Putting Faith in People Over GodSample

Step #2: Disappointments

“For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” – Matthew 16:26, MEV

Solomon had everything from a worldly standpoint, only to reach the latter years of his life and say, “I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind” (Eccles. 1:14).

Solomon’s disappointments are clearly laid out in Ecclesiastes 2:3–11:

"I tried cheering myself with wine, and embracing folly—my mind still guiding me with wisdom. I wanted to see what was good for people to do under heaven during the few days of their lives. I undertook great projects: I built houses for myself and planted vineyards. I made gardens and parks and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. I made reservoirs to water groves of flourishing trees. I bought male and female slaves and had other slaves who were born in my house. I also owned more herds and flocks than anyone in Jerusalem before me. I amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I acquired male and female singers, and a harem as well—the delights of a man’s heart. I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem before me. In all this my wisdom stayed with me. I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my labor, and this was the reward for all my toil. Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun."

Here Solomon is presenting to us the rulebook of what not to do. He is saying, “Look, I have done everything I thought would bring me happiness. I ventured off and tried everything the world has to offer, just to find it meaningless.”