Finding Better HappinessSample

The World Cannot Make You Happy

When people want happiness, they often look to material, worldly things. We may seek happiness through relationships, money, or excessive things. Some people stimulate their happiness through drugs or alcohol, but whatever worldly pursuit people turn to, it will not satisfy their longing for everlasting happiness.  

The Old Testament tells us of how King Solomon also sought happiness through worldly means. Towards the end of his life, he wrote of his extravagant, wild experiences in the book of Ecclesiastes. 

There, we read of how Solomon threw big parties, had tons of friends, and lots of intimate relationships. From a worldly perspective, he had it all, yet he opens the book by saying “vanity of vanities! All is vanity” (Eccl. 1:2).

While this may seem gloomy at first, it’s important to remember that Solomon meant that all worldly things come and go. They are not eternal, and they do not last forever. Throughout the rest of the book, he uses the phrase “under the sun” to talk about the worldly pursuits of humanity, the ones that leave people wanting more. They are vanity.

Even King Solomon, who had all the money, power, and resources to have whatever he wanted, failed to live a life of happiness through material, worldly things. His problem was not that he didn’t have enough or that he did it wrong. His problem was that he was looking “under the sun” for his happiness.

What about you?

Do you look for happiness in this world, in places “under the sun”?

After Solomon reflects back on all his attempts at worldly happiness, he ends his book by telling his readers to “Fear God and keep his commandments” (Eccl. 12:13). While all the parties, the sex, the alcohol were “vanity” to him, fearing God and keeping his commandments were not. 

Use the verses from today to help you see how worldly pursuits of happiness will not satisfy you. We need the Lord and His commandments.