Joel M Bradshaw

1I said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy yourself.” But behold, this also was vanity. 2I said of laughter, “It is mad,” and of pleasure, “What use is it?” 3I searched with my heart how to cheer my body with wine—my heart still guiding me with wisdom—and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was good for the children of man to do under heaven during the few days of their life. 4I made great works. I built houses and planted vineyards for myself. 5I made myself gardens and parks, and planted in them all kinds of fruit trees. 6I made myself pools from which to water the forest of growing trees. 7I bought male and female slaves, and had slaves who were born in my house. I had also great possessions of herds and flocks, more than any who had been before me in Jerusalem. 8I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I got singers, both men and women, and many concubines, the delight of the sons of man.

9So I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me.10And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my reward for all my toil. 11Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun.–Ecclesiastes 2, with emphasis

I want you to imagine a life where you could actually live out the phrase that ‘what the heart wants, the heart wants.’ Imagine being able to live the dream of being able to buy anything, anywhere, anytime. Imagine being able to have whatever pleasure you wanted most given to you with nobody telling you no. Imagine in all this your greatness in the eyes of the world expanded tremendously. There never was anyone like you. You are the richest, most successful, most desirable person of your world.

And now please scroll back up and read the words I underlined. Qoheleth had all of these things, and more. Could you imagine his Instagram following? His YouTube channel would have all the views. Talk shows would celebrate his every adventure. Books and movies would document his excesses and successes. He denied himself nothing and it was like chasing after wind. He accomplished all that he desired, yet still felt like his life had no meaning. He was so saturated and exhausted from his pursuit of pleasure after pleasure, and yet Qoheleth felt like a vain, empty shell. As the Stones once sang, ‘I can’t get no satisfaction’.

If one like Solomon who had it all and possessed the means and opportunity to pursue it all found it all meaningless, if gives us opportunity to reconsider our priorities. Should the heart get what it wants? Should I pursue myself at all costs? Does it lead to a place of true satisfaction?–JMB