Jehovah's Witnesses Straight Talk - Forum/Blog

Eccl.2:1 I said in my heart, "Come now, I will test you with mirth: therefore enjoy pleasure;" and behold, this also was vanity.

Those given to drudgery want pleasure to enjoy life with no pain, but such is an illusion which becomes an addiction. The addiction brings with it much pain and heartache stronger than the life the person is trying to escape from. Who can be content in a world of pain?

Ps.90:10 The days of our years are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty years; yet their pride is but labor and sorrow, for it passes quickly, and we fly away. 90:11 Who knows the power of your anger, your wrath according to the fear that is due to you? 90:12 So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

This truth is what Solomon address here in the second chapter of Ecclesiastes, real peace and contentment is found only in the dreams and hopes of mankind, but seldom realized in life. The world and people living in it are selling others something to make life better. Movie stars would have us believe all the glamor and riches brings contentment and the good life the rest of us so desire upon earth, auto dealers sell dreams, not cars, the package of happiness if we just had this certain vehicle making a statement of our happiness and success in life.

Isaiah 57:20 But the wicked are like the troubled sea; for it can't rest, and its waters cast up mire and dirt.

Proverbs 15:16 Better is little, with the fear of Yahweh, than great treasure with trouble.

But the truth march on, pain, death and disappointment, lack of appreciation for all of our hard work diminishes as does our life finally to end in death, all is vanity, nothing is gain, or can be taken with us into death. Nobody puts a luggage rack on top of hearse, nobody on their death bed ask to see all their material things before they died just once more.

Ecclesiastes 8:8 There is no man who has power over the spirit to contain the spirit; neither does he have power over the day of death. There is no discharge in war; neither shall wickedness deliver those who practice it.

Psalms 146:4 His spirit departs, and he returns to the earth. In that very day, his thoughts perish.

This truth is found in God's word into the Greek writings which is all of us must soberly face the facts of life, and use our life in storing up treasure not on earth, but in heaven with God. We must understand we are not the exception to the rule, Solomon takes us from youth into old age proving because of where we are, nothing changes like the season of earth, we will arrived although youth might deceived us, we will all end up in the same place that this life without God is vanity.

Luke 12:19 I will tell my soul, "Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years. Take your ease, eat, drink, be merry."' 12:20 "But God said to him, 'You foolish one, tonight your soul is required of you. The things which you have prepared--whose will they be?'

The nature of our fallen flesh from birth is to think we are different the exception that we can beat the laws of sin and death. It is to build a kingdom in our life, for ourselves, to get around what others had to face, the whole system is based upon that lie, which Eve actually believed.

James 4:7 Be subject therefore to God. But resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 4:8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 4:9 Lament, mourn, and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to gloom. 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he will exalt you.

Philippians 4:11 Not that I speak in respect to lack, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content in it.

1 Timothy 6:8 But having food and clothing, we will be content with that.

Hebrews 13:5 Be free from the love of money, content with such things as you have, for he has said, "I will in no way leave you, neither will I in any way forsake you."{Deuteronomy 31:6}

However, truth is, none have or will without God there is no gold at the end of the rainbow, there is a pursuit for happiness by every thought under the Sun, but the gold is not there it is lie that does not exist. Contentment is a rare jewel in this life, its not the pursuit of material things, nor is it found in a bottle or drugs, its not found in an agenda, or a religion, its not found in us. It is however, sold in every endeavor under the Sun, which will prove to be a lie, now or at death!

Matt.6:19 "Don't lay up treasures for yourselves on the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal;
6:20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consume, and where thieves don't break through and steal; 6:21 for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Heb. 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen{TR adds "and being convinced of"} them and embraced them from afar, and having confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 11:14 For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own.
11:15 If indeed they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had enough time to return.
11:16 But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed of them, to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

Facing the truth is wisdom, a wisdom God will happily give us, as he did Solomon if we ask. God can and does give contentment in the hope of a new heavens and earth, if we live for them, if we endure in truth upon earth that is the real reward for all our hard working being done under the Sun, to know God, and to be known by him, so that we might have comfort in this world, and give comfort to others while we await the real life, the life given us freely in God's love, nothing in God or eternal life will be vanity.

James 1:2 Count it all joy, my brothers{The word for "brothers" here and where context allows may also be correctly translated "brothers and sisters" or "siblings."}, when you fall into various temptations,
1:3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
1:4 Let endurance have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. 1:5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach; and it will be given to him.

2 Corinthians 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that you through his poverty might become rich.

Ephesians 2:4 But God, being rich in mercy, for his great love with which he loved us,

See also: www.nu-truth.com