November 22, 2008 6:53 AM
Mac wrote:
Mr. Cynical, isn't here. I was reading the Reader's Digest last night after getting home from seeing Madagascar with the grandkids (FUNNY movie!), and found this tidbit about smiling: "Smiling has been clinically shown to lower blood pressure, boost immunity, and even release natural painkillers (endorphins), each of which lowers stress, boosts happiness, and improves health." I would have to disagree with Solomon that "pleasures are meaningless". Solomon WAS right, however, in stating that imbibing in too much wine to cheer one's self, is not a good idea. Cheer one's self with a smile, rather than alcohol. He was also right when he wrote that he "undertook great projects" and they too, became meaningless. However, they may have been meaningless in the big grand scale of things, but I'll wager some of those building projects he undertook provided smiles for lots of people. I'll be lots of folks got satisfaction from being a part of the building projects, as well as the use of them once built. Yes, I see Solomon, at least in this chapter, as being very cynical. He is looking at the the glass as not even being half empty, but as far as he is concerned, it doesn't matter if its half empty or half full. Depression is an awful thing. Some of you have family or friends who suffer from this "Solomon disease", and I pray for you and them. But, as the author of the article in the Reader's Digest suggests: say a simple "Hello" to just 3 strangers a day, after saying "Hello" to yourself in the mirror first thing in the morning, and you will not only help any depressed mood YOU are in, but also those to whom you say a simple 'Hello!'.
Solomon's 'pleasures', 'wisdom and folly', and 'toil', as described in this chapter, may have been meaningless to him at the time of authorship, but I suggest that with just a LITTLE effort, we can make every single one of them full of meaning, if we only smile when doing them. Reply to this
November 22, 2008 8:22 PM
Johnbob wrote:
For a wise man, Solomon did some 'stupid' things (I hope he is not mad at me for thinking so - we'll work it out when I see him in heaven, I suppose). To deny himself nothing he desired, to refuse his heart no pleasure, having a harem - imagine that. Or maybe don't imagine that because it makes me struggle to even think about it too much! He got drunk on wine, overate, did drugs, etc. I assume 'embracing folly' would encompass those things and many more. The bottom line was that wisdom doesn't equal heart and doesn't equal sprituality and doesn't equal discipline and doesn't equal character. You can be wise and 'sharp' and know a lot of bible and still be stuck in sin. Or you can be the village idiot (Run, Forrest. Run!) and have a great heart. Solomon even says it (more of less) in v. 15 - "What then do I gain by being wise?" and concludes that wisdom, too, is also meaningless.
It was all about him - he did whatever he wanted. Not to be too trivial, but I saw Groundhog Day today. It mirrors this in many ways because Phil (Bill Murray) realized that he could do whatever he wanted since there was no tomorrow - so he literally just debauched, used a woman he met, wooed the producer (Andi McDowell I think)with the sole intention having taking her to bed. Eventually he gave up and determined it was all meaningless - and tried to kill himself (one time after kidnapping the Groundhog - "Don't drive angry..." and driving him over a cliff). He then finds great meaning in being selfless and trying to better others, eventually winning the girl. Sigh.
Anyway, so Solomon doesn't mention suicide but does mentioned despair, hatred of life, anger at the injustice of everything. His thinking is perverted and warped (not sure if those are the right words). Think about it - who wouldn't want to have been like Solomon - both then and now. He mentions the 'misfortune' of having to give every thing he has to someone after he dies. What an odd thought. I'll tell what is misfortunate - his using women for pleasure - how many lives were changed just so he could get the pleasure of having all those women - he denied them having real relations with another man just for his power and fantasies (I suppose). Think about the slaves. He could have paid them - he was certainly rich enough. But no - he bought them and owned them just like a piece of furniture. I know this was common in those times I suppose, but gosh, give me a break.
But it is good for us that he goes there - so that we don't have to, right? He had all the wine, interesting work and projects, success, sex, power, and riches (and anything else you want to name) than we will ever have and has determined it is meaningless. It is so good to read this again as a reminder of at least what not to bother with in terms of my time, energy, focus, etc. Reply to this
Mr. Cynical, isn't here. I was reading the Reader's Digest last night after getting home from seeing Madagascar with the grandkids (FUNNY movie!), and found this tidbit about smiling: "Smiling has been clinically shown to lower blood pressure, boost immunity, and even release natural painkillers (endorphins), each of which lowers stress, boosts happiness, and improves health." I would have to disagree with Solomon that "pleasures are meaningless".
Solomon WAS right, however, in stating that imbibing in too much wine to cheer one's self, is not a good idea. Cheer one's self with a smile, rather than alcohol.
He was also right when he wrote that he "undertook great projects" and they too, became meaningless. However, they may have been meaningless in the big grand scale of things, but I'll wager some of those building projects he undertook provided smiles for lots of people. I'll be lots of folks got satisfaction from being a part of the building projects, as well as the use of them once built.
Yes, I see Solomon, at least in this chapter, as being very cynical. He is looking at the the glass as not even being half empty, but as far as he is concerned, it doesn't matter if its half empty or half full.
Depression is an awful thing. Some of you have family or friends who suffer from this "Solomon disease", and I pray for you and them. But, as the author of the article in the Reader's Digest suggests: say a simple "Hello" to just 3 strangers a day, after saying "Hello" to yourself in the mirror first thing in the morning, and you will not only help any depressed mood YOU are in, but also those to whom you say a simple 'Hello!'.
Solomon's 'pleasures', 'wisdom and folly', and 'toil', as described in this chapter, may have been meaningless to him at the time of authorship, but I suggest that with just a LITTLE effort, we can make every single one of them full of meaning, if we only smile when doing them.
Reply to this
For a wise man, Solomon did some 'stupid' things (I hope he is not mad at me for thinking so - we'll work it out when I see him in heaven, I suppose). To deny himself nothing he desired, to refuse his heart no pleasure, having a harem - imagine that. Or maybe don't imagine that because it makes me struggle to even think about it too much! He got drunk on wine, overate, did drugs, etc. I assume 'embracing folly' would encompass those things and many more. The bottom line was that wisdom doesn't equal heart and doesn't equal sprituality and doesn't equal discipline and doesn't equal character. You can be wise and 'sharp' and know a lot of bible and still be stuck in sin. Or you can be the village idiot (Run, Forrest. Run!) and have a great heart. Solomon even says it (more of less) in v. 15 - "What then do I gain by being wise?" and concludes that wisdom, too, is also meaningless.
It was all about him - he did whatever he wanted. Not to be too trivial, but I saw Groundhog Day today. It mirrors this in many ways because Phil (Bill Murray) realized that he could do whatever he wanted since there was no tomorrow - so he literally just debauched, used a woman he met, wooed the producer (Andi McDowell I think)with the sole intention having taking her to bed. Eventually he gave up and determined it was all meaningless - and tried to kill himself (one time after kidnapping the Groundhog - "Don't drive angry..." and driving him over a cliff). He then finds great meaning in being selfless and trying to better others, eventually winning the girl. Sigh.
Anyway, so Solomon doesn't mention suicide but does mentioned despair, hatred of life, anger at the injustice of everything. His thinking is perverted and warped (not sure if those are the right words). Think about it - who wouldn't want to have been like Solomon - both then and now. He mentions the 'misfortune' of having to give every thing he has to someone after he dies. What an odd thought. I'll tell what is misfortunate - his using women for pleasure - how many lives were changed just so he could get the pleasure of having all those women - he denied them having real relations with another man just for his power and fantasies (I suppose). Think about the slaves. He could have paid them - he was certainly rich enough. But no - he bought them and owned them just like a piece of furniture. I know this was common in those times I suppose, but gosh, give me a break.
But it is good for us that he goes there - so that we don't have to, right? He had all the wine, interesting work and projects, success, sex, power, and riches (and anything else you want to name) than we will ever have and has determined it is meaningless. It is so good to read this again as a reminder of at least what not to bother with in terms of my time, energy, focus, etc.
Reply to this