[1:15-2:10] Mankind has
no way to “straighten out” mankind.
Verse 15 says, “What is wrong cannot be made right. What is missing cannot be recovered.” Mankind is born with a sinful nature that can
only be “straightened out” with Jesus Christ.
We can have all the best intentions of “straightening out” someone, but
we have nothing to offer mankind other than the truth of God’s word. The solution is found in God’s true
word.
Solomon believed
himself to be wiser than anyone and he found great pride in his wisdom. He put all his accomplishments in his
knowledge, wisdom, and education. But he
learned it was like chasing after the wind.
“The greater my wisdom, the greater my grief. To increase knowledge only
increases sorrow.” Ecclesiastes 1:18
Solomon found no satisfaction
in knowledge, so he attempted to find it in pleasure. Solomon had a thousand wives. He had many women available to him, so he
tried everything to experience pleasure sexually, entertainment, drunkenness [2:3],
and pleasure. “In this way, I tried to
experience the only happiness most people find during their brief life in this
world.” Ecclesiastes 2:3
Solomon tried to build homes,
planted vineyards, gardens, parks, bought slaves, owned large herds, collected
silver and gold, hired singers, brought in concubines… “I had everything a man
could desire!” Ecclesiastes 2:8
Solomon said he denied
himself no pleasure. He “rewarded”
himself with anything he could ever desire because of his hard work and labor.
