Ecclesiastes 2:17 says, Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit.  Solomon seemingly had it all, but nothing brought satisfaction.  Wisdom didn't, nor did his works.  When we look at our lives, we may feel that if we can just learn a little more, or accomplish a little more, that we will finally have fulfilled our purpose.  Solomon found this not to be true, and so will we.  Verse eighteen says, Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me.  Solomon hated the business of this world, which was his labor under the sun.  Whatever he accomplished was going to be left to another to care for or benefit from.  The same is true today.  We realize that whatever we accomplish or attain in this life is going to be left to another, or at the return of Christ, just left period.  We should not allow the things of this world to cause us to feel frustrated.  All things under the sun, or of this world as we would say, are temporary. In verse nineteen Solomon continues,  And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun. This is also vanity.   Solomon said he had no way of knowing how those that would benefit from his labor would use what he had acquired.  That much we can be sure of.  The things of this world are no longer ours once we die.  If we are looking to them to bring everlasting purpose to life, we are going to be disappointed.  We may be happy to leave a lot to our children, but if everything we worked for was of the world and not for God's kingdom, we will be disappointed, and so will they if they do the same.  Verse twenty says, Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour which I took under the sun. Solomon was very unhappy in his quest for purpose in life, and so will we be if we look to the things of the world for happiness without following God's plan for our life.

Ecclesiastes 2:14 says, The wise man’s eyes are in his head; but the fool walketh in darkness: and I myself perceived also that one event happeneth to them all.  I believe Solomon was saying that God gives us light to walk by, if we are willing to look to Him.  Those who will not follow God are find themselves wandering around in the darkness.  We as followers of Christ have been given the Holy Spirit to guide our steps and light our path, and if we refuse to allow Him to do so, we are indeed foolish.  We will never find happiness in the darkness of sin.  Whether wise or foolish, though, ultimately death comes to both.  Verse fifteen says, Then said I in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool, so it happeneth even to me; and why was I then more wise? Then I said in my heart, that this also is vanity.  Solomon seemed to be questioning what advantage there was to living in wisdom when both the wise and foolish die.  If we look at life as being only this time on earth, that might be a valid observation, but we know we have life everlasting and God expects us to use our time here wisely.  We cannot live life as though everything here is all that matters.  Verse sixteen says, For there is no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool for ever; seeing that which now is in the days to come shall all be forgotten. And how dieth the wise man? as the fool.  We may remember a few people throughout history for things that they did, whether good or bad, but for the most part, we soon pass into oblivion in the eyes of the world once we die.  As followers of Christ, though, we can be certain that we will never be forgotten by Him.  He gives us light and purpose in this world and everlasting life in the one to come, if we only accept it.

Ecclesiastes 2:11 says, Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.  Even if we enjoy out labor completely, one day that labor will end, even if we work until we die.  Everything we do in this world will pass away also.  If all our hope is in the things of this world, but we of all men, like Paul said, are most miserable.  We, like Solomon, need to understand that there really is no profit to anything under the sun not done in accordance with God's will.  One day, we will leave all this behind and will go to God with the good works we sent before.  The main thing that will matter is not silver and gold, but being in the presence of God.  Verse twelve says, And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly: for what can the man do that cometh after the king? even that which hath been already done.  Solomon was again reflecting on the wisdom and folly he had tried to gain purpose thorough, and asked what man who came after Him could do more.  There are many rich people in the world today who seem to think that they can find happiness through engaging totally in the riches, wisdom and center entertainment of this world.  They never are really satisfied, though. We, as followers of Christ cannot live the same way.  If Solomon, with all his riches could not find happiness through them, how can we expect to?  Verse thirteen continues, Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness.  Hopefully we will be as smart as Solomon and choose wisdom over folly, but when we look at what is going on in the world today, I am not sure that most people do.  We don't have to walk in the darkness be Jesus gives us light for our path.  We simply have to follow in His wisdom and light.

Ecclesiastes 2:7 says, I got me servants and maidens, and had servants born in my house; also I had great possessions of great and small cattle above all that were in Jerusalem before me:  Solomon was not just a newly rich person.  He not only had servants, but he had them born in his house.  As King of Israel, he was called to lead the people of God, not shear them like sheep for his own pleasure.   We need leaders today, especially religious leaders, who are more interested in even the lowest of people, and not just Christians, than they are of their own personal wealth.  Solomon had more cattle than anyone in Jerusalem before him.  There is no doubt that he was a very rich man, but he was also very dissatisfied.  Verse eight says, I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces: I gat me men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, as musical instruments, and that of all sorts.  Solomon was still looking for purpose in life, and now he looked to silver, gold, treasures, and entertainment.  Amassing treasures and looking to be entertained was not what Solomon was supposed to be doing.  He was supposed caring for God's people.  God's work must come first in all that we do. Verse nine says, So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me. today are the same.  We can never hope to be as rich as Solomon, but through it all, his wisdom remained with Him.  He wasn't acting without considering what he was doing.  God gives us the wisdom to know what we should do, and also the wisdom to know when what we are doing is not right.  Verse ten says, And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour.  Anything Solomon wanted, he got.  He felt this was his right, but his people did not fare as well.  Again, God does not bless us for our own selfish desires, but to help us reach the lost world.

Ecclesiastes 2:4 says, I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards:  Solomon thought using his riches for his own benefit would bring him a sense of purpose.  He had first built a great Temple to God, but now he was building for himself.  We must be careful that we don't start building for God's glory and then get sidetracked to build only for ourselves.  Often today, people feel that if they can get a bigger, or better, house, or just more of them, it is going to bring happiness and purpose to life, but nothing is ever quite enough.  I am not sure how God feels about homes sitting empty for our occasional use while many people, even children, are homeless, but I cannot believe that He is pleased with His followers when we live this way.  If Solomon could not find purpose in building homes for himself, we should realize that we have little hope of doing it.  Verse five says, I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all kind of fruits:  In verse four Solomon said he had planted vineyards and here he continues with gardens and orchards.  There is certainly nothing wrong with doing these things, but they are not going to bring us to the purpose of our existence.  I think Solomon actually had I others do these things for Him, and they likely didn't enjoy the majority of the fruit of their labor.  Solomon continues in verse six, I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees: Again, the works that Solomon was doing were good, but they were being done for the wrong reason.  We certainly need to do good works today, but if they are done for simply to bring satisfaction in life, ultimately we are going to find ourselves dissatisfied.  We may do good things for the environment, but if we are only doing it for purpose in life, ultimately we will be disappointed.  We will find like Solomon, that good works alone are never enough if they are done for selfish reasons.

Ecclesiastes 2:14 says, The wise man’s eyes are in his head; but the fool walketh in darkness: and I myself perceived also that one event happeneth to them all.  I believe Solomon was saying that a wise person looks where they are going and lives life with purpose, but the fool just stumbles through life.  We today as followers of Christ need to live our with purpose.  That purpose needs to be to go where God leads us.  Still, even when we live life with a purpose, we like the fool are subjected to sickness, and ultimately death.  Solomon continued in verse fifteen, Then said I in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool, so it happeneth even to me; and why was I then more wise? Then I said in my heart, that this also is vanity.  Again, Solomon was looking for purpose in life, and he was seemingly questioning what advantage there was to being wise.  There are people today who believe that what we do doesn't matter.  They believe that everything is already mapped out, so we might as well do anything we want to do.  They really see no advantage to living life wisely.  They seem to feel the same as Solomon was saying, and that is that the wise and the foolish end up at the same place.  They both die, and it all amounts to nothing in everlasting terms.  Verse sixteen says, For there is no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool for ever; seeing that which now is in the days to come shall all be forgotten. And how dieth the wise man? as the fool.  Solomon was looking for purpose in life, and he wasn't finding it in the things of this world.  We may remember some people today because of what they did in a historical perspective, but most, whether wise or foolish, pass into oblivion, which is why we must look at life from our relationship with God.  If we are His, we will never be forgotten.

Ecclesiastes 2:1 says, I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity.  Solomon moved from an intellectual pursuit for happiness to becoming a party animal, so to speak.  When we are seemingly unable to find happiness in our lives today, we are often told we just need to get out and party with others more.  We need to laugh and enjoy life.  Now, there is nothing wrong with going out with friends and having a good time laughing, but if this becomes our soul purpose in life, it is going to leave us feeling that life is nothing of value.  We today start at a very young age looking for things to bring us pleasure and happiness and often spend most of our lives doing the same.  Solomon with all his riches couldn't find value in chasing happiness.  Verse two says, I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it?  Trying to live in a world that is all laughter is indeed mad.  As a matter of fact, if we go through life laughing at everything, or in spite of everything, people will indeed call us mad.  Verse three says, I sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting mine heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was that good for the sons of men, which they should do under the heaven all the days of their life.  Though Solomon sought to give himself to wine, he did it with wisdom.  Even when using wine to find answers to see what was good for mankind, he did it with wisdom.  Too often, when we are using wine, or any other mind altering substance, we leave wisdom out of the equation.  We use these things as a means of escape from reality, not to understand the world better.  Even though some drugs are professed to be mind expanding, they simply remove a person from reality.  Solomon, though King of God's people, was still looking to himself for answers about man's purpose.  We will never find God's answer by our own abilities.