The Emptiness of Earthly Gain

" I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards: I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all kind of fruits: I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees: I got me servants and maidens, and had servants born in my house; also I had great possessions of great and small cattle above all that were in Jerusalem before me: I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces: I gat me men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, as musical instruments, and that of all sorts. So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me. And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour. Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun" (Eccl. 2:4-11). The word "vanity" in this text means "empty, futile, or temporal." And the term "vexation of spirit" means "pursuit of the wind." So the powerful and sobering meaning of what we have read here is that there is no possibility of fulfilling the inner man by any means of this world whatsoever. Solomon had everything that anyone could hope for in this life, and he also had divine wisdom that let him know that it wasn't enough. It's no wonder that he is the same man that wrote proverbs such as, "Better is little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble therewith;" as well as, "Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith" (Prov. 15:16,17).

The apostle Paul magnified this divine wisdom when he stated the following: "Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness" (I Tim. 6:5-11). I am certain that a slow, honest read of these two powerful passages of scripture can afford much deliverance to many. Strange, in this age of "divine prosperity" so called, one could easily forget that this passage from I Timothy even exists. And it is certain that you are not going to hear the "prosperity" preachers pointing out Solomon's divine perspective of being left unfulfilled, regardless of what a man owns, or is able to achieve in this life. Nonetheless there is a Spirit of truth that DOES fulfill and satisy the soul, if and when it is sought out and followed after (Jn. 16:13; Rom. 8:14). And I can thankfully and humbly say by personal experience that being content with "righteousness, and peace, and joy, in the holy Ghost," is divine prosperity indeed (Rom. 14:17). Amen.