An older, much wiser King Solomon wrote the book of Ecclesiastes. He mentions that all is meaningless in Chapter 1. However, King Solomon is not cynical. He’s saying everything he has can’t make him happy. He also enumerates those he considers false hope of happiness in chapter 2. Thus, we need to identify the Christian myths about happiness to obtain Christian happiness.
Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit.
Ecclesiastes 2:17
In this post, you will see that all the things Solomon did to pursue happiness are the same things people do nowadays. I’m not saying that having or doing these things is wrong. But if you think it is the source of your happiness, you must reevaluate your understanding of Christian happiness.
Christian myths about happiness: Pleasures can’t make you happy.
1I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity. 2I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it? 3I sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting mine heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was that good for the sons of men, which they should do under the heaven all the days of their life.
Ecclesiastes 2:1-3
Solomon was wrong when he thought that having fun, being entertained, and even giving himself to wine would bring him happiness. What it gave to him was a superficial kind of happiness. This kind of happiness is deceptive. It causes people to settle for it rather than find genuine Christian happiness.
24By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; 25Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
Hebrews 11:24-25
Moses is an excellent example of a person knowing that the world’s pleasure can’t give real happiness. He renounced his position as a prince of Egypt. Understand that Egypt in the Bible is a picture of the world and bondage. Even in the world, you can find pleasure. However, it will only last for a season.
Everything in the world that makes you happy is the superficial kind of happiness. Because temporary things cannot produce eternal things, we can only find genuine, lasting Christian happiness in the presence of God.
Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
Psalms 16:11
Christian myths about happiness: Projects can’t make you happy.
4I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards: 5I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all kind of fruits: 6I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees:
Ecclesiastes 2:4-6
Solomon also accomplished many great things through his projects. However, he still wasn’t satisfied even with these accomplishments. He engineered houses, gardens, and even pools to water his gardens. Some of us can only dream of accomplishing such projects.
Pharaohs, emperors, and kings built significant structures in the past. We still call some of those structures wonders of the world. But really, we can live without them.
There’s nothing wrong with building your project. Some people spend time creating their house, car, or company. But we must understand that these are not the source of happiness because even King Solomon considered all these things vanity.
Christian myths about happiness: Possessions can’t make you happy.
7I got me servants and maidens, and had servants born in my house; also I had great possessions of great and small cattle above all that were in Jerusalem before me: 8I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces: I gat me men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, as musical instruments, and that of all sorts.
Ecclesiastes 2:7-8
Solomon also had a lot of properties. He is one of the wealthiest kings in the Old Testament. He had many servants and a significant number of cattle.
He also had an incredible treasure trove of gold, silver, and unique treasure from different places. However, even these things can’t make him happy.
Most people think that having great wealth will make them happy. They spend all their life doing their best to accumulate wealth. Some would even neglect their family and health to earn more money.
In the end, they can only experience superficial happiness from these things. They lose their health and family because of neglect and wrong priorities. These are just some reasons why wealthy people are depressed and unhappy. They have prioritized wealth instead of their relationship with God and their family.
Thinking that possessions can make you happy, is one of the biggest Christian myths about happiness.
Christian myths about happiness: Popularity can’t make you happy.
So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me.
Ecclesiastes 2:9
He was so popular that his greatness reached even the kingdom of the queen of Sheba 1 Kings (10:6-7.) Other monarchs well document his wisdom in leading his people and his wealth. Even now, we still study and talk about the greatness of Solomon. But even his popularity can’t make him happy.
If you think popularity can make you happy. Then why do famous singers, celebrities, and rock stars have to take illicit drugs to feel happy? It’s because their popularity had cost them their happiness. They have lost their privacy and cannot get over the pressure from the public.
These are the things that people usually care about. They want pleasure, possessions, and popularity. But the one man who experienced all of them knew that these things are meaningless without a relationship with God. He understood that it is God who gives happiness, not the world.
For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.
Ecclesiastes 2:26
To obtain happiness, we must stop pursuing these Christian myths about happiness. Instead, we must pursue holiness.
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
Ecclesiastes 12:13
