29

LESSON
3
*January 13-19
All That My Eyes
Desired
SABBATH AFTERNOON
Read for This Weeks Study: Prov. 3:13-28, Ecclesi-
astes 2.
Memory Text: For what has man for all his labor, and for the
striving of his heart with which he has toiled under the sun?
(Ecclesiastes 2:22, NKJV).
I have pursued, alas, philosophy,
Jurisprudence, and medicine,
And, help me God, theology,
With fervent zeal through thick and thin.
And here, poor fool, I stand once more,
No wiser than I was before.
Johann Goethe, Faust (New York: W. W. Norton, 2001), p. 12.
S
ounds as if Faust didnt find his pursuit of knowledge any more
satisfying than Solomon did. Even the study of theology, if not
done with a humble and seeking heart, leads nowhere.
And though Solomon, unlike Goethes Faust, didnt openly sell his
soul to the devil in pursuit of happiness and fulfillment, he might as
well have, considering how far he fell. Fortunately for Solomon, Jesus
stooped even lower, becoming sin for us (2 Cor. 5:21) in order that
He could lift even the lowest of us from the degradation of sin.
This week we pick up on more of Solomons words regarding this
general frustration with life; that is, a life lived apart from God. If we
heed his words carefully, there will be some valuable lessons for us.
Why make the same mistakes he did?
*Study this weeks lesson to prepare for Sabbath, January 20.
30
SUNDAY
January 14
Striving After Wind
Chapter 1 ended with Solomon bemoaning all the wisdom and
knowledge he had acquired over the years (Eccles. 1:16-18). For him
it all was meaningless, a striving after wind. How sad that he should
end up with these sentiments when the Bible more than once talked
about how people marveled at the wisdom of his earlier years (1 Kings
10:1-8; see also 1 Kings 4:29-34).
Compare the attitude of Solomon toward wisdom with the attitude
he displayed earlier, such as in Proverbs 3:13-26. What do you
think made the difference?
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
Solomon, old and bitter, had lost his way; hence, all the knowledge
and wisdom he acquired meant little to him. In contrast, the wisdom
he talks about in Proverbs is a wisdom centered on a knowledge of
God, the source of all true wisdom and knowledge. This point is
brought home even more powerfully when Solomon links knowledge
and understanding with God as the Creator (Prov. 3:19), which proves
again how the foundation of all knowledge and wisdom begins with
Him. Notice, too, that this wisdom isnt just abstract theological con-
cepts regarding the nature of God or the limits of omnipotence.
Instead, in these verses in Proverbs we can see a practical element.
True wisdom will be reflected in how we live our lives. Solomon, as
he lost his way, lost the true wisdom he once had, and he found,
instead, only the worldly kind, the kind under the sun. Hence, in his
mind it all became vain, meaningless, even a source of pain.
Thoughtheres a chapter break, a logical progression of thought flows
from the last verses of chapter 1 to the first few verses of chapter
2. Read Ecclesiastes 1:162:3. What is Solomon talking about
now?
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
How typical of human beings to go from one worldly pursuit to
another, all in a vain attempt to find happiness and fulfillment.
Whats been your own experience in trying to find worldly hap-
piness? Why does it never work? Why can it never work?
31
Learning Cycle
C O N T I N U E D
C O N T I N U E D
T E A C H E R S C O M M E N T S
I Have to Teach Tomorrow . . .
Key Text: Ecclesiastes 2:22
Teach the Class to:
Know: Worldly diversions are not the key.
Feel: Contentment in valuing the things of God over the things of the
world.
Do: Evaluate our aspirations and possessions in terms of their lasting or
eternal significance.
Lesson Outline:
I. The Search for Wisdom and Knowledge and Leaving a Legacy (Eccles.
1:16-18, 2:3)

Read Ecclesiastes 1:16. To whom was Solomon comparing himself?

Why is it dangerous to use others as a standard to measure ourselves?

Whether its scratching our initials in a batch of wet cement, putting

our signature on a work of art, or endowing a scholarship fund, most of us
want to leave a legacy for future generations. What legacy is most consis-
tent with Christian values? Why?
II. The Pitfalls of Pleasure (Eccles. 2:1, 2)

While God wishes for us to find joy in life, the never-ending quest for
pleasure reveals an imbalance that does not suit us for life in the real
world. Read Matthew 6:25-34. How does this passage relate to our search
for pleasure?

Jesus promised life to the full (John 10:10, NIV). What did He mean
by this, and how are we to obtain it?
Summary: In Jesus dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily (Col. 2:9). His
fullness ensures that we shall have life and have it more abundantly (John
10:10), both to will and to do of his good pleasure (Phil. 2:13).
Learning Cycle
STEP 1Motivate!
Just for Teachers: Step 1 of the Natural Learning Cycle links the
learners experiences to the lesson. Help your class members answer
the question, Why is this lesson important to me?
A
B
A
B
C O N T I N U E D
1
2
3
4
32
MONDAY
January 15
The Pleasure Principle
Solomon, finding wisdom a vain endeavor, goes after pleasure
instead. The constant search for pleasure is called hedonism. Most
people who are pleasure seekers are just looking for a good time.
Some people, however, truly believe that pleasure is the sum of all
good, and whatever is pleasurable is, therefore, also good.
Put yourself in the mind of someone who does not believe in God.
According to their thinking, if this life is all there is, if there is
nothing beyond it, if there is no moral law that we all are answer-
able to, then why not just kick back and enjoy yourself in any way
you please, even at the expense of others? What answer do you
have for someone like this?
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
Compare what Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes 2:1-3 with what he
wrote in Proverbs 6:23-29, 7:6-27, 20:1, 23:1-6. How is he, here in
Ecclesiastes, expressing the same sentiments that he wrote out
years earlier?
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
Theres something incredibly tricky about seeking pleasure just for
pleasures sake. For some reason, when we get it and even enjoy it,
sooner or later it doesnt satisfy. Sooner or later the pleasure loses
something, or we need more and more of it to reach the same level of
immediate satisfaction. Sooner or later we realize that theres much
more to life than just pleasure and that pleasure alone leaves us hol-
low, empty, dissatisfied. This is a lesson that Solomon learned for
himself the hard way.
Solomon is a man who, though once warning people about lust,
ended up with seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hun-
dred concubines (1 Kings 11:3); a guy who, though warning
against gluttony, eventually would feast like a pig (1 Kings 4:22,
23). How easy it is to fall! What lessons can you take away from
this fall that should serve as a warning to you?
33
T E A C H E R S C O M M E N T S
1
2
3
4
Anything I wanted, I took, and did not restrain myself from any joy,
Solomon reports in Ecclesiastes 2:10, TLB. What does that mean for us
today?
STEP 2Explore!
Just for Teachers: This step of the Natural Learning Cycle presents
information learners can use to help them better understand the les-
son. Help your class members answer this question: What do I need to
know from Gods Word?
Bible Commentary
I. Pleasure-Seeking Blowouts
Invite someone with The Revised English Bible to read Ecclesiastes 2:10.
Poor me, whines Solomon. I worked so hard that I thought I deserved
all this pleasure as my reward!
Consider This: What desires did Solomon gratify at the expense of
his subjects needs?
Suggested responses:
His lavish palace, supported by extreme taxation (Ellen G. White,
Prophets and Kings, p. 56)
Women, whose abuse deprived them of normal marriages (1 Kings 11:3)
Buildings by non-Hebrew slaves; his biddings by Hebrew servitude (The
SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 3, p. 1069)
Ever since the Fall, people have devised ways to live off the other mans
back! Note how quickly the cleverness began:
withholding of a fair wage (Gen. 31:7)
slavery (Exod. 1:13, 14)
charging unjust interest (Neh. 5:7)
devouring widows houses (Matt. 23:14)
robbing money (piously, for God!) set aside by
parents for their aged care (Mark 7:11)
overcharging (Luke 19:8)
C O N T I N U E D
Learning Cycle
C O N T I N U E D
Learning Cycle
C O N T I N U E D
1
2
3
4
34
TUESDAY
All That My Eyes Desired
One of the most famous, and successful, businessmen in American
history was Lee Iacocca, who ran the giant Chrysler Corporation for
many years. Toward the end of his life, he once said, Here I am in the
twilight years of my life, still wondering what its all about. . . . I can
tell you this, fame and fortune is for the birds.
Read Ecclesiastes 2:4-11. Whats the basic point of his message here?
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
Solomon gained a certain satisfaction from his material prosperity
(Eccles. 2:10) but, in the end, the satisfaction did not last, did not ful-
fill the most basic longings of his soul (vs. 11). If material possessions
could bring happiness, Solomon should have been the happiest person
in the world. As you read Ecclesiastes, you can see that these are not
the words of a happy man.
Read again Ecclesiastes 2:4-11. What things did Solomon acquire?
See also 1 Kings 7 and 1 Kings 10:10-29.
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
Why, though, with so much, was he still not happy?
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
All that Solomon had were physical things; all his physical desires
were satiated. Yet, as human beings, we are more than the sum of our
organs and flesh. Theres a spiritual, moral component to us that all the
physical things in the world cannot satisfy. Solomon was proof of that.
Its interesting, too, that even in the so-called developed world, in
which people have wealth and material prosperity, the levels of unhap-
piness and dissatisfaction with life are sometimes even higher than
nations in which the people have less.
Read Matthew 6:33. How could this great truth have solved
Solomons problem? What does the text say to you amid your
own temptations?
January 16
35
T E A C H E R S C O M M E N T S
1
2
3
4
C O N T I N U E D
Learning Cycle
C O N T I N U E D
II. Wisdom, Fools, and Folly
Solomon does not suffer fools gladly. In Ecclesiastes 2, he begins offering
definitions of fools:
Verse 14 Fools walk in [blind] darkness.
Verse 19 Fools are probably poor rulers.
(The teacher might here begin to build a cumulative list of all Solomons
upcoming fool descriptors over the quarter: Eccles. 4:5; 5:1, 3, 4; 6:8;
7:4-6, 9; 10:2, 3, 12, 14.)
In spite of his behavior and regrets, Solomon stops short of calling himself
a fool! Seven veiled references to folly in Ecclesiastes are as close as he
comes. Though Solomon publicly confessed, his book doesnt ring quite
like his father Davids I have sinned. Even in Solomons reference to an
old and foolish king, he stops short of naming himself (Eccles. 4:13).
Folly may indicate that which may lead to sin, without actually being
sinful in itself . . . Solomon sought these experiences . . . with a view to
learning by experience . . . but without allowing them to master him.
The SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 3, p. 1068.
This meaning is consistent with Solomons tale in chapter 2 verse 3: I
decided to try the road of drink, while still holding steadily to my course
of seeking wisdom (TLB).
Picture Solomon living on the edge, monitoring, knowing exactly
how much he could sip without getting drunk. Some other areas of his
folly, however, tell another story.
III. Turns on Life
Now, because Solomon is a king not in control, he turns into a king out of
control, hating life. Why? Where has he lost control?
First, Solomon has no power over death. In this, kings are treated no bet-
ter than fools! And who will even care? (See Eccles. 2:15, 16; 8:8.)
Consider This: Solomon knew about the resurrection. So why does he
not mention it? Why doesnt he mention hope?
Second, Solomon is reacting to having been told that, except for one tribe,
the kingdom will be rent from his line. How strange that, having just
acknowledged his own folly, he is raging that someonewho may just be
a foolwill get all that he has accomplished (Eccles. 1:18).
1
2
3
4
36
WEDNESDAY
The Fate of a Fool
Then I thought in my heart, The fate of the fool will overtake
me also. What then do I gain by being wise? I said in my heart,
This too is meaningless (Eccles. 2:15, NIV).
Solomon is having a hard time. All his wisdom, he believed, did him
no good. He then sought after pleasure and mirth and found it empty.
And then, even being perhaps the richest man in all antiquity didnt
satisfy the innermost needs of his soul. He found it all vanity and
striving after wind (vs. 11, NASB).
As if all these werent bad enough, it gets worse.
Read Ecclesiastes 2:12-17. What is he complaining about now? How
valid are his complaints? How can you, as a Christian, answer
him?
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
Jesus said something that in a close way relates to what Solomon is
saying here. Talking about the Father, Jesus said, He maketh his sun
to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on
the unjust (Matt. 5:45). In another place, after talking about some
Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices
(Luke 13:1), Jesus then said: Do you suppose that these Galileans
were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered
such things? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise
perish (Luke 13:2, 3, NKJV; see also verses 4, 5). In both these
places Jesus is talking about what seems obvious to all of us: that pain
and suffering arent just the lot of the wicked. The good suffer as well.
The difference is that Solomon, seeing this fact, believes that everything
we do is useless because we all, the fool and the wise, wind up dead.
Jesus, though, comes to a different conclusion: Unless you repent you
will all likewise perish (NKJV). Jesus was pointing them to some-
thing beyond the immediate fate of either the wicked or the just.
How does your faith in God help you deal with the nondis-
criminatory reach of death? What Bible promises offer you the
greatest hope in the context of the inevitability of the grave?
January 17
37
T E A C H E R S C O M M E N T S
1
2
3
4
C O N T I N U E D
Learning Cycle
C O N T I N U E D
Solomon knew that God Himself had named the kings successor. Had
it been Solomons own son, might Solomon have been calmed? Earthly
kings desire my son to inherit the kingship. Why does the earthly king
have a responsibility to regard my son equally as just one among all of
Gods children?
STEP 3Practice!
Just for Teachers: This step of the learning cycle will assist you in
helping your class members find the answer to the following question:
How can I practice the information I just learned?
Thought Questions:

A husband told his wife why he hadnt dated her roommate in acad-
emy: Because she didnt have any more self-control than I did. Do I lean
on someone who carries responsibility well so that I am freed up to live
the desirous life?

Like Solomonrisking his wisdom while cliff-teetering on the brink

of drinkin what area(s) of my life am I living on the edge?
Application Questions:

Consider that in lifes give-and-take, none of us get all of our needs

filled. We are fortunate to reach perhaps 80 percent. Indeed, the closer we
approach 100 percent, the more we drop meeting the needs of others
around us to, say, 60 percent.

Next, my desires appear! Do they come before others needs?

(Example: If the washing machine and television both quit in a financially
challenged home, which appliance would a sports addict get repaired first?)

Ask your class to conduct a family council at home to determine

which family needs are best met, which are lacking, and beyond that, what
desires are longed for. Suggest that the items be prioritized.
Witnessing
If we are guilty of unfair exchanges with people for pieces of (their) life
in the workplace/market, will those offended ever want to hear about our
faith in God?
11
2
2
1
3
4
38
THURSDAY January 18
Legacy
Solomon doesnt know when to give up. Its bad enough that all his
worldly pursuits came to nothing; its bad enough that everyone, the
wise and the fool, dies; but now hes complaining about what happens
even after he dies.
Read Ecclesiastes 2:17-26. Whats his complaint here?
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
Solomon does have a good point. People are concerned about their
legacy, whatever it is. How depressing to think that you work so hard
all your life to build up something, only to have someone come after
and bring it all to nothing. In one sense, too, his concern is kind of
ironic: After all, considering the life that Solomon lived after he
assumed the throne, one might wonder what his father David would
have thought about what Solomon did with what David had left him.
On the other hand, perhaps it was that very thought that got him think-
ing about what his heirs would do with their inheritance.
Read verses 24-26. What is Solomon saying now?
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
Though the texts themselves are difficult, Solomon seems to be say-
ing now, Well, since theres nothing I can do about what my heirs do,
I might as well live life well now. Hes not advocating licentiousness,
however (hes been there and done that already); instead, he seems to
be following the Bible idea that life, lived in harmony with Gods will,
can bring many earthly blessings that include physical enjoyment: He
causes the grass to grow for the cattle, and vegetation for the service
of man, that he may bring forth food from the earth, and wine that
makes glad the heart of man, oil to make his face shine, and bread
which strengthens mans heart (Ps. 104:14, 15, NKJV).
Youre an heir (Rom. 8:17, Gal. 3:29, 4:7), receiving from your
heavenly Father the greatest gift possible, salvation in Jesus
Christ (Heb. 9:28, 1 Pet. 1:5). What kind of daily choices are you
making to help ensure that you dont squander this legacy left
to you by God through the death of Jesus in your stead?
39
T E A C H E R S C O M M E N T S
4
Learning Cycle
C O N T I N U E D
Living-off-the-backs-of-others schemes in our day may involve even the
status quo laborer: involvement in pyramids, sharp investments, deceptive
contracts or sales (real estate, autos, etc.), abuse of time shares, frivolous
malpractice lawsuits, stockholders living off of our health-care insurance.
Also, The SDA Bible Commentary exegetes the eighth commandment
for CEOs (chief executive officers):
Employers steal when they withhold from their employees the benefits
they promised, or allow their wages to fall into arrears, or force them to
work overtime without proper remuneration, or deprive them of any other
consideration they have a reasonable right to expect.Vol. 1, p. 606.
What eventually happens to the earthly riches, those acquired by the
backs of others? One possibility comes from Last Day Events:
The earths crust will be rent by the outbursts of the elements con-
cealed in the bowels of the earth. These elements, once broken loose, will
sweep away the treasures of those who for years have been adding to their
wealth by securing large possessions at starvation prices from those in
their employ.Ellen G. White, Last Day Events, pp. 25, 26.
Consider This: In witnessing to the offended, can we point them to the
only One who will change extortion? (Read James 5:4 and Isaiah 62:8, 9.)
STEP 4Apply!
Just for Teachers: In this fourth and final step of the Natural
Learning Cycle, you will want to encourage class members to make a
life response to the lesson. Help them answer this question: With
Gods help, what can I do with what I have learned from this lesson?
Coming up empty was not copyrighted by Solomon: To minimize calo-
ries, a mother for years drank a white grape diet soda that boasted no caf-
feine, no sodium, no sugar. It sounded as user-healthy as it was enticing.
These claims intrigued her teenage daughter to read the listed ingredients.
The zero claims continued in the nutrition column: Protein-0,
Carbohydrates-0, Fat-0. And then she came to a number. Mom! she
squealed. The only thing in here is servings! See, right here: servings,
2.6! Just as the artificial sweetener will shortly make one thirsty for water
again, Amos and Paul knew all about empty servings as well. Invite some-
one to read Amos 8:11, 12 and 2 Timothy 3:5, 7.
Consider This: With his been there, done that warning, will you
open your heart to let Solomon beg you to Do as I say, not as I did?
Invite a class member to close with prayer.
40
FRIDAY
January 19
Further Study: Ellen G. White, Fundamentals of Christian
Education, p. 422; The Ministry of Healing, p. 364; Testimonies for
the Church, vol. 5, p. 258.
He [Solomon] gives us the history of his search for happiness. He
engaged in intellectual pursuits; he gratified his love for pleasure; he
carried out his schemes of commercial enterprise. He was surrounded
by the fascinating splendor of court life. . . .
Solomon sat upon a throne of ivory, the steps of which were of
solid gold, flanked by six golden lions. His eyes rested upon highly
cultivated and beautiful gardens just before him. These grounds were
visions of loveliness. . . . Birds of every variety of brilliant plumage
flitted from tree to tree, making the air vocal with sweet songs.
Youthful attendants, gorgeously dressed and decorated, waited to obey
his slightest wish. Scenes of revelry, music, sports, and games were
arranged for his diversion at an extravagant expenditure of money.
But . . . Dissipation had left its impress upon his once fair and
intellectual face. . . . His brow was furrowed with care and unhappi-
ness. . . .
His shattered nerves and wasted frame showed the result of violat-
ing Natures laws. He confessed to a wasted life, an unsuccessful
chase after happiness.Ellen G. White, My Life Today, p. 167.
Discussion Questions:
G A university professor once remarked to a Seventh-day
Adventist student, I dont need your Jesus. I am famous, I have
a good home, I have a good job. What do you have that I dont
have? As a class, discuss what you would answer.
G As a class, talk about some modern-day Solomon, some rich
and famous person seeming to have it all who, in the end, reveals
just how miserable his or her life has been. What lessons can you
learn?
G Talk about your own experiences with desiring worldly things,
only to get them and realize that, in the end, they didnt give you
the happiness and satisfaction that you had expected. What
advice might you give to some young person who is in hot pursuit
of riches?
1
2
3
1
2
3