Why Does One Still Feel Empty Inside Despite Possessing Wealth Envied by the World?

“I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit” (Ecclesiastes 1:14).

The Book of Ecclesiastes says: “I sought in my heart to give myself to wine, yet acquainting my 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. I made me great works; I built me houses; I planted me vineyards: I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all kind of fruits: I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that brings forth trees” (Ecclesiastes 2:3-6). “Then I looked on all the works that my hands had worked, and on the labor that I had labored to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 2:11). Whenever I read these verses, I was always very puzzled. Solomon, hailed as the “King of Wisdom,” was filled with the great wisdom bestowed upon him by Jehovah God and possessed wealth envied by the world. Logically, he should have been content and joyful. So why did he not only fail to find joy but instead say, “I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit”? Could it be that all these abundant material pleasures could not bring him spiritual satisfaction?

It wasn’t until later, when I read the words in a book, that I came to understand that what our hearts truly need is not merely material enjoyment. The book says: “For without the guidance of God, even if rulers and sociologists wrack their brains to preserve human civilization, it is to no avail. No person can fill the emptiness in the hearts of man, for no person can be the life of man, and no social theory can free man from the troubles of emptiness” (The Word, Vol. 1. The Appearance and Work of God. Appendix 2: God Holds Sovereignty Over the Fate of All Mankind). “The sentence ‘the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day’ tells people that everything about God is not of a material nature, and although God can provide for all of your material needs, once all of your material needs have been met, can the satisfaction from these things replace your pursuit of truth? That is clearly not possible! God’s disposition and what He has and is, which we have fellowshipped about, are both the truth. Its value cannot be measured against any material objects, no matter how valuable, nor can its value be quantified in terms of money, because it is not a material object, and it supplies the needs of each and every person’s heart. For every person, the value of these intangible truths should be greater than the value of any material things that you might value, should they not? This statement is something you need to linger over. The key point of what I have said is that what God has and is and everything about God are the most important things for every single person and cannot be replaced by any material object. … what comes from God, what He has and is, and everything about Him, are greater than any other thing, including the thing or the person you once believed you treasured most. That is to say, if a person cannot gain words from the mouth of God or they do not understand His intentions, they cannot gain rest” (The Word, Vol. 2. On Knowing God. God’s Work, God’s Disposition, and God Himself III).

Humanity was created by God, and what we need most is God’s provision for our life and His guidance. For a created being to leave the Creator is like a branch being separated from the tree trunk: It will gradually wither, its life will drain away bit by bit, and in the end, it will die completely. Therefore, for each and every one of us, God’s provision for our life and spirit cannot be replaced by any material possession, amount of money, or any person, event, or thing we love.

Solomon’s story has made me deeply realize that without God’s provision for our life, even the greatest and mightiest of people are powerless. Without God’s provision of life, we will wither; separated from God, we will ultimately have nothing! Thus, it is clear that for us created beings, knowing God and receiving His provision of life is of the utmost importance.

In his youth, Solomon sincerely looked to Jehovah God, and Jehovah God made him the richest and wisest of kings. Yet, he did not truly know God. Though he spoke many wise proverbs throughout his life, he never truly gained the way of God. Although he had immense material enjoyment, in the end, he discovered that all was vanity and vexation of spirit. And aren’t the vexations of King Solomon the same ones faced by all of humanity?

It seems that in life, regardless of our circumstances—whether possessing endless wealth and enjoying unparalleled material benefits, living in peace and happiness, or going through suffering—if we have not received the truth and life that comes from God and have no knowledge of the Creator, in the end, all is but emptiness. No wonder it says in the Book of Proverbs: “The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the Holy is understanding” (Proverbs 9:10).