26 – Ephesians 1:12-2:11

“Looking for Love in All the Wrong Places”

Ecclesiastes 1:12-2:11

“Looking for love in all the wrong places”, words from a popular country music song a few years ago, really describes how many people today are living their lives. They have a deep longing to be loved, to feel contentment, and to experience satisfaction but they spend a lifetime looking in places that will not deliver what they are seeking.

King Solomon was one of those people. In Ecclesiastes 1:12 he said, “I set my mind to seek…” and then for 16 verses he lists the wrong places he looked for love. Here is his list:
1.Worldly wisdom and knowledge
2.Enjoyment, fun, recreation, comedy, entertainment, and partying
3.Work, accomplishments, building projects, and a job
4.Possessions – he became a collector of many things including people
5.Indulgence – “Whatever my eyes desired I did not refuse them.” (Ecclesiastes 2:10)

After he finished looking for love in all these places listen to his conclusion. “Thus, I considered all my activities which my hands had done and the labor which I had exerted and behold all was vanity and striving after the wind, and there was no profit under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes 2:11)

Why couldn’t King Solomon find love, contentment, and satisfaction? The answer is very simple. He was looking in the wrong places. If so, then where is the right place to look? In the gospel of John, we find these words, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the Good Shepherd; the Good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” (John 10:10-11) The correct place to look for love is the Good Shepherd Jesus Christ.

The void that each of us has in our life is a spiritual void and cannot be satisfied by physical things. Love and contentment can only be realized when we begin and walk in a relationship with Jesus. When we live in close relationship day by day with him then we begin to experience that abundant life he promised. Remember, the depth of your contentment and satisfaction is directly related to the depth of your relationship with the Good Shepherd.

Lee