Living for Pleasure

What’s the Point of Living for Pleasure?

2:1-11; 3:12-14

     Today, we come to a subject that preachers throughout the ages have preached about, i.e., our deep human temptation to have our lives guided by, even driven by, our cravings for pleasure.  I grew up in churches in which this seemed to be a main theme of most sermons.  When a friend would miss church and then ask what the sermon was about, we’d say, “It was one of those sermons calling us to sing ‘I don’t drink and I don’t chew and I don’t go with girls who do’ sermons!”  It seemed to me that preachers in the south became very eloquent and passionate when they preached against the destructiveness of the “pleasures of the world”.

     But, over the past weeks of preparing for this series in Ecclesiastes, I’ve come to the conclusion that, although preachers still preach about pleasure, they preach about it in a different way.  Many of the sermons about pleasure I’ve heard or read online, don’t really warn people about pleasure.  They want to emphasize that God is the creator and giver of pleasure, that God is not a spoilsport wanting to ruin our lives by taking away our pleasures. I read one sermon based on the text we come to today that had 7 out of 8 pages going over what the pleasures that Solomon writes about would look like in our own world. But, in the sermon, there were no warnings about where following our cravings might lead.  No calls to repentance or change.

     So, let’s face it:  As much as many pastors love to talk about pleasure, there are some challenges to doing it in a way faithful to the whole of the Bible.  Why? Because, on one side, we are all imperfect people so our own cravings can (and most certainly will) lead us astray. But, on the other, pleasure itself is not wrong. Every good gift is a gift from our Father.  And, God himself is described as one who experiences pleasure. Ps 104:31says, “May the glory of the Lord endure for ever, may the Lord find great pleasure in his works.”  When pleasurable things are engaged in as a part of our walk with him, they bring us great joy. But, those two biblical truth sometimes seem to clash one another in our daily lives. 

     To gain focus for our message today, I want to remind you of a man in our world who has experienced almost every kind of pleasure and success the world has to offer. Tom Brady is the quarterback for the undefeated New England Patriots. Life seems to have gone well for him for a long time. Brady has won four Super Bowl rings, MVP trophies... Even a small list of his accomplishments on the football field extends for pages! He’s dated supermodels and has married a supermodel.  He has earned millions and still has a contract for many more millions.  Has experienced that many men in America dream of.  Because of that, an interview he did on CBS’s 60 Minutes baffled many in our pleasure-focused world.  Brady said:

Why do I have three Super Bowl rings and still think there's something greater out there for me? I mean, maybe a lot of people would say, “Hey man, this is what is. I reached my goal, my dream, my life.” Me, I think, “God, it's got to be more than this. I mean this isn't, this can't be what it's all cracked up to be.”

                                    Tom Brady, 60 Minutes Interview with Steve Kroft

     So, things that give pleasure are all parts of God creation.  But, pleasure seems to be incapable of bringing lasting meaning to our lives.  This is a very important matter for the way we live our lives, isn’t it?  And, the topic is too big to be covered exhaustively in one sermon.  However, I find that Solomon gives us insights into the role of pleasure in our lives that he had learned after a life of being able to experience even more pleasures than Tom Brady and countless successful men and women combined have experienced.  Solomon’s words are found in Ecclesiastes 2.  I’ll simply let him guide us today:

#1: The Experiment: I said to myself, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure to find out what is good.” But that also proved to be meaningless (2:1).

     The word “test” indicates that what will follow in ch.2 is an experiment, a deliberate attempt to discover whether what most people talk about living for really works.  Remember that Solomon, the Philosopher, wants us to think about the meaning of life if there is no God.  Life without God is what he calls life “under the sun”.  In his society – and in ours as well – most people seem to think that there is some pleasure that we need to experience or we will never find satisfaction.  The proposed solution to discovering fulfillment in life “under the sun” is to experience the kind of pleasure that fits the way we are.  If people won’t let us have the pleasure we think we want, we say that they are ruining our lives.  The idea is, “Discover who you are. Don’t let anybody dictate their rules to you.  Fulfill your desires and you will really live!” Solomon said, “I lived my life to test that philosophy.”

     Notice this: Solomon looked at the way he had lived his life as being a conscious and intentional attempt to find out if pleasure in this world could fill his inner being.  Do you see the second phrase in v. 1? He said his test was to “find out what is good.” By that, I mean that he wasn’t just flying into a life of breaking all the rules his parents had ever given him and living a life of debauchery – as some college students do when they first leave home and get out under their parents’ restrictions.  No, this was a reasoned attempt to see if what our world has to offer might actually fill the hole inside his heart. 

   But, Solomon had always anticipated what the end of this living a life of pleasure would be: i.e., that all the joys of the pleasures of the world would prove to be fleeting.  Deep down, he always knew that living that way would eventually prove to be “meaningless.”

     But he went on with the experiment anyway.

#2: The Plan – Trying Every Pleasure (in case you think he didn’t give it a real chance) (2:2-10)

I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure (2:10).

     In verses 2-10, Solomon begins to tell us some of the pleasurable places he looked to find life.  I’m not going to embellish what he said and try to help you envision all that Solomon experienced so that you might feel tempted to live like he lived.  That’s another problem with preaching about pleasure.  When the preacher tries to describe the temptations of engaging in any kind of pleasure, the hearers are often tempted just by the description!  But, if you want to read about the incredibly lavish lifestyle he lived, you can read about it in 1 Kings 4:22-23; 1 Chronicles 27:29-31; & 2 Chronicles 9:25-27.

     In Ecclesiastes 2, Solomon summarized it all.  He began where he thought most would begin:

He Tried Fun and Laughter – Laughter is madness (2:2),

     Fun is a good thing.  After two days of intense meetings back in Chicago last week, I had the chance to spend a couple of hours with my grandchildren. We did silly things.  We laughed.  We sang.  It was lots of fun.  It was SO good!  I tell you that, without a doubt, times of laughter are gifts from God to us.

     But, just having fun and laughing all the time always proves to be empty. Just think about watching back-to-back-to- back silly movies:  Anchorman, Dumb and Dumber, Ishtar, etc. will leave you feeling like you’ve only had cotton candy for all your meals.  If you have a friend that you only laugh and joke with all the time – and never share the challenges and pains of life with – you will soon discover that in the midst of all the laughter, there is a hole, an emptiness.  Solomon is not saying that all laughter is evil.  He’s saying that times of laughter alone are no solutions to the biggest issues of life (e.g., that death comes).  Living a life of unending fun is a total failure as an answer for how to live and why to live.

     Solomon concluded that that kind of “laughter is madness” and to live just to have fun accomplishes nothing. It will leave you empty inside.  If that’s what the center of your life is about, it’s meaningless.

He Tried Alcohol – I tried cheering myself with wine (2:3).

     Notice how carefully Solomon states this in v.3: I tried cheering myself with wine… — my mind still guiding me with wisdom. I wanted to see what was good for people to do under the heavens during the few days of their lives.

     Solomon is not saying he went out and got drunk every day.  To the contrary, he wants to be the kind of person who partakes of the pleasure of alcohol without being consumed by it.  He was an astute man.  He knew that every thinking person in the world knows that a life of drunkenness is empty, addictive and harms everything and everyone around the drunk.  We need no great “Philosopher” to teach us that!  Solomon wants to test whether the pleasure of experiencing the world’s best wines and whiskies and food gives lasting meaning to life.  This was an experiment in pleasure – not in debauchery.  And, with the growth of gourmet cooking and baking in our own world, it’s an experiment many seem to be trying in our day too.

     Notice especially the comment in v.3: “in the few days of our lives.”  He wanted to find out whether drinking great wine and great food were a sufficient answer to the emptiness of life in the face of death.  He thought of the many, many people saying in times of frustration and pain, “I’ve got to have a drink.” Solomon discovered that great wine might bring some happiness to the connoisseur but it is no remedy for the deepest longings of our human hearts.

He Tried Expanding the Range of Pleasure -- “I enlarged my sphere of activities (2:4).” 

     What Solomon meant by “I made great works” in v. 4 is that, “I tried the things that others had not or could not.”  Those who have grown up in religious homes, as Solomon had, understand this.  Church kids always wrestle with the question, i.e., Have I missed something by growing up in a religious home? Solomon chose to throw away any taboos of his culture and to engage in any pleasure he could conceive of. 

     He built gardens and vineyards and a household of servants.  Like many successful people, Solomon really didn’t have to do any of his own housework.  He could go into the seclusion of his home and gardens and try to separate himself from the problems of the people in his kingdom.  But, he became ever more separated from his people – except when people served him as slaves.

     And I think v.8 is especially insightful here.  Solomon gives us the detail that he brought in both male and female entertainers.  That had never happened before.  The entertainers in his world had been men only. I think that Solomon was saying this: “Music is one of this world’s greatest pleasure.  But, we soon get tired of the same old/same old.  Well, I went a step beyond what anyone has ever done.  I brought in men and women entertainers.  I tried music and the arts.  I tried every kind.  I tried it it non-stop.” 

     And in case we think there is something that he might have missed, Solomon adds in v.9, “I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem before me. I did it without leaving wisdom behind.”  In this context, what he meant was that he had tried more of what this world had to offer than anyone in his society ever had.  As he lived that way, he was always asking, “Is this what brings meaning to life?”  In an all encompassing declaration, Solomon stated: I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure (2:10).

#3: The Evaluation -- Everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind… (2:11).

     Pleasure has a way of promising more than it can produce.  David Hubbard said, “Pleasure’s advertising department is better than its manufacturing department.”  When experiencing pleasure becomes the main thing in life, the enjoyment it brings will decrease so that the intensity of the pleasure must increase.  A time of diminishing returns sets in when there is little enjoyment – only bondage and addiction.  No matter what the advertising of our world promises when it says, “Buy this or do that, and you’ll be happy”, it cannot deliver – not in a lasting way. That’s what Solomon learned.  It is good to experience pleasure but there is no pleasure great enough to be our reason for living.

#4: The Time to Reflect – Everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it (3:14).

     In 2:11 and 3:12-14, Solomon takes some time to reflect on the meaning of trying to live life “under the sun” with pleasure as it’s main focus.  He’s found it empty.  And, in 3:12-14, Solomon points us to God as the only one who gives us anything that satisfies.  I want us to do what Solomon did.  I think that in church, we sometimes hear a message like this – but we go home and it makes no difference in our lives.  Solomon took time to stop and reflect on what he had to learn from this experiment.  Like Solomon, you need to take the time to meditate on what difference this part of God’s Word should make in the way you live.

     What has God said to you today?  Do you ever find yourself tempted to think that the Bible is wrong about this?  That maybe lasting satisfaction is to be found in pleasure?  Of the many things I would like to say to you, I think there are two parts of Solomon’s message that you should reflect on today.  They are: 1) the main problem with pleasure and 2) the essential questionabout pleasure in this world.

The Main Problem: Living to fulfill self-centered pleasure will prove to be empty. 

     This conviction saturates this entire passage.  The first word in v.1 is “I” and then the words I, me, my and myself dominate everything else. They’re used almost 20 times.  And, it’s not just the words.  It’s also the focus of all he experiences – I did it all “for myself” (2:4) he said. He’s wanting us to see what it had taken him years to see; i.e., a life with self at the center is a life that will end up in hell. Sin started that way.  Adam and Eve said, “I will be god.  I will live my life as I want.”

     I see this as the greatest danger that you will face in our society.  The messages that will bombard you in this world will tell you that to really live, you have to focus on yourself.  You have to do things for yourself.  You will be told again and again, “If you find that you are drawn toward a certain way of life, then go for it – indulge yourself -- no matter what God says.”  I tell you that this temptation to think that doing what you crave to do without regard to God will happen in greater and lesser ways almost every day. 

     You must come to grips with whether Jesus is truly the Lord of your life – or whether you still in control.  If his Word says, “This is how I would have you live” and your inner longings say, “But, I want to live a different way…” – then you will have to make the choice that Solomon puts before you.  Will you seek to find your life by fulfilling your own desires through pleasure?”  The Bible says it will prove to be empty.  Do you believe it?  Do you trust that living as God directs you will always end up better than following your own desires?  That’s one of the biggest questions wants you to ask.

The Essential Question: Will You Put God First?

     Even though pleasure is a terrible god, pleasure is wonderful when it is received as a gift of God. In 3:12-13, Solomon clarifies some things.  Like we all know, it is wonderful to be joyful and to eat and drink and find pleasure in the gifts God has given us.  But, if you put those things in God’s place, they will let you down.  What do I mean by enjoying life with God at the center?

1. Receive every pleasure not as a right but as a gift from God. Be grateful for each joy, whether small or great. I think the main characteristic of my father’s life was that he was grateful for each small gift that God provided. As I look back at his life, I know this was the key: He didn’t think that pleasures were his right – nor were they a necessary source of his satisfaction. They are gifts from God. I want you to live that way. I want to live that way too. That’s what Solomon is call us to see: 3:13 – “Eating and drinking, and finding satisfaction in all we do -- this is the gift of God.”

2. Engage in pleasure God’s way – That’s what is meant practically by “the fear of the Lord” in 3:14. The phrase, “fear of the Lord”, is closely tied to the 1^st commandment in the Bible. What it asks is whether there is anything in your life that you put ahead of God. If you say, “I’ll be a Christian if God lets me keep having sex the way I want to” or “if he let’s me get the car I want” or “if he… (You can fill in the blank.) What pleasure do you refuse to surrender to God -- that God dare not take from you? That pleasure is your real god – it’s an idol. Living for it will prove to be meaningless.

   The paradox is that we cannot genuinely face life’s temporariness with any lasting satisfaction without first coming into a relationship with God.  And, when we bring him into our lives through faith in Jesus, we suddenly discover that this powerful and holy God is good. And he loves us.  And he wants us to enjoy the life he gives us. 

     All pleasure (whatever it is) is all God’s idea. He created all the things that are pleasurable. He designed us to experience pleasure. Pleasure is a a gift from God but a terribly inadequate substitute for God.  About what pleasure are you tempted to say, “I’ve got to do that thing or I will not be content.  I’ll be a Christian and give Jesus everything else, but I have to have that pleasure or I’m out.”

     I declare to you on the authority of God’s Word:  The pursuit of any pleasure apart from God will always be like “chasing after the wind” (Ecclesiastes 2:11).  But the joy that comes from living for God will satisfy your soul.

享樂人生的意義

傳道書2;1-11；3：12-14

            今天，我們來談一談歷代傳道人都會傳講的一個主題，其中包括享受的渴望在我們生命中所起到的引導、甚至驅使的試探作用。在我所成長的教會中，牧師的大部分講道都是這個主題。每當一個朋友沒來教會，問起我們講道的主題時，我們都會說：“就是讓我們‘不喝酒，不吸煙，不和這樣的女孩去約會’的那種講道！”我覺得南部的牧師在講到對抗“世俗享樂”所帶給我們的破壞性的時候，都特別有辯駁力，而且帶著能力。

            然而，在過去幾周準備傳道書的系列講道時，我得出了一個結論，雖然牧師們仍然在講享樂，但是他們傳講信息的方式已經改變了。我在網上讀到或聽到的許多關於享樂的講道，其實並沒有起到提醒人們的作用。他們想強調，神是享樂的創造者和授予者，祂並不想把享樂從我們的生命中拿走，從而破壞我們的生活、掃我們的興。祂想讓我們認識自己、認識祂所賜給我們的喜怒哀樂，然後因此而感激祂。我讀過一篇講道，講的就是我們今天所讀的經文，其中有七、八頁都在描述，所羅門所寫的那些享受，在我們今天的世界會是什麽樣子。最後的結論是，“神是至高者，哪怕在我們享受的時候，也應該感恩。”然而其中並沒有警告人們，跟隨欲望而行，會將我們帶到何方，也沒有呼召人們悔改和改變。

            因此，讓我們面對這個問題：許多牧師喜歡講享樂，然而他們會遇到一個挑戰，那就是如何在傳道時忠實於整本聖經。為什麽？因為，一方面，我們都是不完美的人，因此我們的欲望會使我們誤入歧途。然而另一方面，享樂本身並沒有錯。每一樣好的禮物都是從天父而來的。神自己都會享受。詩篇104：31說：“願耶和華的榮耀存到永遠。耶和華喜悅自己所造的。”在我們與祂同行時，一些令人喜悅的事物會帶給我們極大的喜樂。然而有時候，這兩個聖經真理在我們的生活中會形成沖突。

            為要讓大家專註在今天的信息中，我想要提醒你，在世上，曾有一個人，經歷了幾乎世上所能有的一切享受與成功。湯姆·布萊迪是戰無不勝的新英格蘭愛國者隊的四分衛。在很長一段時間裏，他的人生都很順利。布萊迪贏到過四枚超級碗戒指，MVP獎杯等等。他在足球場上微不足道的小成就可以寫上好幾頁！他和超級模特約會、結婚。他賺了幾百萬塊錢，還有很多百萬合約在等著他。他所經歷的是許多美國人的夢想。然而哥倫比亞廣播公司的名為“六十分鐘”的節目對他的采訪，使我們周圍許多喜歡享受的人都產生了困惑。他說：“為什麽我已經得到了三枚超級碗戒指，卻還是覺得有更好的東西在等著我？可能有很多人都會說，‘你已經很不錯了。你達到了你的目標，實現了你的夢想人生。”而我卻覺得，神啊，人生肯定不僅僅這樣，肯定還會有更多的東西。”

                                                湯姆·布萊迪應斯蒂文·科洛弗邀請接受六十分鐘節目的采訪

第一：實驗：我心裏說：“來吧，我以喜樂試試你，你好享福。誰知，這也是虛空。”（2：1）。

            “試試”這個詞指出，在第二章所講的是一個實驗，是要試圖發現，是否大多數人所說的人生意義確實有效。請記住，所羅門這位教師或者說哲學家，希望我們思考一下，如果沒有神，人生的意義會是什麽。沒有神的人生，就是他所說的“日光之下”的人生。在他的世界裏，同樣也是在我們的世界裏，大多數人都會認為，有一些享受是需要我們去經歷的，當我們經歷之後，就會得到滿足。經歷適合我們的享受，是在“日光之下”的生活中找到意義的方法。如果人們禁止我們享受那些我們想要的享受，那麽我們就會說，他們破壞了我們的生活。重要的是，要“認清自己，按照你真正喜歡的方式去生活。不要讓任何人用他們的規則來主宰你。要滿足你自然的願望，你才算真正地活過！”所羅門說，我的人生就證明了這一點。

            請註意這一點：所羅門認為，在他自己的生活中，他曾有意地去尋求，是否世上的享樂能夠填滿他的內心。我的意思是，他的目的不單是要過一種打破父母為他定下的人生規則，而過著一種放蕩的生活，正如一些大學生離開家、脫離父母限制之後所做的，不是的，這是一種合理的嘗試，他要看看這個世界所提供的一切，是否可以填滿他心中的虛空。

            如果他生活在我們的時代，他可能會說，我必須要看看，假如我甩開所有的道德約束，就像休·海夫納所說的，沈醉在一切的娛樂中、購買世上所有吸引人的東西，甚至列出所有我離世之前想要做的事情，如果這些都是我存在的正當理由，那麽我的生命會如何？但是，你有沒有看到第一節的第二個短句？所羅門一直預期這個結果，那就是，這個世上所有享受的歡娛都會稍縱即逝，最終都是“虛空”。

            但是他還是繼續寫了他人生的實驗。

第二：計劃 ---- 嘗試每一個享受（以防你覺得他沒有真的享受到一切）（2:2-10）

“凡我眼所求的，我沒有留下不給他的。我心所樂的，我沒有禁止不享受的。”

在2-10節中，所羅門告訴我們一些他所尋求享樂之處，在我的講道中，我不想美化這一切，因而讓你因著他所做的一切而想去嘗試他那樣的生活。在以享樂為主題的講道中，這又是另一個問題。當牧師試圖描述任何享受所帶來的試探的時候，聽道的人常常會因為這樣的描述而受到試探！如果你想要讀所羅門那無尚榮華的生活方式，你可以讀列王記上4：22-23；歷代誌上27：29-31 和歷代誌下9：25-27.

在傳道書第二章，所羅門對那一切都做了總結。他的開始，也是大多數人都會選擇的開始：

他嘗試了歡笑和喜樂（2：2）

            歡笑是好事。上周，在我到芝加哥開了兩天緊張的會議之後，我有機會和我的孫輩共度了幾個小時的時間。我們一起做傻事，一起歡笑，一起唱歌。非常好玩。感覺特別好！歡笑是神所賜予我們的禮物。

            然而，如果總是只有歡笑和喜樂，就會感覺虛空了。想一想如果你一直看喜劇：王牌播音員，阿呆與阿瓜，伊斯達等等，你會感到，你好像每天都在吃棉花糖。如果你有一個整天都歡笑和開玩笑的朋友，而他從來不會和你分享生命中的挑戰和痛苦，那麽你很快就會發現，在所有的歡笑之中，有一個洞，那就是虛空。他並不是說所有的歡笑都是被壓制的罪惡，他的意思是，歡笑的時光無法解答最大的人生問題（比如死亡的問題）。面對如何生活和人生的意義的問題，它完全無法給出答案。

        所羅門的結論是，這種的“歡笑是瘋狂”，為歡樂而活是無法成就人生的，只會為你留下空虛的心。一切都是虛空。

他嘗試了飲酒（2：3）

            在第3節，所羅門很謹慎地說：我心裏察究，如何用酒使我肉體舒暢，我心卻仍以智慧引導我。又如何持住愚昧，等我看明世人，在天下一生當行何事為美。

        所羅門的意思不是說他每天都醉酒。相反的，他想成為那種能夠享受飲酒，卻不被酒精所控制的人。他是一個睿智的人。他知道，每個人都了解，醉酒與過度沈迷的生活是虛空的，對周圍的一切都有害處。我們不需要偉大的“哲學家”來教導我們這個道理。所羅門想要試試看，以理智控制縱酒是否能給予持久的生命意義。這是在實驗享樂，不是在放蕩。

            請留意第3節中的這個短語：“在一生中”，他想要知道，飲酒或與同伴同飲是否可以在人們面對死亡的時候解釋生命的虛空。他想到許多人在挫折與痛苦之中都說：“我得去喝酒，酒會麻木我的焦慮，使我可以逃避片刻。他發現，酒精可以帶來快樂，卻無法修復世人的困惑、恐懼和痛苦。

他擴大了享受的範圍 - “我為自己動大工程（2：4）。”

在第四節中，所羅門說：“動大工程”的意思是說：我嘗試過的事情，其他人沒有經歷過或者無法經歷。那些像所羅門一樣在有信仰的家庭中長大的人們，都能夠明白這一點。生活在教會的孩子總是掙紮於類似的問題之中，比如，我會不會因著在一個宗教家庭長大而失去了一些東西？所羅門選擇去除所有文化禁忌，而投入到他能夠想到的一切樂趣之中。

他建造花園、葡萄園和一個有許多仆人的王室。像許多成功的人一樣，所羅門不需要做任何事情。他隱居家中，與他人隔絕，除了仆役來伺候他的時候之外。

我認為，第8節很有見地。所羅門描繪了他得到男女歌者的細節。這樣的事以前從未發生過。演藝者以往只有男人。我認為，所羅門的意思是，音樂是這個世界上最大的享受之一。但是，我們很快就會厭倦舊歌。好吧，我就做一次任何人也不曾做過的事，我得到了男女歌者。我欣賞音樂和藝術，我嘗試每樣新東西。我不停地嘗試新事物。

我們可能覺得他會錯過一些事情，但是所羅門在第9節中繼續說道：“我就日見昌盛。勝過以前在耶路撒冷的眾人。我的智慧仍然存留。”他在經文中的意思是，他比同時代中所有的人都嘗試過世上更多的事物，他做事的方式正如所有的尋求智慧的人所做的那樣，比如，他總是會問，“難道這能帶給我們生命的意義嗎？”在最後的總結中，所羅門說：凡我眼所求的，我沒有留下不給他的；我心所樂的，我沒有禁止不享受的；（2:10）。

第三，結論---- 一切都是虛空，都是捕風……(2:11)

        歡樂給人的承諾要多過它所帶來的後果。大衛·哈勃說:“歡樂的廣告部要比它的制造部強大得多。”當快樂成為人們主要的經歷時，它所帶來的快感就會降低，因而快樂的強度就要增大。當快感減退，快樂的回報也減少，最終只會剩下捆綁和上癮。當世界承諾人們說：“購買這個或那個產品能夠帶給你幸福”的時候，它並不能帶給人持久的幸福。

第四：反思的時間 ---- 神一切所做的都必永存，無所增添，無所減少(3:14)。

在2:11和3：12-14中，所羅門在思考，享樂地在生活“日光之下”的意義是什麽，這是他思考的重點。他發現那就是虛空。而且，他很少有地提醒人們，有一位永恒的、在日光之上的神，他將我們帶到那唯一能將永恒帶給我們的神的面前。我希望我們能夠像所羅門那樣。我想，基督徒們有時會聽到這樣的信息，但是它並沒有改變我們的生活。正如所羅門一樣，你需要化時間去默想，神的這些話語，會使你在現有的生活方式有什麽改變？

            神今天對你說了什麽話？你是否發現，自己懷疑聖經說錯了？也許，持久的滿足是可能在快樂之中找到的。在我想對你說的很多事情之中，有兩件最重要的事，它們是：1）享乐的主要問題；2）在世上享乐的根本問題

主要的問題：為自己而活會證明人生的虛空

            這個信念滲透了整個信息。第一節的第一個字是“我”，接著，很多地方都出現我，我的，我自己這些字。它們幾乎出現了20 次。這不單是用詞的問題，而且也是他所有經歷的焦點 ---- 他說，“我為自己……”(2:4)。他想讓我們看到那些他經歷多年才能看到的事情，比如，一個向內發展的生命，最終將會走向地獄。罪就是這樣開始的。亞當和夏娃說：“我就會像神一樣。我可以隨心所欲地生活。”

        我認為，這是你在當今社會裏碰到的最大危險。在這個世界裏，你會不斷地聽到這個信息，告訴你，如果你想真實地活著，你必須要關註自己。你必須要為自己做事。別人會再三地告訴你，“如果你發現自己的生活需要向某一個方面調整，那麽就盡管去做吧，不要管神說什麽。”讓我告訴你，這件事多多少少每天都在發生著。

        你必須要了解自己是否真正地信靠耶穌。如果聖經說：“我希望你這樣生活”，然而你的內心卻說，“但是我想過一種不同的生活…”，那麽你就一定要作出所羅門擺在你面前的選擇。你的人生是否會通過快樂去滿足自己的欲望？聖經說，這樣的人生是虛空的。

根本的問題：你是否會將神放在首位？

            雖然快樂有時可能是一個可怕的神祗，然而假如是神所賜的禮物，它卻是非常美妙的。在3：12-13中，所羅門澄清了一些事情。眾所周知，歡喜快樂和神所賜給我們的吃喝享受都是很好的事情。但是，如果你把這些事情擺在神的位置，那麽你就會失望。我所說的以神為中心地享受生活是什麽意思呢？

            1）將快樂當做從神而來的禮物，而不是你應有的權力。為每一個喜樂而感恩，無論是大是小。我想，我父親的生命的一個主要特點就是：他為神所預備的每一個微小的禮物而感恩。當我回顧他的人生，我知道，這就是關鍵：他不認為享受是他的權力，也不認為那是他得到滿足的泉源，它們則是神所賜的禮物。我希望你也能那樣生活，我自己也是如此。那就是所羅門要讓我們看到的：每一種享受都是神賜給祂子民的禮物。

2）以神的方式享受快樂 --- 也就是在3:14節中所提到的“敬畏耶和華”。這是十戒中的第一條所提到的語句，它說，在我們的生命中，任何事物都不可超過神。如果你說，假如祂讓我保持我在兩性方面的生活方式，“或者”如果祂讓我得到我想要的車，“或”如果祂...... 我就成為一個基督徒，（你可以填充這個空白，你覺得哪種享受是神不能從你那裏拿走的？）

在3章13-14節，所羅門指出了一些他偶爾在傳道書提到的事情，比如，還存在著日光之上的神；享受生活的能力是神所賜予的禮物。矛盾的是，當我們沒有首先進入與神不朽和永恒關系之中的時候，我們就無法用持久滿足的態度，真實地面對我們短暫的人生。而當我們通過在耶穌裏的信心，帶祂進入到我們生活之中的時候，我們會突然發現，這個有能力而聖潔的神是如此美好。祂愛我們，並且希望我們享受祂所賜給我們的生命。

所有的享樂（不管它是什麽）都是神的設計。祂創造了一切令人享受的事物，祂定意讓我們經歷快樂。快樂是一種深深的誘惑和可怕的偶像。你是否想追隨某種快樂，而這快樂並不在你對基督的委身之中，因為你覺得“只有我做了那件事，才能得到滿足。我可以將一切都交給耶穌，但是我必須要有那種享受，之後我才是一個基督徒，否則就不是。”

因著神話語的權威，我要宣告，離開了神，對任何享受的追求都是如同“捕風”。（傳道書　2:11) 。然而因著為神而活的喜樂，你的靈魂將會得到滿足。

榮耀歸給神，

Greg Waybright 博士

主任牧師