Vol 3 No 6 THEO'S DEVOS
Ecclesiastes 2:1,2 I thought in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure to find out what is good.” But that also proved to be meaningless. 2“Laughter,” I said, “is foolish. And what does pleasure accomplish?”
The book of Ecclesiastes is magnificent. It brings to light concepts that we all thing about but do not articulate very well. It is almost like a literary sniper rifle that sights in on life and exposes the weaknesses in us. Our verse today, and the contest is Ecclesiastes 2:1-11, focuses in on a difficult subject: pleasure.
Pleasure,on its surface, feels good. It is a cathartic that seems to help us through the rough spots. Solomon had the opportunity to experiment with pleasure as few others have. He begins by analyzing laughter. Who doesn't enjoy a good laugh. I notice that when people get together they almost feel as though they have to laugh at some point. We will sometimes laugh just to lighten the moment even if what is being laughed at is not all that funny. But Solomon then says that 'laughter in foolish.' I had a rough time with this for a while. I must say that it is getting easier to understand these days. The reason I say that is because there doesn't seem to be anything that comedians will fail to stoop to in order to get a laugh. I suppose someone like Andrew Dice Clay is an extreme example but if you can stomach it many would say that he is funny. You don't have to go that low however. Just listen to just about any comedian today and, although he, or she, may make you laugh, just stop and listen carefully to what they are saying and you just may ask yourself if the words they are using are, in any respect 'wholesome,' the kind of words that scripture says should pass through your mouth.
And then there are the sitcoms. I hear, everyday, people discussing their favorite sitcom and begin to feel like maybe I am getting too old. The problem is that they may truly be funny but Solomon would say “So what?” Enjoying acts of sin just to get a laugh, at the end of the day, seems sad. Surely there are better ways to find something to laugh at then things that are simply vulgar. Solomon, as long ago as he wrote, still got it right. “And what does pleasure accomplish?”
He isn't saying that pleasure, or laughter is wrong, simply that they do not accomplish anything. "Like the crackling of thorns under the pot, so is the laughter of fools" (Ecclesiastes 7:6) The word amusement means 'to not think.' While we are being amused we are not thinking and not really accomplishing anything accept to pass the time much like getting drunk without the hangover.
Someone said that spending time enjoying a comedian, or a sitcom, helped them at a time when life had gotten very hard and without humor they didn't think that they could have survived. I understand exactly what they mean but, if you think about it, that is the argument some alcoholics use to justify getting drunk. It is as if God needed that to help them through the tough times. Solomon would object to that line of thinking. It really is more a lack of faith. To think that God's word and prayer need help to get us through life is a big mistake.
God is more powerful than that. He can minister to you almost directly through His amazing word. Now please, as I tried to state a while ago, don't think that Solomon, or I, are trying to say the laughter and pleasure are wrong, they aren't. What he is saying is that they are really non productive in terms of accomplishment and can almost become addictive and lead you to seek them at virtually any cost. Be careful here. Do not allow your mind to be filled with unwholesome thought. It may feel good at first but the end doesn't bring you any closer to God.
So have a good laugh. Learn to enjoy life. God desires that for you. Just be careful that you do not violate the teaching of scripture while you are chasing the good life. God wants you to love life. He wants you to be happy but He wants you to know real joy more. He wants your heart full of thoughts of Him so He can be the One you turn to when life gets hard, not some sitcom or dirty mouthed comedian.
I am praying that you can seriously live the good life. I am asking God to bless you beyond measure and that something that happens today will bring you closer to Him than ever before. God loves you and so do I. Thank you for reading Theo's Devos. These thoughts come from my heart to yours and have become the highlight of my week even if, like now, they are written in the middle of the night.
Take care and may God bless you and yours.
Theo
Dear Small Group Leader (or soon to be Facilitator)
Please allow everyone in your group to answer the Quick Question. It will get things started on the right foot, encouraging quieter ones to open up. Please do not require everyone to answer every question. They may not be ready to share yet. Also please allow at least 5-10 minutes at the end of your study so as many as would like to can respond to the REFLECTION question. This may be the most important time in your small group study. Thank You
SMALL GROUP BIBLE STUDY
Please Read: Ecclesiastes 2:1-11
QUICK QUESTION: What was something funny that made you laugh this week? (Be honest now)
What did Solomon think about chasing after happiness?
What did Solomon do to cheer himself?
What kind of things did Solomon do?
When can you get carried away with chasing after happiness?
What gives your life meaning?
What do you think God thinks about modern man's chasing after happiness?
REFLECTION: How can you prioritize your life to follow God's lead?
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