The Value of Pleasure

Rev. David Lee
George Silliman Activity Center, Newark, CA
09/19/2010
In today's passage the "Teacher" of Ecclesiastes explored the value of pleasure. As the most prosperous king of Israel he spared no expense and treated himself to everything his heart desired. He indulged in fine wine, beautiful architecture, the serenity of nature, the comforts of servants waiting on him hand and foot, the prestige of wealth and possessions, the beauty of art and thrilling entertainment, and the "delight" of love and sensual pleasure. He lived the "good life" better than anyone in the history of the Old Testament; but it was not enough. The "Teacher" does not say that pleasure is evil, or that pleasure is something we must earn by moral living, he says that it is empty. The Bible shows us the problem with the way we experience pleasure under the sun is that we settle for far too little. God alone provides the meaningful pleasure that satisfies our souls and he offers it as a gift of grace in Jesus.

Ecclesiastes 2:1-11
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