The Failure of Pleasure

Solomon approached pleasure with the same dedication he once devoted to wisdom. He didn't just dabble; he indulged with discipline, resources, and restraint, carefully observing if joy could support the soul where wisdom had fallen short. Ultimately, it could not.

Laughter distracted but did not heal. Wealth accumulated but did not endure. Achievement satisfied for a moment, then turned hollow in the hand. Even wisdom, though better than folly, collapsed under the same final weight: death.

Ecclesiastes 2 reveals a truth that modern men often resist: pleasure alone cannot sustain meaning. When joy is pursued as the ultimate goal instead of a gift, it undermines judgment and leaves a man restless, surrounded by abundance but lacking purpose.

Solomon does not criticize work or enjoyment itself; instead, he removes the illusion that either can substitute for God. The foundation is being prepared for something more solid to be established.