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传道书［第2章|Book of Ecclesiastes 2

【人生如何不虚空？】

主讲: 陈惠菁传道

08/02/2022

引言：日光之下的追求

弟兄姐妹，不知道大家读传道书，会不会用一种对人生感到悲观、无奈和绝望的感觉？我们知道这是所罗门经历了人生的起伏高低、甜酸苦辣，步入老年后，回顾一生所经历而写下的结论，用以劝诫兒孫和百姓。当所罗门写传道书时，对自己的一生有许多的失望和懊悔。他发现一生在日光之下的追求，因把焦点放错了，所以导致无法挽回的遗憾，导致一生所谋的都落入虚空。到底人生要如何才能活得不虚空？日光之下的福乐又当如何追求，才不会归为虚空呢？

一、追求物欲是虚空（V1-11）

1.肉体宴乐是虚空（V1-3）

嬉笑 = 指表面上的快乐。喜乐 = 指有节制的欢愉。

所罗门一生在王宫里，无论哪一种吃喝和宴乐，想必都尝尽了嬉笑和喜乐。他甚至试过一边让肉体尽情享乐，另一边却在心灵里使用理性控制自己，有节制的欢愉，想要以此让自己得着满足，但最终发现心灵依然落入虚空。

多少人夜夜笙歌，灯红酒绿，为的是使肉体满足喜乐。但是酒醒过后，或是夜深人静时，就会发现原来心灵深处是何等的虚空。多少年轻人，因沉浸在娱乐场所、夜店，因为醉酒而被侵犯成了未婚妈妈。也有因为这样染上毒瘾、被诱惑去贩毒的，比比皆是。即使不是这样，也有因为大吃大喝导致弄坏身体，把肝脏当掉，吃出‘三高’的也不少。

因此，人若想透过吃喝玩乐来满足肉体而得着喜乐，最后将会是虚空的。

2.家财万贯也虚空（V4-8）

接着，V4-8所罗门回想过去的年日，自己如何大兴土木，建造房屋，栽种葡萄园、积蓄财宝、上千妃嫔的事。的确所罗门享尽了人生的荣华富贵，他的皇朝也是以色列最富有的王朝之一。胜过以前在耶路撒冷众人所有的。但从圣经的记载，我们知道这些妃嫔，最终带给他的是离弃神，敬拜偶像，所以也是虚空。

自古以来，多少家财万贯的富豪，赚得人生一桶又一桶的金，得着生活中所需的一切，大房子、各种名牌大房车，三妻四妾，要什么有什么。但他们就一定幸福快乐吗？每天徘徊在妻妾的争风吃醋中、子孙为家产的尔虞我诈中。试问这样的人生，有什么喜乐可言？当然到头来还是虚空。在这两年的疫情使许多家财万贯的人破产，有些因为承受不了而自杀。

3.名利地位更虚空（V9-11）

这里提到所罗门的辉煌时刻，财富与日俱增，胜过以前在耶路撒冷的众人。外在的快乐和精神的享受，他都经历过了。并且事业的成功的确也让他乐在其中。但这些快乐和满足却随着时间的流逝，迅速消褪。因此他最后的结论是，日光之下所有从物欲得到的满足都无法持久，包挂名利地位。

许多人一生追求名利地位，在职场上叱咤风云，得到了想要的一切，却仍然无法填补心灵的虚空。因此我们看到许多人会穷极一生，劳劳碌碌为得更高的名利地位奔波。但当人归入尘土后，一切都画上句号。有多少人的名还会被人纪念呢？因此，如果我们把名利地位作为生命的追求目标，到头来肯定也会失望。

再说，多少女子以物质的享受为人生追求的目标，为了名牌包包、钓金龟婿，但她们真的快乐满足吗？其实不然。现实生活里，多少人为了赚更多钱、拥有上好的物质享受，失去了自由、失去了自尊、出卖肉体等。到了人老珠黄时，回头看自己的一生，留下的只是许多的悔恨和悲惨，尽都虚空。

小结：

所罗门透过肉体享乐、产业和财宝、还有名利地位来追求满足，但这一切都不能为他带来持久的满足。

难道人在世上活着，就不可以有物质上的享受吗？不应该渴望事业有成、有家业、过富足的人生吗？

绝对不是！大地是神为人类所造的，其上的一切福乐都是神要让人去享受的。但就如路加福音所说的：一个人就是赚得了全世界，却丧失了自己，或赔上了自己，到底有什么益处呢？人对物质享受当有的态度既不是贪得无厌、也不是及时行乐。更不是以此为人生的终极目标。要知道一切祝福都来自神，所以当以感恩和知足的心去领受，并用先神后人再大地法则去追求神所赐的福，那人的心灵就必得满足。

二、依靠智慧也捕风（V12-23）

所罗门得到了喜乐和享受都是虚空的结论后，转念观看智慧、狂妄，和愚昧。而他得到的结论是，在日光之下的智慧、狂妄、愚昧都和享乐看起来好像不同，但结局都是一样。因为依靠智慧也是捕风，都不能满足人的心灵。因为智慧和愚昧的人同样都必死。

1.智慧愚昧都必死（V12-17）

所罗门虽看出智慧胜过愚昧，如同光明胜过黑暗。但却明白到两等人的结局都一样，就是都会死。死后也不会被人纪念。因此心里说，这也是虚空。

其实，智慧是不可或缺的，因为智慧能为我们的生命作出诊断，让我们可以减少人生道路上的出错，少走冤枉路。不过智慧不是药方，它无法医治虚空这疾病。所以人不能依赖智慧成为终极资源。没有人能靠智慧掌握人生，免去肉体的死亡。

最近我的一个组员就和我分享神透过传道书光照她里面还有许多的骄傲。她说一直以来都觉得自己还算有智慧聪明的，所以有后时候看到一些人对一些教导或问题处理不知所措时，她心里就会有意念觉得，为什么这么简单都不会。神让她看到所罗门王，圣经称他为最有智慧的人，到最后都能落得如此失望和懊悔的地步，更何况是她这小小的聪明智慧呢？人其实只要一刻离开神，不小心就会掉入恶者的圈套，行出愚昧人的事，所以没有可夸的。

我们看所罗门，聪明反被聪明误。以为娶周围外邦的公主可以巩固他的国位，最终却败在自己的智慧中。

3.劳碌所得带不走（V18-23）

这里所罗门再提到，他靠智慧劳碌所得的一切，也将会是虚空。因为死亡将终止人所有的雄心和梦想，人在日光之下所劳碌、辛苦得来的，不能永远属于自己，而要留给未曾劳碌的人享受。

人生短短，人的享受是有限的，一个人只有一双脚，一个身体。出门一趟能穿几双鞋，几件衣服呢？一个人能坐几辆车，住几间屋子呢？也有许多为了要儿女有好日子过，一生劳碌、忙于工作而忽略教养孩子，最后劳碌所得的都让孩子败光。

我的一个妹妹其实已经很有钱了，但还是不停的为孩子劳碌。买房子、买车、买地，为他们的将来预备。但是却把自己的身体搞到要垮了。常常为赚多点钱而愁烦，连夜间心也不安，并且失眠。

因此，人在日光之下的劳碌，过程的快乐和成功的兴奋都是短暂的，不但不能让人在过程中得着满足，反而让人身心疲惫。除非我们把所劳碌的都转到日光之上。

总结：为神而活不虚空（V24-26）

‘谁能胜过我呢？’按原文翻译是‘离开祂，谁能有呢？’意思指在神以外，人没有真实的吃喝享福。

所罗门之所以觉得生命的意义都是虚空，是因为他的眼光很狭窄，把视野都定睛在‘日光之下’，在乎属世的各种寻求。但当他把眼目定睛在‘日光之上’时，就发现人生不但有神所命定的永恒蒙福结局，而且在世活着也能享有神的赐福和丰盛。

弟兄姐妹，人生只能活一次，昨天已经过去，不能重来。生命活着的意义何在？到老了才来发现错过今生，实在很可悲。所以，让我们透过今天的经文，再次把我们的视野对准日光之上的神，从神的眼光来看人生，以永恒的角度来活出今生，叫我们的一生所做的都不会落入虚空！

Ecclesiastes 2: The Pursue Under the Sun
GK611 Morning Devotion
8/2/2022
Speaker: IP Deborah Tan

Introduction: The Pursue Under the Sun

Brothers and sisters, I wonder if you read the book of Ecclesiastes with a feeling of pessimism, hopelessness and despair about life? We know that this is Solomon's conclusion after he experienced the ups and downs, the sweet and sour, and the bitterness of life, and after he entered his old age, he looked back on what he had experienced in his life and wrote it to admonish his children and his people. I can easily find that when Solomon wrote his Ecclesiastes, he had many disappointments and remorse about his life. He found that his life's pursuit under the sun had led to irrevocable regrets because he had misplaced his focus, resulting in all that he had sought in his life falling into vain. How can we live a life that is not in vain? How can we pursue the blessings of the daylight so that they will not be in vain?

1. The Pursuit of Material Desires is Emptiness (v1-11)

（1）Physical feasting is emptiness (v1-3)

Jocular = refers to superficial joy. Joy = refers to restrained merriment

Solomon's life in the king's palace must have been full of laughter and joy, no matter what kind of food, drink, and feasting. He even tried to satisfy himself by letting his flesh enjoy itself while using reason to control himself in his mind, and by having restrained pleasure, but in the end he found that his mind still fell into emptiness.

Many people sing night and day, and have a good time, in order to make the body satisfied and happy. But after sobering up, or in the dead of night, you will find out how empty the heart is. Many young people have become unwed mothers as a result of drunkenness in entertainment venues and nightclubs. There are also those who are addicted to drugs and tempted to drug trafficking because of this, abound. Even if this is not the case, there are also a lot of people who have gotten bad health because of eating and drinking, pawned off their liver and ate the three highs.

Therefore, if a person tries to gain joy by eating, drinking and playing to satisfy the flesh, he will end up in emptiness.

(2) All the wealth of his house was in vain (v4-8)

Then, in v4-8, Solomon recalls the past years, how he built houses, planted vineyards, accumulated treasures, and thousands of concubines. Indeed Solomon had enjoyed all the glory and wealth of life, and his dynasty was one of the richest in Israel. It was more than all the people in Jerusalem had before. But we know from the biblical account that these concubines, in the end, brought him to turn away from God and worship idols, and so also to be in vain.

Since ancient times, many wealthy people have earned buckets and buckets of gold, and have everything they need in life, big houses, big cars, three wives and four concubines, whatever they want. But are they necessarily happy? Every day wandering in the jealousy of wives and concubines, children and grandchildren for the family assets of the fraud. What joy is there in such a life? In the end, of course, it is still empty. In the past two years, the epidemic has bankrupted many people who have a lot of money, and some of them committed suicide because they could not bear it.

(3) Fame and position are more vain (v9-11)

Here is mentioned the glorious moment of Solomon, when his wealth increased day by day, more than all those who were before him in Jerusalem. He had experienced both external pleasures and spiritual enjoyment. And the success of his business did make him happy. But these pleasures and satisfactions faded quickly with the passage of time. So his final conclusion was that all materialistic satisfaction under the sun cannot last, including fame and status.

Many people spend their lives in pursuit of fame and status, and they get everything they want in the workplace, but they still can't fill the emptiness in their hearts. So we see that many people will spend their lives working hard to get higher fame and status. But when people return to the dust, everything comes to an end. How many people's names will still be remembered? Therefore, if we make fame and status the goal of our lives, we will surely be disappointed in the end.

Besides, how many women take material enjoyment as the goal of life, in order to brand-name bags, to catch a golden son-in-law, but are they really happy and satisfied? In fact, they are not. In reality, how many people have lost their freedom, lost their self-esteem, sold their bodies, etc. in order to earn more money and have good material enjoyment. When they get old, they look back on their lives and are left with a lot of regret and misery, all in vain.

Summary:

Solomon sought satisfaction through carnal pleasures, possessions and treasures, and fame and position, but none of these brought him lasting satisfaction.

Is it not possible for a man to live in the world and have material pleasures? Shouldn't one desire to have a successful career, a home, and a rich life?

Absolutely not! The earth was created by God for mankind, and all the blessings on it were intended by God to be enjoyed by man. But, as Luke says: What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, but lose himself or lose himself?

The attitude one should have toward material enjoyment is neither insatiable nor timely. Nor is it the ultimate goal of life. We should know that all blessings come from God, so we should receive them with gratitude and contentment, and pursue God's blessings with the law of God before man, and then we will be satisfied in our hearts.

2. Relying on Wisdom also Catches the Wind (v12-23)

Having come to the conclusion that joy and enjoyment are vanity, Solomon turned his mind to watch wisdom, arrogance, and foolishness. And he came to the conclusion that wisdom, arrogance, and foolishness under the sun are all the same as enjoyment, which seem to be different, but have the same end. For to rely on wisdom is also to catch the wind, and none of them can satisfy the mind of man. For the wise and the foolish alike shall die.

(1) Both the wise and foolish will die (v12-17)

Solomon saw that wisdom is better than foolishness, as light is better than darkness. But he understood that the end is the same for both, that is, they will both die. And after death they will not be remembered. Therefore, he said in his heart, "This too is vanity.

In fact, wisdom is indispensable, because it can diagnose our life, so that we can reduce the mistakes on the road of life and take less wrongful paths. But wisdom is not a remedy, it cannot cure the disease of emptiness. Therefore, one cannot rely on wisdom to be the ultimate resource. No one can master life by wisdom and be spared from physical death.

One of my group members recently shared with me that God had illuminated a lot of pride in her through Ecclesiastes. She said that she had always thought she was wise and intelligent, so sometimes when she saw people who were overwhelmed by some teaching or problems, she would think to herself, "Why can't I do something so simple? God showed her that King Solomon, whom the Bible calls the wisest of men, could end up in such a state of disappointment and remorse, let alone her little wisdom and intelligence. In fact, if a person leaves God for a moment, he will fall into the trap of hunger and do the deeds of a foolish man, so there is nothing to boast about.

Let us look at Solomon, who was so wise that he was mistaken for a wise man. He thought he could consolidate his kingdom by going around the foreign princesses, but in the end he lost in his own wisdom.

(2) The proceeds of toil cannot be carried away (v18-23)

Here Solomon mentions again that all that he has gained by wise toil will also be in vain. For death will put an end to all man's ambitions and dreams, and what man has labored and toiled for under the sun will not be his own forever, but will be left for the enjoyment of those who have not labored.

Life is short, and one's enjoyment is limited; one has only one pair of feet and one body. How many pairs of shoes and clothes can one wear on a trip? How many cars can a person take and how many rooms can a person live in? There are also many people who work hard all their lives and neglect raising their children in order for them to have a good life, and they let their children lose all the money they earn from their hard work.

One of my sisters is actually very rich, but she still keeps working hard for her children. She bought a house, a car, and land to prepare for their future. But it's a good thing that you're going to break your own body. They are often worried about making more money, and even at night they are restless and have insomnia.

Therefore, the joy of labor under the sun and the excitement of success are short-lived and do not lead to satisfaction in the process, but rather to physical and mental exhaustion. Unless we turn all our labors to the light of day.

Conclusion: Living for God is not in vain (v24-26)

'Who can overcome me?' Translated according to the original text as 'apart from Him, who can have it?' The meaning refers to the fact that outside of God, man has no real food or drink to enjoy.

Solomon felt that the meaning of life was all vanity because he had a narrow vision, fixing his eyes on 'under the sun' and caring about all kinds of earthly pursuits. But when he fixed his eyes on 'above the sun', he found that life not only has a God-ordained eternal blessed end, but also enjoys God's blessings and abundance while living on earth.

Brothers and sisters, life can only be lived once, and yesterday is gone and cannot be repeated. What is the meaning of life? It is sad to find out that you missed this life only when you are old. Therefore, let us look at today's scripture and once again direct our vision to God above the sun, see life from God's perspective, and live this life from the perspective of eternity, so that what we do in our life will not be in vain!

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