“Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.” (Ecclesiastes 1:2)
Solomon strayed from the path of true wisdom and went down the dead-end streets of worldly wisdom, wealth, wine, and women. Solomon made it further down these paths than any human being before or after him. At the end of these paths, he found emptiness –”vanity.”
The Dead-End Street of Worldly Wisdom:
For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.(Ecclesiastes 1:18)
The Dead-End Street of Wealth:
He that loveth silver shallnot be satisfiedwith silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.(Ecclesiastes 5:10)
The Dead-End Street of Wine:
Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth is heaviness. (Proverbs 14:13)
Solomon’s other warnings and woes of wine: Proverbs 4:17; 20:1; 23:19-21; 29-30; 31-35; 31:4-7; Ecclesiastes 2:3; 10:17.
The Dead-End Street of Women:
Solomon chased women until he accumulated one thousand, seven hundred wives and three hundred concubines. This was a dead end experience…
It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house. (Proverbs 25:24)
A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike. (Proverbs 27:15)
And I find more bitter than death the woman, whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands as bands: whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her.(Ecclesiastes 7:26)
Stay on the Right Path!
Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;
(Ecclesiastes 12:1)
“Remember now thy Creator!”Wisdom, wealth, wine, or women did not create you, your Creator did. Serve Him! You will be happy that you fulfilled your duty.
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)