DAY 155 Read Ecclesiastes 1 through 5.
Today's reading: Solomon's old age brought repentance and a valiant attempt to warn others against the folly of pursuing pleasure.
Memory gem: "I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work" (Ecclesiastes 3:17).
Thought for today:
Solomon sought happiness in riches. He became the world's richest man. His fleet brought him shipments of gold, ivory, and precious stones. It has been said that he erected one building that cost five billion dollars; he was worth millions, at least, in gold. But did this wealth bring him happiness?
He lived in a gold-filled palace, the like of which the world had never seen; possessed tapestries and gems and luxury of the East; constructed beautiful buildings, parks, lakes, fountains, zoological and botanical gardens; founded and built museums to preserve his priceless works of art; and created the great temple which he had built and crowned with gold like a mountain topped with snow, with its golden altar and golden furnishings. Surely Solomon must have found happiness in it all.
But no, he says: "Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun" (Ecclesiastes 2:11).
Today's reading: Solomon's old age brought repentance and a valiant attempt to warn others against the folly of pursuing pleasure.
Memory gem: "I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work" (Ecclesiastes 3:17).
Thought for today:
Solomon sought happiness in riches. He became the world's richest man. His fleet brought him shipments of gold, ivory, and precious stones. It has been said that he erected one building that cost five billion dollars; he was worth millions, at least, in gold. But did this wealth bring him happiness?
He lived in a gold-filled palace, the like of which the world had never seen; possessed tapestries and gems and luxury of the East; constructed beautiful buildings, parks, lakes, fountains, zoological and botanical gardens; founded and built museums to preserve his priceless works of art; and created the great temple which he had built and crowned with gold like a mountain topped with snow, with its golden altar and golden furnishings. Surely Solomon must have found happiness in it all.
But no, he says: "Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun" (Ecclesiastes 2:11).
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