Browse Bible Study Resources

Daily Devotions

Ecclesiastes

Ecclesiastes 
Day 
Day 12

"I will test you with mirth"

Text: Ecclesiastes 2:1

MEANING OF LIFE IN MIRTH AND PLEASURE

The Preacher’s quest was to find why Man was placed on earth. Why was he born? What is the meaning of his existence?

“I said in my heart,
‘Come now, I will test you with mirth; therefore enjoy pleasure’;
but surely, this also was vanity.
I said of laughter—’Madness!’;
and of mirth, ‘What does it accomplish?'”
Ecclesiastes 2:1-2

1. “I said in my heart, ‘Come now, I will test you with mirth'”

a) Establishing a checking system
i) The Preacher devised a system of checking.
ii) He used his “heart” to check his findings.
iii) The word “heart” is not a reference to the literal organ in the chest.
iv) It refers to his inner being.
b) Is the answer to be found in “mirth?”
i) Mirth represents happiness.
ii) Man deserves to find some measure of happiness in life.
iii) But not all can find happiness in life.

2. “Therefore enjoy pleasure”

a) Some think that Mirth is just Pleasure.
b) Pleasure should be sought as a major goal of life.
c) If a person can find mirth and pleasure, has he found the ultimate meaning of life?

3. “But surely, this also was vanity”

a) The pursuit of mirth and pleasure did not yield the desired result.
b) There would be many who cannot find mirth or pleasure.
c) But what about those who can find mirth and pleasure?
i) Mirth and pleasure are not lasting things.
ii) At best, there may be moments of happiness (mirth) or pleasure.
iii) But fades away all too quickly.

4. “I said of laughter—’Madness!'”

a) “Laughter”
i) It is a natural response that expresses enjoyment.
ii) This is not wrong in itself.
b) “Madness”
i) The Preacher could not find depth.
ii) He could not find meaning.
iii) He concluded with this word “Madness!”

5. “And of mirth, ‘What does it accomplish?'”

a) This was like a merry-go-round.
b) He came back to the idea of “mirth” again.
c) What did mirth really accomplish?
d) The answer was in the negative!

The answer is not to be found in the pursuit of mirth and pleasure. The quest for the meaning of life must go on!