And so, at the end of all, Solomon looks back and realises that there is no hope for lasting happiness under the sun. Where does this leave us? Are we destined for disappointment? Is despair our only option? Is our desire and search for contentment a form of madness?

We have seen the dead ends, have we not? Money, alcohol, music and the arts, industry, technology and grand projects, and sexual love. And yet, as Solomon has shown us these dead ends tonight, we have nevertheless progressed in our journey. As we walk the paths of the labyrinth, we are getting closer to the destination, step by step.

On the question of happiness and lasting satisfaction, the answer is clear. If the only place you look is under the sun, then you will not find it. There is nothing in all the world that can meet our deepest desires. You could gain everything, as Solomon did, and you will still gain nothing in the end. If we chase these things, we will find ourselves, as the prodigal son did, wasting away in a muddy pen full of dirty pigs. As the Lord Jesus said, what does it benefit a man if he gains the whole world but loses his soul?

Solomon does not want to drive us to despair, but he does want to lift our eyes away from trying to find satisfaction in the things of this world. Stop looking for joy in things under the sun, he says. Where, then, should we look? The end of the matter is this; all has been heard. Fear god. (Ecclesiastes 12:13)

Do you know god actually wants you to be happy? Do you know that, for all who are in Christ, followers of Jesus, god works all the things in our lives together for our good? Do you know that in Christ it is his purpose to banish every evil and painful thing from your life? Do you know that in Christ it is his plan to ravish your soul with unending, increasing, unspeakable pleasure and joy for all eternity? Each day your joy will increase. Each day you will marvel with fresh delight as you see more and more of god’s infinite beauty. Each day he will show you something that will make your eyes grow wide in wonder and make your heart sing loud in worship.

Listen to these words of Jesus in John 15:11: “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” Did you see what happened there? Jesus actually wants our joy to be full. He wants us to abound in joy. He wants us to rejoice in the Lord always, and again he says rejoice (Philippians 4:4). “Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous, and give thanks to his holy name.” (Psalm 97:12)

But the key here, as Solomon so clearly shows us, is not to set our joy on the things of this life. They cannot satisfy. The key is to learn to find our joy in god. “Let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.” (Psalm 105:3) “Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion, for behold, I come and I will dwell in your midst, declares the Lord.” (Zechariah 2:10)

The answer to finding true happiness is this. Seek it in god and you will find it.

The world is full of people on a me-centred search for satisfaction. Yet there is nothing that can meet our infinite appetite for eternal joy. That is why there is so much misery, because we live in a world full of people looking for something where it cannot be found.

God designed us for joy, but it is a joy that may only be found in him. As we find our joy in him, we will be properly fitted to enjoy his gifts in this life as well, and we will be fitted for the infinite and sublime delight that awaits us in the world to come.

So, in closing, let me ask you, where have you been searching for joy? Have you been looking in wine bottles and fine dining? Have you been looking in your workplace? Have you been looking for it in your spouse, or in a spouse? Perhaps money and possessions are where your heart lies.

As Christians we are vulnerable to search in these places, and yet our treasure is in Christ, our redeemer and our saviour, the one who gave himself for us, who has loved us and restored us, the one who forgives and has forgiven us. The kingdom of god is like a pearl discovered in a field, and the one who finds it sells all that he has to purchase that field.

The love of god provides a joy that no earthly treasure can afford, a satisfaction that transcends circumstances and flows as a fountain unto life eternal.

There is only one place where we will be satisfied, in Christ himself. Christ, the full revelation of god in all his beauty and glory and majesty. You remember the words of Jim Elliot: “He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose.” If you have Christ, then you have infinitely more than Australia’s top ten rich list. Have you ever thought about that? If you have Christ, then you have more than all the celebrities, sports stars, millionaires and world rulers combined. If every rich, influential, beautiful and important person in the world could somehow pool all their resources and give them to you in exchange for Christ, then you would have gained nothing and lost everything. If you have Christ, then you have food that this world knows not of.

And yet, in spite of this, our appetites for him are so poor, are they not? We live as though heaven and hell were not realities. We live as though the gifts of this life were more precious than the giver. When a bride comes to marry, she does not rejoice most of all in an expensive wedding, or a feast, or a beautiful wedding gown, or even in her friends and family. She rejoices in her husband.

Do you rejoice in Christ? Does your heart yearn and bleed for his return? Take Solomon’s words to heart. Come now, test your heart with pleasure. Come and see the riches and wonder and beauty that are ours in Christ.

There is an invitation before you this week, an invitation to look past the temporary pleasures of this life and to delight in Christ.

This invitation cannot be accepted by accident. If you walk carelessly into this week, your sinful desires will strive to take your heart.

Set your heart to seek the Lord. Delight yourself in god alone, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Confess your weakness. Confess the smallness of your desires for him. Ask him daily to strengthen and enable you to seek him. Then pursue him violently, desperately. Run to him as a lover runs to her husband returning from war.

Jesus has saved you. His heart yearns for you. He longs to wean you from the lesser desires of your heart, and he longs to fill you with infinite and eternal delight. As we go into this week, may the Lord so change and challenge our hearts.

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