Getting knowledge is important but too much knowledge is not necessary. Solomon thought so 🤕

Desiring everything his heart desired was probably Solomon’s biggest undoing. Self control is necessary.

Solomon was DEFINITELY depressed when he wrote Ecclesiastes. He wrote Proverbs with guilt, regret and grief but it would appear that even though he knew his folly, he never really turned back to God cuz the tone in Ecclesiastes is so sad. He was still dropping gems though. More of a “if you don’t listen to me in Proverbs, Ecclesiastes is your reality at the end of your life”.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 Everybody has their lot in life and nobody gets through life unscathed. So, we are to take our scathing on the chin with the knowing and understanding that as far as the pendulum swings to one side, so it does to the other, but eventually it will reach a point of rest.

Eccl 4:9-12 is almost always referenced in the context of marriage, this trully applies but I also see it beyound marriage. We all need that one 'other', we aren't wired to go thru life and stuff alone. ...and the most beautiful part if that one 'other' knows God(third strand which is not easily broken). So for me intentional partnership with God and like mind(friend ,spouse) helps us to navigate thru life challenges safely

Solomon cautions us that focusing over material prosperity, continual productivity, or total intellectual control is a trap because life is uncertain, transient, and eventually ends in death. Instead of exhausting yourself trying to control everything or find a grand cosmic answer on your own, the lesson is to practice gratitude: find joy in the present moment, enjoy your food and drink, take satisfaction in your hard work, and accept that there is a divine timing to everything that is out of your hands.

Excl 1:18 -“ For with much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief”. Usually when we think that if only we have wisdom like Solomon, we would be much happier. Solomon however discovered something different. The more he understood the world , the more he saw things he couldn’t fix( injustice, evil, unfairness). Knowledge by itself doesn’t bring peace, you can know a lot and still feel empty. Real peace comes from knowing God and trusting Him even when we don’t have all the answers. In Eccl 2:11 “yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done.. everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind;nothing was gained under the sun”. Solomon in all his vast wealth should have felt fulfilled yet after having it all, he still felt empty. Many times we believe once we get that promotion, once we have more money, once we are married, once we have kids, then finally we would be happy. Unless we understand that there’s nothing in this world that can satisfy us except God, we will keep chasing vanity.

Eccl 2:24 Solomon admonishes us to enjoy the fruits of our labour and to him he believes its an act of God. Solomon talks about how people work so hard, deny themselves any good thing just to build wealth for people who never broke a sweat to enjoy when they die. He believes its also an act of vanity. It is so common today seeing alot if people so busy with their lives building wealth at the expense of their own personal health and happiness. We work so hard and yet cant even treat our bodies to the pleasant things of life. In chapter 4 he emphasises on partnership by telling us how two is betfer than one. Life is already too hard to be done alone and we all need someone to help us navigate this thing called life.