The Joy of Christmas #2: Hope (Ecclesiastes 2:1-11)

Ecclesiastes 2:1-11 (1) I said to myself, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure to find out what is good.” But that also proved to be meaningless. (2) “Laughter,” I said, “is madness. And what does pleasure accomplish?” (3) I tried cheering myself with wine, and embracing folly—my mind still guiding me with wisdom. I wanted to see what was good for people to do under the heavens during the few days of their lives. (4) I undertook great projects: I built houses for myself and planted vineyards. (5) I made gardens and parks and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. (6) I made reservoirs to water groves of flourishing trees. (7) I bought male and female slaves and had other slaves who were born in my house. I also owned more herds and flocks than anyone in Jerusalem before me. (8) I amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I acquired male and female singers, and a harem as well—the delights of a man’s heart. (9) I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem before me. In all this my wisdom stayed with me. (10) 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. (11) 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.