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.
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. Ecclesiastes 2:10-11
My heart took delight in all my labor,
and this was the reward for all my toil.
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. Ecclesiastes 2:10-11
Rich
people can be happy. But it depends on
how one defines “happiness.” Rich people
enjoy experiences, luxuries and travels other people never get to see. They meet interesting people and go to fun
parties. Sure they are happy, but do
they find meaning and purpose—a deeper sense of fulfillment?
Rich
people may come to realize, like Solomon did, that hard work, laughter and good
food only go so far and after awhile they hit the wall, wondering what’s it all
for?
For a person may labor with wisdom, knowledge and skill, and then
they must leave all they own to another who has not toiled for it. This too is
meaningless and a great misfortune. What do people get for all the toil and anxious striving with
which they labor under the sun? All their days their work is grief and pain; even at night their
minds do not rest. This too is meaningless. Ecclesiastes 2:21-23
They see that they can’t take their
money with them and everything they built will only land in the hands of their
ancestors (who will probably destroy it all).
Solomon astutely concludes that joy
can only come from Lord. Why? God is eternal and He’s more concerned with
the long term, not only the short term.
Rich people are happy when they invest in the long term for something
greater than themselves, that will outlive themselves.