Highway 4-W

Every person in the world wants to have a life of purpose, meaning, and happiness. Each one of us spends a lifetime looking for these things.

The book of Ecclesiastes is the story of one man’s search for life's meaning and true happiness. The man’s name was Solomon, the 3rd king of the nation of Israel. Solomon’s search was made while he was alienated from God. His wives "turned away his heart" from serving God (1 Kings 11:3), just as God had warned (1 Kings 11:9-10). Solomon’s quest was based on the question: What profit is a life without God?

Solomon’s search took him down what might be called “Highway 4-W.”

Solomon searched for true happiness and fulfillment in wisdom (Ecclesiastes 1:12-18). He "set his heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under heaven" (v. 13). Did wisdom make him happy? Note Solomon's conclusion: "And I set my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is grasping for the wind" (v. 17). He learned that to seek happiness in human wisdom is 'a striving after the wind,’' i.e., it is like trying to catch the wind in a sack - an impossible task.

Solomon searched for true happiness and fulfillment in worldly pleasure (Ecclesiastes 2:1-3). He said in his heart, “Come now, I will test you with mirth; therefore enjoy pleasure'" (Ecclesiastes 2:1). He sought for worldly pleasure in wine (v. 3) and a large harem and many wives (1 Kings 11:1-3). Did these things bring him happiness? His conclusion: “This also is vanity (meaninglessness, emptiness)” (v. 1).

Solomon searched for true happiness and fulfillment in work and wealth (Ecclesiastes 2:4-11). His works included houses, vineyards, gardens, and orchards (vs. 4-6). He acquired male and female servants and greater herds and flocks than all who were in Jerusalem before him (v. 7). He also gathered for himself silver and gold and the special treasures of kings and of the provinces (v. 8). He acquired male and female singers and musical instruments of all kinds (v. 8). Whatever his eyes desired he did not keep from them (v. 10). Did these things make him happy? "Then I looked on all the works that my hands had done and on the labor in which I had toiled; And indeed all was vanity and grasping for the wind. There was no profit under the sun" (v. 11).

At the end of the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon is an old man. He has searched for true happiness and fulfillment in everything that the world had to offer. He ends the book with his final conclusion: "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is the whole duty of man" (Ecclesiastes 12:13), literally, "For this is the whole of man" or “This is what makes man whole." Solomon also stated another important reason for his conclusion: “For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether it is good or whether it is evil” (Ecclesiastes 12:14).

Are you traveling "down" Highway 4-W today?

Listen to Solomon! The only life which brings true happiness and fulfillment is found when we revere God and keep His commandments.

Today, God is calling everyone - everywhere to: faith (Hebrews 11:6), repentance (Acts 17:30), confession (Romans 10:9-10), baptism (Acts 2:38) and faithful living (1 John 1:9).

How will you respond to His call?



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