Hedonism is the belief that pleasure is the chief good in life. Hedone is the Greek word for pleasure. Hedonist imagination turns to reality in Ecclesiastes 1:12-2:16. This passage describes the different ways people try to experience pleasure. The writer is seeking the wisdom that would enable him to enjoy life but finds that it involves endless study, research and effort (see 1:13). In the end it gives him no satisfaction. Human effort to achieve ecstasy is doomed to fail (see 1:15). You cannot manufacture happiness. Knowing the ways that one can gain pleasure in life does not guarantee personal fulfillment. In fact it can result in disillusionment. The world in which we live is uncontrollable. Ecclesiastes calls it ‘chasing after the wind’. Of course we like to think we can control our environment with air-conditioning, our bodies with drugs, and our finances with insurance, investments and savings. But there are wrongs we lack the power to right. More wisdom can bring more frustration because wisdom is consciousness without control. We can know what is wrong but not how to fix it (see 1:16-18).

The writer described all the avenues he explored in order to experience pleasure (see 2:1-11). He tried comedy, laughter, humor, satire, alcohol, construction, gardening, agriculture, farming, hired servants, sired children, enjoyed music, promiscuous sex, amassed silver and gold reserves, profited from businesses and investments, was successful in his career and denied himself nothing that he desired, yet in his toil to achieve nothing was gained.

On the other hand wisdom is better than folly, just as light is better than darkness (see 2:12-16). At least the wise man can see what is going on and be prepared rather than walking blindly into trouble. But in the end the same fate overtakes them both. All of us die and will not be long remembered. Living for one’s own pleasure is a dead end. To gain satisfaction it is necessary to look beyond ourselves to bring pleasure to others. Loving our neighbor as ourselves brings more pleasure. Loving God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength brings eternal reward. Jesus closed the sermon on the mount with these words, “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matt.6:33).

Seeking pleasure and happiness directly and selfishly brings diminishing returns like a drug that requires a larger and larger doses and eventually destroys us. Living for others and God brings joy and satisfaction.

“Jesus calls us from the worship

Of the vain world’s golden store,

From each idol that would keep us,

Saying, ‘Christian, love me more.”

(Cecil Frances Alexander)

I recommend EVERYTHING IS NOT ENOUGH: Ecclesiastes Path to Resilient Happiness, by Bobbie Jamieson.