Author: Pastor Rufus Ajiboye

We will continue about Solomon’s search for happiness, satisfaction and the meaning of life. We have already discussed that in the beginning of his life Solomon sought God and loved him, and God gave him wisdom and riches, happiness and fulfilment in life. But Solomon got caught up with superficial things of this world and started to follow other gods. Solomon started seeking for happiness and satisfaction in things and activities. He found only disappointment in them and then he turned back to his beginning.

The story of Solomon is a lesson to all of us; it tells us that the meaning of life, happiness and satisfaction cannot be found anywhere but in God alone. So we need to develop and strengthen personal relationships with God.

Today we will look at some more areas of Solomon’s life where he tried to find happiness and satisfaction. Many people try to do that. Let’s look at the Scripture.

«Therefore I hated life because the work that was done under the sun was distressing to me, for all is vanity and grasping for the wind. Then I hated all my labor in which I had toiled under the sun, because I must leave it to the man who will come after me»(Ecclesiastes, 2:16-17).

«There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death» (Proverbs, 16:25). A wise man learns from the mistakes of others. I believe that this message will help us stop and not take the wrong path, since it won’t give us any fulfilment.

Yesterday we discussed the fact that Solomon tried to find happiness and satisfaction in pleasures of life. He realized that all these things are vanity and „grasping for the wind”. We saw the things Solomon sought as the source of enjoyment. First, he tried different delicacies. They brought satisfaction to Solomon’s body, but he soul remained empty and hungry.

We have been talking about search for the meaning of life. We are using the life of Solomon, the son of David as our example. Solomon was the wisest person on earth. We saw that in the beginning of his life Solomon obtained wisdom and riches, because he loved God and knew Him. But there came a time in his life, when he forsook God and followed other gods. At that time Solomon tried to satisfy his soul with different things; he looked for happiness in different places. Eventually, Solomon realized that it is impossible to be happy and satisfied in this life without God.

Let’s look at the steps that Solomon took in order to find the meaning of life. We will see what conclusions Solomon came to. The first thing Solomon turned to was acquiring of wisdom and knowledge. «I communed with my heart, saying, „Look, I have attained greatness, and have gained more wisdom than all who were before me in Jerusalem. My heart has understood great wisdom and knowledge.” And I set my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is grasping for the wind. For in much wisdom is much grief, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow» (Ecclesiastes, 1:16-18).

Many people ask themselves a question of why they feel inner emptiness. So many continue to walk the wrong way in their lives, and it goes on day after day. They feel their life to be aimless and they continue their walk unmotivated. Multitudes of people do not have a clue of why they live and whether the life is worth living. All of these things happen because they do not have a clear purpose for living. The lack of such a purpose often causes violence, different types of evil, disappointments, emptiness, despair, hopelessness, apathy, anger and so on.

Do you know that you are not all you could be yet? Only the Lord knows who you are created to be and He wants to make you become who you are really created to be. That is why He said “I will make you”.

Peter and His brother were created to be Fishers of men, but they did not know that until they started to follow Christ.

The bible said they straightway left their nets, and followed him. Their destiny was changed that very day. That was the point the Lord began to make them into who they were created to be.

First of all, God ”will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able”. Maybe you don´t even feel that He is keeping all your situations under control but as a matter of fact, He has already set the limit of your hardships. God will not let things, that are above what you can bear, enter your life. You probably underestimate your own strength, but God knows better. When your reasoning is right you prevail over hardships. God will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able, so you can overcome all difficulties in life – that´s the idea you should feed your mind with.

Yesterday we started talking about how not to give up, when problems and trials are all around us. Today we are going to continue about it and I would like to share with you where we can find the strength for it.

In order for us not to give up when dealing with hardships and challenges we must know that problems are a common thing and a part of life. Nobody is secured against them no matter how big your love for God is. If you think that you are the only one with problems and the others don’t have any, then you set yourself up for failure.

Nowadays many people give up as soon as something does not go like they expected or some problems start to choke them. I will tell you honestly that it is not hard to go through different problems with dignity, – you must learn it. It does not happen automatically; you must prepare yourself for it. If we won’t prepare ourselves ahead of time, then at difficult times we will fail and give up. Lack of discipline and preparation will create instability in our lives and will hinder our progress.