Imagine being the greatest and richest king of all time. Everything you wanted to see, do, or own was yours for the taking. This was the life of Solomon. He had the world at his feet. He experienced everything life had to offer and denied himself nothing, “All that my eyes desired I did not refuse them. I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure” (vs. 2:10)
Yet even with all of that, Solomon grew bored with the humdrum of life. He found nothing new to see, nothing knew to do, nothing worthwhile at all. Over twenty times in the book of Ecclesiastes the Preacher, traditionally known as Solomon, laments about his boredom with life on earth. “That which has been is that which will be, and that which has been is that which is done. So there is nothing new under the sun.”(vs. 1:9) Disillusioned, Solomon learned that no how many times humanity tries to “reinvent the wheel”, it’s all been done before.
“Vanity of vanities! All is vanity.” (1:2) After taking a hard look at life, including his own, the Preacher declares it to be vanity; meaningless, futile, and nothing more than a puff of smoke. To hear a man so great and blessed by God as Solomon despairing over the futility of life isn’t exactly an uplifting message to read. If a powerful king who has access to every desire finds life pointless and boring, what help is there for the rest of us?
The truth of the matter is Solomon’s lack of luster for life came as a result of his lack of luster for God. Instead of turning to the Lord to heal the emptiness in his heart, he tried to fill it with the trappings of the world. But far from making him happy Solomon found the more of the world he had, the emptier he felt. Even his many accomplishments couldn’t give him the satisfaction he yearned for. “I considered all my activities which my hands had done, and the labor which I had exerted and behold all was vanity and striving after wind and there was no profit under the sun.” (vs. 2:11)
We were created for fellowship with the Lord, to have a close and personal relationship with Him. And nothing this world could ever offer, not power, wealth, nor fame, can fill the place reserved for God alone It is only through Him will we find meaning and happiness. Not even the simplest things in life bring enjoyment separate from our Father. “For who can eat and who can have enjoyment without Him?” (vs. 2:25)
If we aren’t walking with Him, life becomes nothing more than a rat race. A boring cycle of wash, rinse, and repeat. Like Solomon we’ll find ourselves in the doldrums; stagnant and depressed, just going through the motions. We too will try to fill the emptiness with worldly things that at best can only offer temporary satisfaction.
God never intends our life with Him to be a dull one. He wants to do wonderful and meaningful things through us and for us. Looking for excitement? Jesus says, “Truly, truly, I say to you he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father” (John 14:12) How about that?! Each day brings with it a new and exciting opportunity to not only carry on the work of Jesus, but through the power of the Holy Spirit to accomplish even greater things. And I don’t know about you, but that doesn’t sound too boring to me!
