Ep 465 – Ecclesiastes 4:1-16

Solomon knew what it was like to have fame and fortune. He was a powerful and wealthy king, ruling over a kingdom of adoring subjects and enjoying all the perks that came with his high position. Yet, in Ecclesiastes 4:1-16, Solomon opens up and shares some intimate insights into his life. All is not well. His power is matched by his overpowering loneliness. His great wealth is contrasted his poverty of true friends and close relationships. His renowned wisdom has not kept him from becoming a man who no longer knows how to take advice from others. He is at the top of the world, but isolated and alone. These verses provide us with an autobiographical sketch of Solomon the king, designed to teach us some valuable life lessons learned the hard way. Too often, we think the answer to all our problems is more power, possessions or popularity. We buy into the lie that more money will bring happiness. We take the bait that lures us into believing the more "likes" we have on Facebook, the more friends we have. We allow ourselves to think that accumulation is the key to satisfaction. But Solomon would warn us to watch out. He had learned the truth about the lies. They were all vanity and a striving after wind. So, what was missing from Solomon's life? What did he need that he did not already have? The simple answer is peace with God. He was a man who had walked away from the very one who had placed him on the throne and had blessed him with wisdom and wealth. Somewhere along the way, Solomon had made it his life's mission to focus on the gifts rather than the giver. He began to worship and adore the blessings, instead of the one behind them. And as he grew ever-wealthier and more powerful, he became increasingly more lonely.