SOLOMON'S PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS

By David J. Riggs

Intro.
   A. Solomon was in better position than anyone to pursue happiness
      to its greatest extent.
   B. He left no stone unturned in his indulgence of the proverbial
      pursuit of "wine, women, and song" and more.
   C. The books of Eccl., Prov., 1 Kings, and 2 Chron. reveal things
      about Solomon's pursuits.
      1. After each endeavor, Solomon had a favorite expression
         which summed up the whole matter.
      2. It was, "All is vanity and striving after the wind." Eccl.  
         2:11
      3. Let's look at some of his endeavors. Happiness is not found
         in: (See Chart #1)

I. WINE. "I searched in my heart how to gratify my flesh with wine."
   A. However, he wrote in Prov. these things about wine. Prov. 20:1;
      23:29-35
      1. Alcohol does not deliver the happiness it seems to promise.
      2. In the end, the alcoholic reaches the point where he hates  
         the whole thing; however, it has already taken control, and 
         he has become it slave.

II. WOMEN.
   A. Solomon had a thousand women, but they didn't bring him
      happiness and contentment.
      1. Instead, they lead him astray. 1 Kings 11:1-8
      2. It seems that whenever Solomon saw a beautiful woman, he
         said, "I want her" and he took her to be his wife.
         a. In this, the wisest man in the world seems to be the
            greatest fool.
      3. Can you imagine a thousand women scheming to have first
         place with Solomon? It seems this would bring misery
         instead of happiness.
   B. Eccl. 7:26-29
      1. Solomon couldn't find one good woman among a thousand
         because of the kind of women he dealt with.
      2. His dealings were with beautiful woman, not with god-
         fearing woman. Prov. 31:25

III. SONG. Eccl. 2:8
   A. Solomon didn't need a stereo, radio, or TV to listen to music
      because he had the real thing.
   B. Many people today seek out beautiful music and the singers who
      present it.

IV. MONEY. 2 Chron. 9:13-14
   A. The gold coming to Solomon each year equaled around 200
      million dollars, not to mention all the other wealth he had.
      1. He was so wealthy he would make Bill Gates look like a
         pauper.
   B. Many people think, "If I only had money, it would solve all my
      problems.
      1. The abundance of the rich will not permit him to sleep.     
         Eccl. 5:10-13
      2. It is better to have only a little, than to much with have
         sorrow and trouble. Eccl. 4:6

V. EDUCATION (WISDOM, PHILOSOPHY). Eccl. 1:13
   A. He started out by becoming a great engineer and architect but,
      apparently, he tried to "square the circle" and got into
      mathematics of the infinity.
      1. He wanted to know everything there was to know, so he
         enrolled in "Madness and Folly, 101."
      2. However, all this later proved to be a worthless endeavor.
      3. He said, "Of making many books there is no end, and much
         study is wearisome to the flesh." Eccl. 12:12
   B. There are advantages to higher education, but when academic
      education becomes a substitute for God, or causes one to not   
      put God first, it becomes evil.

VI. FAME AND POWER. Eccl. 2:9a; 2 Chron. 9:22-26
   A. All this notoriety and power did not bring lasting peace,      
      because he had to protect his kingdom at all times.
      1. For example, he considered Jeroboam as a threat and tried to
         kill him. 1 Kings 11:40

VII. POSSESSIONS.
   A. He said, "Whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them."
      Eccl. 2:10
   B. He had animals of all kinds. 2 Chron. 9:21
   C. He had possessions of all kinds. Eccl. 2:4-8
   D. He even made himself an elaborate ivory and gold throne. 1     
      Kings 10:18-19

VIII. SOLOMON'S CONCLUSION. (See Chart #2)
   A. In all worldly pursuits, Solomon concludes that all vanity.
      1. He used the word "vanity" about thirty times in the book of
         Eccl., beginning and closing the book with it. 
      2. Let's look at a few of those. Eccl. 1:2,14; 2:1,11,21; 4:4; 
         6:2
   B. Fear God and keep his commandments. Eccl. 12:13-14
      1. Though he gave the greatest advice, it appears that he did
         not follow it.
      2. He was not to multiply horses, wives, or silver and gold.
         Deut. 17:16-17
         a. As we have seen, he failed in all three of these things.
         b. His wives led him astray. Neh. 13:26

Concl.
   A. In spite of Solomon's failures, his message is a great one.
      1. Any effort to obtain happiness which doesn't put God first  
         is vanity.
   B. Let us not be "minding earth things" or "chasing the impossible
      dream," but serving God with fear and trembling.

Chart #1
Solomon's Pursuit Of Happiness
Wine
Women
Song
Money
Education (Philosophy)
Power and Fame
Possessions

Chart #2
Solomon's Conclusion
All Worldly Pursuits Are Vanity
Fear God and Keep His Commandments