“Pursuing Pleasure” | Ecclesiastes

Ecclesiastes 2:1-2 (ESV) 2 I said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy yourself.” But behold, this also was vanity. 2 I said of laughter, “It is mad,” and of pleasure, “What use is it?” 

PLEASURE CAN DISTRACT YOU, BUT IT CAN’T FULFILL YOU.

ENTERTAINMENT CAN FILL YOUR TIME, BUT NOT YOUR HEART.

Ecclesiastes 2:3 (ESV) 3 I 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.

YOU WON’T FIND MEANING AT THE BOTTOM OF A BOTTLE.

Ecclesiastes 2:4-7a (ESV) 4 I made great works. I built houses and planted vineyards for myself. 5 I made myself gardens and parks, and planted in them all kinds of fruit trees. 6 I made myself pools from which to water the forest of growing trees. 7 I bought male and female slaves, and had slaves who were born in my house.

YOU CAN BUILD AN IMPRESSIVE LIFE AND STILL FEEL EMPTY INSIDE.

Ecclesiastes 2:7b-8a (ESV) I had also great possessions of herds and flocks, more than any who had been before me in Jerusalem. 8 I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I got singers, both men and women,

YOU CAN KEEP ADDING THINGS TO YOUR LIFE AND STILL FEEL LIKE SOMETHING’S MISSING.

Ecclesiastes 2:8b (ESV) And many concubines, the delight of the sons of man.

NO AMOUNT OF SEX CAN SATISFY A HEART THAT’S HUNGRY FOR MEANING.

Ecclesiastes 2:9 (ESV) 9 So I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also, my wisdom remained with me.

FAME CAN GIVE YOU ATTENTION BUT NOT FULFILLMENT.

Ecclesiastes 2:10-11 (ESV) 10 And 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. 11 Then 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.

THE WORLD CAN FILL YOUR HANDS, BUT NOT YOUR HEART.

WE ARE LOOKING FOR GOD. EVERY DESIRE WE CHASE IS REALLY A DESIRE FOR GOD IN DISGUISE.

“The deepest longings of our hearts are for connection, love, purpose, and life itself. These are the longings only God can satisfy. When we turn to porn, power, or performance, we’re not sinning-we’re settling. We are searching for God, but looking in all the wrong places.” – Michael John Cusick

“If I find in myself desires which nothing in this world can satisfy, the only logical explanation is that I was made for another world.” — C.S. Lewis

YOU’RE LOOKING FOR JESUS.

#1 – LOOK TO JESUS.

#2 – ENJOY THE GOOD THINGS OF LIFE WITH WISDOM

#3 – LEARN FROM THE PREACHER

GIVE YOUR LIFE TO JESUS.

DEMOTE THE THINGS THAT CAN’T SAVE YOU.