Pointless: Will I Ever Be Content?

“I am about to go the way of all the earth,” he said. “So be strong, show yourself a man, and observe what the Lord your God requires: Walk in his ways, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and requirements, as written in the law of Moses, so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go.”

I thought in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure to find out what is good.” But that also proved to be meaningless. “Laughter,” I said, “is foolish.”

I tried cheering myself with wine, and embracing folly—my mind still guiding me with wisdom.

I wanted to see what was worthwhile for men to do under heaven during the few days of their lives. I undertook great projects: I built houses from myself, planted vineyards. I made gardens and parks and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. I made reservoirs to water groves of flourishing trees.

My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor. Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

I bought male and female slaves and had other slaves who were born in my house.

I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure.

“Show yourself a man, and observe what the Lord your God requires: Walk in his ways, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and requirements, as written in the law of Moses, so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go.”

Remember your Creator in the days of your youth.

“What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?”