a never ending cycle of searching for pleasures in things that won't give you pleasure forever. This may have been two thousand years ago, but everything is still meaningless under the sun and a chasing after the wind. It's crazy how similar the times are. Do you struggle with trying to fill your emptiness with pleasure? Here is a conclusion that you should come too.
"Do you want meaning? Are you looking for purpose? An investment that will yield lasting dividends? Something to fill the void...something that will give real satisfaction? Then wake up and wise up! I can tell you before you go one step further-in order for your horizontal life to make up its mind, it is absolutely essential that you get your vertical life in place. Not until then you will really begin to enjoy this thing called living." - Charles R. Swindoll
If you are struggle with seeking fulfillment in pleasures, just understand that you are not alone and that your desire can be conquered but a Godly desire. If there is something that keeps nagging at you that you cannot stop doing or something you struggle with everyday, seek some help. Message me if you want to because there was something that I used to struggle with but with the help of people who loved me, I overcame it. I would love to help you overcome your struggles. I'm not the one who will accomplish that, for only God can do that, I just want to help.
pleasures are meaningless...
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