In Ecclesiastes, chapter two, verses one through eleven, Solomon relates how he tried pleasure, wealth, and cultural delights in an effort to find fulfillment and the good life. Yet these things did not result in true happiness – life was still void of satisfaction, as in verse eleven, “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.” We can only find peace, fulfillment, and joy if we look for our happiness in God and His will.
The theme verses fall under the heading “Vanity of pleasure and wealth” section, where Solomon is an example that expresses the accomplishments he achieved and experienced, but did not satisfy. In verse three, “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.”
In verses four to six, Solomon expresses the projects he has built. While in verse seven, he mentions servants and maidens, and in verse eight, silver and gold, and other treasures. “Solomon continues in verse nine, “So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me.” 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.”
However, in all this, Solomon did not draw closer to God but further away from Him. Fed flesh more than spirit.