Why I experimented with my Life

Are you a science student? Yes? Then you are quite familiar with experiments, observations, inferences and conclusions. They ring a bell, don’t they? Even if you are not, I’m sure you may have come across these terms before now.

 

 

An experiment is always conducted when someone wants to prove a hypothesis or find out the truth about an observation which will now lead to propounding a theory that is valid and acceptable.

 

 

 

King Solomon, the great King who God endued with so much wisdom and wealth conducted an experiment many years ago and he shares with us in the beautiful book of Ecclesiastes what his results were and the conclusions he deduced from his findings.

 

 

We all know how God blessed King Solomon more than any other earthly king ever. He had all he wanted in life so he embarked on this adventurous experiment that will forever be a great lesson to all of mankind.

 

 

I remember when I was about starting my project in school, my supervisor told me to make sure I searched properly for the topic I was about to work on to the be sure nobody had worked on it. Initially, I was surprised but later, I got the point; she wanted me to do something that nobody had done before- something new. She said it was a waste doing a project that someone had already done- a waste of time and resources. I could only do something similar with a different method/model and also get a different result.

 

 

So I spent a lot of time searching through the internet to be sure nobody had worked on the same plant, for the same study I was about carrying out. Even after my search, she took her time also to search to be extra sure that it was new. This led us through different processes of changing the topic many times until we finally came to a novel one. That was when I started my work.

 

 

I gave this illustration to point out the fact that there is no need doing an experiment someone else has done, all you should do is just pick up the material and read! That’s all.

 

 

In the same way, King Solomon experimented with his life so that we will not have to do the same with ours and come to the same conclusion at the end. He conducted that experiment so that we all can read and learn.

 

 

King Solomon tried out everything possible; he tested all the things we can ever imagine. What did he not do?  Look what he says:

 

 

I said to myself, come now I will test you with pleasure to find out what is good.” But that also proved to be meaningless. “Laughter” I said, “is madness. And what does pleasure accomplish?” I tried cheering myself with wine and embracing folly, my mind still guiding me with wisdom. I wanted to see what was good for people to do under the heavens during the few days of their lives. I undertook great projects: I built houses for myself and planted vineyards. I made gardens and parks and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. I made reservoirs to water grooves of flourishing trees. I bought male and female slaves and had other slaves who were born in my house. I also owned more herds and flocks than anyone in Jerusalem before me. I amassed silver and gold for myself and the treasures of kings and provinces. I acquired male and female singers and a harem as well- the delights of a man’s heart. I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem before me. In all these, my wisdom stayed with me. I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my labour and this was the reward for all my toil. Yet when I surveyed all that I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.” Ecclesiastes 2:1-11

 

 

Wow! What an experiment!

 

Don’t forget he had 700 wives and 300 concubines (see 1 Kings 11:3). This experiment had a large population, all the sample specimen were duly represented; the tall, short, fair, dark, thin, fat, black, white, different religions, both young and old. The credibility cannot be questioned; I think you should still read the entire book of Ecclesiastes for the whole experimental protocol.

 

 

So at the end of the experiment, he came to this conclusion:

 

 

“Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of all mankind” Ecclesiastes 12:13

 

In the same book, he said we should remember our creator in the days of our youth (Chapter 12:1). And again, after his many wives and concubines he said it is good for a man to drink water from his own cistern and rejoice with the wife of his youth (Paraphrased; see Proverbs 5:15-20)

 

 

So why did he do all these? He did them because of you and me. It was written for our learning. In other words; don’t bother trying it out, just read his story and you will know the end result of any path you want to take in this life; King Solomon ventured into both the good and the bad and made a valid conclusion.

 

 

It makes no sense trying to reinvent the wheel, it doesn’t help anybody. It is mere foolishness to continue heading in a certain path after meeting someone who just came out from it and informed you that it leads to a dead end- vanity. It’s a waste of time and energy.

 

 

Why do you still want to continue in that lifestyle when I can simply tell you the end result from King Solomon’s life? Don’t bother doing another experiment with your own life, we all know where it will lead to. It’s too obvious to be overlooked.

 

 

To be wise is to simply sit down and learn from him. Let’s heed his advice:

 

“Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of all mankind”

 

 

Are you looking for joy and fulfillment?

 

Let me shock you, more money won’t give it to you, more cars won’t either, and another wife? (hmmm, remember oga Solomon).

 

You want to gain happiness from a new job? No, it won’t come that way, not even another degree will cure your aching heart. No matter what you add to your possessions outside Christ, the result is vanity.

 

Joy and Happiness is only found in Christ Jesus. He is the only source of overflowing joy and fulfillment. He is the one who makes a man happy and accomplished.

 

 

Your banter on social media won’t give you this joy I am talking about. Not even all the likes and comments you get on facebook, not the praises that thread your timeline. Don’t expect happiness from the hundreds of friend requests waiting to be confirmed. Those people hailing you are only virtual, some of them don’t mean it and worse still, some don’t even exist. I’m sorry, but that’s just the truth. More followers on instagram is not a recipe for satisfaction. Meanwhile, “please where are they even following you to?” Hehehe.

 

 

I remember when I was still new to Instagram, I got a notification: “@ricplaz started following you” I was like “hian, following me to where?” lol

 

 

These things are good and they are tools to be used for fulfilling God’s purpose for our lives by reaching more people, but they are not where we derive joy and happiness from.

 

 

Christ is our happiness, our joy and freedom, He is our success and peace. Let us live to obey him for this is the whole duty of man.

 

 

 

 

 

xoxo

God loves you fiercely!