On this episode of Wordsmith, Pastor Clay Smith is joined by longtime friend Tom Goodwin as they open Ecclesiastes 2:1–11 and wrestle with a question we all feel: Can pleasure really satisfy? Together they explore Solomon’s “test” of the good life—wine, work, wealth, entertainment, and relationships—and why it ultimately leaves him empty.

Tom shares how Ecclesiastes shaped his faith as a college senior, and the conversation turns practical as they talk about ambition, comparison, generosity, and our culture’s constant demand for “wow.” The takeaway is clear: created pleasures aren’t the enemy—but they make terrible saviors. Real meaning is found when we invest in what’s eternal: God, God’s Word, and the souls of people.

Dr. Clay Smith is the senior pastor of Johnson Ferry Baptist Church, located just north of Atlanta, GA. JF, as it is affectionately called, is a healthy, vibrant church committed to helping people find truth, belonging, and purpose in Jesus.

Learn more about Johnson Ferry Baptist Church at johnsonferry.org