I did not hold back my heart from any sort of rejoicing.—Eccl. 2:10.
Like many people today, Solomon tried to find satisfaction by pursuing a life of pleasure. Where did he search for pleasure? According to Ecclesiastes chapter 2, he ‘cheered his flesh with wine’—at the same time maintaining self-control—and pursued such activities as landscaping, designing palaces, listening to music, and enjoying good food. Does the Bible condemn having a good time with friends? Not at all. Solomon notes, for instance, that enjoying a meal in a relaxed atmosphere after a hard day’s work is a gift of God. (Eccl. 2:24; 3:12, 13) Moreover, Jehovah himself invites young ones to ‘rejoice and let their heart do them good’ in a responsible way. (Eccl. 11:9) We need relaxation and wholesome entertainment. (Compare Mark 6:31.) However, recreation should not become the primary purpose of our life.—Eccl. 2:10, 11.
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Will and I are looking forward to sharing some time with friends this weekend as we try to relax and distract our minds from the things that keep weighing us down.
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