Searching for Right Answers in the Wrong Places (Part 3): Ecclesiastes 2:1-11 by Dr. Rod Mattoon

Scripture

• Ecclesiastes 2:1–11

About this sermon

Solomon was trying to find contentment in his life. He searched for the answer of the meaning of life but in the wrong places. He pursued Cultivation, Crews, Cattle, Collection of Wealth, Choirs, and Concubines. In spite of all that this man had, he was not satisfied or fulfilled. The meaning of life is not found in your possessions, your power, your precious stones and wealth, your music, or sexual pleasures. These things do not satisfy because God is not in the picture. When He is left out, you will not be fulfilled because satisfaction, meaning, and purpose are found in Him. Life is all about the Lord. That was Solomon’s problem. Life was all about Solomon in his latter years. You can see that when you read these verses. Notice how many times the pronoun “I” comes up. It is quite a bit. Being focused on yourself, being selfish, will leave you empty inside. What was the conclusion of his quest and pursuit of all these things? How did he feel about his accomplishments and what he had accumulated? He preceded his answer with the word “Behold.” Listen up! This is important! The answer was, "It was all vanity, futile, and meaningless. It was like sprinting or chasing the wind." The phrase "vexation of spirit" means "striving or chasing after the wind." This man who left the Lord out of much of his life, who had turned his back on God, disobeyed God’s command for a king, and focused on earthly matters instead of spiritual ones summed up his life as, “It is all a waste! I feel empty and really have nothing!” That is quite a statement from probably one of the most wealthiest men in the world at that time. The book of Ecclesiastes was written so that we could learn from his mistakes and search for the right answers in the right place...the Lord.