“I said in my heart, ‘Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy yourself.’ But behold, this also was vanity…. I searched with my heart how to cheer my body with wine—my heart still guiding me with wisdom—and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was good for the children of man to do under heaven during the few days of their life.” (Ecclesiastes 2:1-3)
For many people today, alcohol is where they look for meaning. This hedonistic (pleasure seeking) philosophy is nothing new. It can be summarised with the motto ‘let’s eat, drink, and be merry, because tomorrow we die!’.
The problem with seeking meaning in happiness/pleasure/substances/addictions that make us feel good is that those idolised things are only going to disappoint. There’s not necessarily anything wrong with happiness and pleasure, or even wine. But if we’re looking for satisfaction in those things, they will only disappoint.
Solomon may have hoped to find meaning in getting drunk and forgetting his woes, but he will have only woken up with the added woe of a hangover!
God isn’t against us ‘having a good time’, but not at the expense of getting drunk and losing control of ourselves.
‘God Almighty, please forgive us for focusing on our own personal happiness and pleasure rather than upon Your honour. In Jesus’ glorious name we pray, amen.’