For Your Benefit...

• New address for Pam & Perry Bratton — 7301 Shadowood Lane, Crestwood, KY 40014. Phones are the same.
• Thanks to Mike McPherson for installing a new mailbox out along Bardstown Road.

Calendar

• Saturday Night — Practice Singing at the building. 7:00.
• Sunday Night — Monthly congregational singing.
• May 20-25 — Kenwood.
• Monday night (May 21) — “Fellowship” class. Here at 7:30.

Sometimes I daydream about being a brilliant intellectual whose wise counsel and advice is recognized and sought by many. Sometimes the fantasy is about being super rich and imaginations about the philanthropic deed I would perform for the needy. And even sometimes I dream of having an abundance of talent and creativity in many fields that would bring me recognition and honor. It is in my mind that this is the picture of the ideal man, the perfect man. There was such a man in history that had these qualities in abundance, and much more, and a look at his extraordinary life is revealing.

His wealth exceeded anyone else’s in the world, above what we ordinary people can imagine. Tremendously rich leaders of other countries were awed by his affluence. He would be, if living today, like Bill Gates and Warren Buffet combined. It should have made this man the most benevolent man in history. His good works in behalf of others should have been the topic of countless conversations.

His wisdom was so profound that it exceeded the boundaries of his own country and compelled leaders of other nations to come and seek his counsel. His fertile and perceptive mind produced literally thousands of thoughtful sayings, and caused him to write over a thousand songs. He had a sound knowledge of botany and biology and he was a great planner, organizer. It is hard to imagine a man with so many skills and genius. He accomplished more than scores of many other gifted men put together. But that is only part of the story of this remarkable individual.

Upon closer examination we find that this wonderful mind was a gift from God. Not only did this man owe this magnificent brain to God but the fabulous material wealth he possessed was also attributable to a special blessing by Jehovah. This very gifted life put him in a position to do enormous good in the world. And for a short period in his early years he did exactly that. But the latter part of his life tells a dismal story of failure and at last a life of regret.

The man is Solomon and his biography, of a sort, is told in the book of Ecclesiastes. Solomon’s respect and love of God, to Whom he owed everything, was slowly eroded by foreign wives who led him away from the Lord. There also came to light a pride and selfishness which always contributes to ruin. He built a magnificent temple to God using the blueprint drawn up by his father David. He also used much of the material David had collected when he, David, thought he was the one that was going to build the temple. But God reserved that task for his son Solomon. Solomon’s temple took seven years to build and it was a magnificent structure. He then built himself a house which took 13 years to complete.

His palace and surrounding grounds were monuments to great extravagance. A description is given of them in Ecclesiastes chapter 2 and one can envision their opulence. He adopted what later is called the Epicurean philosophy of eat, drink, and be merry. He became what is, in today’s language, a “party animal.” His wealth was of such proportions that he could say in chapter 2 and verse 10 of Ecclesiastes, “Whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure.” His harem included 700 wives and 300 concubines. It was fleshly indulgence and gross extravagance on every hand. It was materialism gone to seed. So great was Solomon’s defection from God that God decreed a division in the kingdom upon his death.

The feeling among scholars is that Solomon wrote Ecclesiastes near the close of his life. He could look back and reflect on what was a generally misspent life. He had the experience to look at life apart from God, which he terms “life under the sun” and know how empty and unfulfilling it was. His failing was great in view of the great abilities and opportunities with which he was endowed. Where much is given, much is required, and he fell far short of what should have been. “The saddest words of tongue or pen,” the poet says, “the saddest of these, it might have been.” There is no evidence that he ever regained his love, devotion, and sadly his relationship to the Father to whom he owed everything.

How does all this reflect on my grandiose daydreaming of greater empowerment than I really have? It tells me that neither great intelligence, great wealth, nor great talent are guarantees of true success in life. In fact they often become deterrents that keep us from attaining the real goal of approval and fellowship with our Creator. It tells me that I am to take the limited abilities that God has given me and use them the best I can to please God, improve myself, and help my fellow man. Maybe the reason I have not been given more is because I’m not doing well with what I have. So Solomon is someone to be pitied. A soul who was caught up in the world and lost sight of everything important.

Solomon ends his book with this summation of what life is really all about. “Now let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter, fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every work into judgment and every secret thing, whether it be good or whether it be evil.” Ecclesiastes 12:13, 14.

Idea of the Week

This week I’ll begin a new feature. As the title suggests, this is something for you to try in your life.

The suggestions will be practical, and designed to help some facet of your spiritual life: Getting closer to God; getting closer to your fellow-Christians; improving your Bible knowledge; improving your hospitality; improving your personal evangelism ability; improving your relationships; etc.

For several reasons, I will not credit the source. Although I might occasionally break that rule, this is not about publicity or pride — it is about becoming more effective in our work as the family of God.

Anyone in the congregation who wishes may submit a list of 5 or more ideas that you have tried that work. Make your suggestions practical, simple, effective and original.

For this week…

• Say “Amen!” in our public worship.

It’s the difference between being a spectator and a participant. See Psalm 107:2.