Paths of Disappointment # 4

Paths of Disappointment # 4

Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging; and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise" (Proverbs 20:1).

But Solomon traveled another path of disappointment, finding not the joy and peace his heart craved. It was:

III. The Path of Wealth

"Moreover the profit of the earth is for all; the king himself is served by the field. He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase; this is also vanity. When goods increase, they are increased that eat them; and what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes?

The sleep of the laboring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much; but the abundance of the rich man will not suffer him to sleep. There is sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely: riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt. But those riches perish by evil travail; and he begetteth a son, and there is nothing in his hand" (Ecclesiastes 5:9-15).

In these striking words we see that he found the path of riches a disappointing path also. Finding bitterness in the path of wine, finding no peace in human wisdom alone, he turned to the path of riches, hoping therein to find the joy and the peace the human heart needs.

"Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred threescore and six talents of gold" (1 Kings 10:14).

"and Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth for riches and for wisdom" (1 Kings 10:23).

Yes, gifts poured into his coffers in a continuous stream so that he was able to hire men singers and women singers able to build himself and his wives gorgeous palaces - able to enjoy all that money could provide. He was able at any time to pay a king's ransom for a day of pleasure. He had riches till the end of his life. He never knew the pinch of poverty - never knew any anxiety about his daily bread. Yet, even in the security of his nest of wealth, he fully realized the futility of their values. "Vanity of vanities!"

No man can buy a contented heart. Money is powerless to furnish this. No man can purchase with riches a soul at peace with God. No man can pay in money the price of the hope of immortality and of a meeting in the Great Beyond. No man can find it in riches the purchase price of God's favor or the realization of eternal salvation. 

Disappointed in these three paths, Solomon turned to:

IV. The Path of Works

Wisdom, the many things he knew, brought him not to the house of abiding happiness...brought him not that joy which is ever rich and abiding. Wine turned out to be a mocker, as it always does - mocking him with the shadow instead of the substance of good things, mocking him with the desert where it promised an oasis.

And wealth had no power to satisfy. Amid all his abundance there was a lack - something that rested not and was not still, something that hungered and was not fed, something that was thirsty and found no satisfaction. Solomon built palaces. Solomon established great public works. Solomon increased the size and magnificence of his city. Solomon transported forests. He did mighty things in the matter of building cities and other great public works. But when he had finished all his great works he looked out upon them and cried, "Vanity of vanities!"

Which, moreover, brings us the willingness to obey the exhortation given in 1 Corinthians 15:58, namely: "Therefore my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord."

But another disappointment Solomon trod. It was, we may term it:

V. The Path of Women

When Solomon found disappointment in the path of wisdom, in the path of wine, in the path of wealth, in the path of great works of construction, he turned to seek happiness with women. With much wisdom given him, he played the fool with women. With much opportunity to do good, he delighted himself in indulgence with women. With the power to command and to persuade, with the whole world from which to choose, with wealth that was enticing, he strove to delight his heart with women.

"But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites; of the nations concerning which the Lord said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you; for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love. And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart..." (1 Kings 11:1-8).

~Robert G. Lee~

(continued with # 5)