Then I realized that it is good and proper for a man to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in his toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given him - for this is his lot. Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work - this is a gift of God. He seldom reflects on the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart.

Ecclesiastes 5:18-20, NIV (1978)

When was the last time you were truly happy? I'm not talking about a mere fleeting moment of happiness, but a consistent state of being content. If it's been a while, then this message is for you... and me.

The words you read above are from a king who had everything, but for the most part was pretty much dissatisfied with the way his life was had turned out. As he wrote this book, he continually referred to his life as being meaningless - a chasing after the wind. Now, you and I can probably relate to his sentiments, for we have plenty of times in our lives that it seems like we are just chasing after the wind. The irony is that the one who wrote Ecclesiastes - Solomon - had everything that most of us only dream about. He had unlimited wealth, unparalleled wisdom, and he just happened to be the most powerful man in the world.

But he was miserable! Why?

Solomon's dissatisfaction had its root in his perspective - he had stopped putting God and people first and suffered the natural consequences for his self-centered attitude. He was rich, but he didn't particularly like the people he had to deal with. He was mortal, so he knew that his great wealth and power were limited by an ever-decreasing amount of time left to him. His great wisdom allowed him to see his failures, but his self-absorption prevented him from doing anything about them. No wonder he considered himself to be the most miserable of men - he had everything but appreciated nothing.

It wasn't until he regained a little perspective that he began to see the problem. Life is made to enjoy, but it is also made to serve. When you lose the heart of a servant, you lose the joy.

So, even though he had plenty to eat and drink, he began to abuse these gifts. I don't know if he was inclined towards gluttony, but he did admit to trying to "cheer himself" with wine. Anyone who's ever gone down that path has a pretty good idea where that led to. He was king and could have any woman he desired, so he decided to add about an even thousand to his collection. Anyone who has had more than one wife (or husband) knows that the biggest penalty for bigamy is not the jail sentence. So, even though it was legal for Solomon during his time to have more than one wife, it didn't turn out to be all that prudent. He wrote things such as "Better to live on the corner of a roof, than to share a house with a quarrelsome wife" and "like a gold ring in a pig's snout, is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion". I imagine anyone who has been married to a quarrelsome spouse or who married for looks (male or female) found out the truth of Solomon's complaints.

It took a long time, but Solomon finally realized that blessings from God are to be savored, but only in the context of one who serves. Otherwise, one is sure to either abuse those blessings, fail to appreciate those blessings, or both. Furthermore, while Solomon never appeared to be all that averse to hard work, it does appear that he went to the excess on that as well, throwing himself into one great project after another, while letting the rest of his life slip by. We've all likely been there a time or two in our own lives, but hopefully we have learned from that mistake.

Solomon's problem was not that he didn't try to enjoy his blessings (including his work), it was just that he had his priorities turned around. He found out, perhaps too late, that the blessings of life are to be enjoyed - they are indeed a gift from God! However, in order to enjoy one's gifts, we have to first open them up. Then, we need to use them in the proper way. For example, a firearm can be a great blessing in responsible hands, being useful for everything from putting food on the table to protecting one's family from those who would threaten them. But, in the wrong hands, that same "gift: can become a curse - both to the one who uses it, and to the innocent victims he uses it on.

It's the same with food (we cannot be gluttons) and the same with drink (we cannot be drunkards). Marriage can be beautiful, but it is intended only for one faithful man and one faithful woman. Any deviations from God's marital guidance always proves to be a disaster. Even wealth when it is used properly can be a tremendous source of happiness and a great benefit to those with whom it is shared. The fact is that God gives us all incredible gifts, but we often misuse them and most always under appreciate them. It is only when we use the blessings that God has given us in this life that we can truly enjoy them. All of these gifts are given by God to help make our lives happy and content, but only when used in the right way. 

The fact is that we are here to serve God. If we will, He will give us blessings beyond our wildest imaginations; but we have to use them in His service! And we must receive these gifts with appreciation and purpose! If we can learn to do these things (hopefully before we get too old) then we will realize what Solomon missed, Life is a gift; but it is first and foremost a gift of service. If we can learn to be selfless rather than selfish, we will have gone a long way to learning this truth. And, once learned, this life and everything that goes along with it will become the magnificent gift that God has intended for it to be from the beginning. To those who have learned this lesson, life is a tremendous gift, filled with joy and contentment. But for those who fail to learn it, life for us will be just like it was for King Solomon: Meaningless! Which will you choose?