The Treasury of Solomon : Questions to a life of self-service

Reference Passage:

Proverbs 13:19 (NASB)
Desire realized is sweet to the soul,
But it is an abomination to fools to turn away from evil.

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Our sweetest memories are often made when we have our deepest desires satisfied, on our own or with help from others. In fact, most popular movements use this philosophical backbone to attract followers. Anyone who tells the way to pleasure, whatever the hearer's taste, will easily soar high in the approval ratings – the shorter the way, the better. Moreover, the world today offers options for every imaginable preference, humans being a race of diverse likes. Every idea brings a unique sense of gratification – the very thing that makes it difficult to separate a practise and the practitioner. Although our personalities embody immense capabilities, its interesting to note that our desires drive us to use them or simply waste them away.

However, its always impossible to ligitimise every desire. We've happily introduced such words as 'amoral' to convince ourselves that our actions carry no consequence. Whenever a question is raised, almost everyone says, as do I, that they're trying not to 'harm' anybody else. We excuse ourselves liberty even when we cross known boundaries, as long as we're not stepping on someone's toes. Of course, that assumes we can see those toes in the first place and everyone sounds genuinely concerned about the common good. Really?

Whatever our definition of 'evil', evil apparently comprises some portion of everyone's experience. Moreover the global manifestations of evil only increase, never decrease. The point is that, this 'common good' that we imply, is gradually becoming irreversibly invisible. The media may have played a part in the skewed portrayal of facts, but undeniable statistics remain. If we all were authentically trying to make decisions thinking of others, then why is this so?

There is a vital premise to the discussion that sets the subject in a different light. Are we a created lot or a self-made kind? They that have brought about their own existence, or developed their own progress, have the right to chase their own fancies. It is the rest of us that bear the responsibility of pleasing someone else, parents for instance. Coming to think of it, if we are the creation of a creative God, it is implied that our desires are created too. Furthermore, it indicates that the Creator has His own unique desires over creation that seek satisfaction, as is true of us. In that case, should it not be our highest destiny and ultimate desire, to please God fully with our lives?

Its the mark of a good designer to take pleasure in the yield of his invention, which correlates to its own intended state of well-being. I can't help but think of the popular Windows computer operating system. When a click is a click, Microsoft has reason to smile. On the other hand, if a click turns the system feverish, we know something's wrong with Windows. In other words, our pursuit of the Creator's good pleasure would be the ideal ground for the benefit of our race, and self-seeking the cause of our ruin.

God's realistic view of the big picture is another reason for us to seek the common good through Him, rather than on our own. Communism was once touted as the model of a just society, keeping God out of the picture. By and large, communist governments have been atheist in outlook, some even attempting to stamp out religion. But the world is yet to see a single successful Communist country that could attain its theoretical goals without mass murder and curbing of rights to expression. The story of Liu Xiabo, the Chinese Nobel Laureate who was prevented from receiving the prestigious prize, reveals the current state of affairs in China. Communism was no cure for man's natural tendency to serve himself at others' costs, and self-seeking individuals have repeatedly undermined its cause.

Returning to our earlier question of increasing evil, here's food for thought : How could we source everything in life from the One who formed us, and yet claim to derive pleasure on our own, exclusive of Him? Above all, if our ingratitude and negligence had turned our River of Joy into the undrinkable Spring of Sorrow, how could we expect our world to become a happier place with every passing day? The truth is that whenever we willfully relish the forbidden fruit, we court the risk of spending life outside the Garden, banished to till the accursed ground as we please. With the passage of time, the sons of Adam may delight in the sweaty painful labours of the earth and advertise a glittering planet, while actually multiplying their sorrows. Yet, Adam alone knows what he gambled away. Fittingly, our end is a return to the ground we cultivated by life's choices, and not to the delights of God's Garden!

Though His critics ridicule Him as a suicidal hero, the person of Jesus Christ continually exposes our vain self-serving worldviews. Having known His life's real purpose, He prayed agonisingly in Gethsemane, en route to the horrors of crucifixion, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will." (Mathew 26:39)

Sinners discover at the Cross that Christ's submission to that higher will, helped release forever God's goodwill toward us – a uniting joy that far surpasses the divisive peaks of lust.

As suggests the wise man, our hope is to forsake our foolish ways – but would we?

The Treasury of Solomon : Naked and left in the cold

Reference Passage: 

Proverbs 25:20 (NIV)
Like one who takes away a garment on a cold day... is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.

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As we return to Solomon's treasury, our concern this time is the growing attempt worldwide, to deny the realities of sorrow with the belief that a positive attitude is all that really matters in life. The wise man tells us that trying to laugh away the burdens of our heart is like taking off our clothes on a wintry day. Let me explain.

In the marketplace of ideas, the concept of Commercial laughter has become a major player. The gift of mirth is now peddled in a variety of shapes and sizes, tailored to fit all kinds of taste. In Eastern mysticism lingo, there exists a form of exercise called Hasyayoga – laughter yoga, in English. The argument goes that since the body is unable to distinguish between real and fake laughter, the positive effects thereof may be harnessed to trigger good health and mental tranquility. With the world increasingly looking East for spiritual therapy in recent times, the joke has spread far and wide, like many other good jokes. Its no longer strange to find groups of usually sane adults, laughing their way to wellness, seated in parks in the early hours of the morning. 

Comedy is similarly being pressed into service all over the world. A daring race of stand-up comedians are grabbing attention, poking fun at just about anything from politics to religion to popular culture. It now appears that keeping the paying audience in splits of laughter, presumes prime importance, irrespective of the content of the punch line. Hence, time and again, there is a subtle foray into hitherto restricted territory, armed with nothing more than a simplistic view of life's deeper questions. And why not, given the fact that it helps to ease tension, and help us feel better?

Laugh we may, but human kind does not appear to be a very happy lot. Aren't we assuring ourselves that we're the descendants of evolved monkeys and happiness is the result of chemical processes and neural responses, within the brain? No wonder, our attempts at happiness remain peripheral, because we continue to deny the realities of our inner selves. 

Let me take you to the airline check-in counter at the airport, for a quick illustration. With all the talk of “global quality standards” and “customer satisfaction”, you find the counter occupied by a smiling attendant, ever willing to meet any need. The greeting, the polite questions and quick windup of routines, leave you charmed. However, these are also the days of tight budgets and last-minute flight cancellations. Lo and behold! The counter is soon mobbed by an impatient crowd and questions are volleyed across by the dozen. Soon the smile dissolves away with the makeup, as the rising heat induces a bout of perspiration. The helpless passenger is left wondering if the smile earlier, had depth to match the length. Besides, why did it disappear when it was most needed?

I wonder if in similar fashion, our joy and peace of mind lasts only as long as we are immersed in the comforts of the expected. Remember life has an uncanny tendency to present the unexpected, catching us unawares.

Oppressive cold weather always means refuge in warmer clothes, at least for us human beings. Exposing oneself to the elements, without the strength to match, is definitely not an act of courage. Acting as if the chill doesn't exist, does not lighten the onslaught or the suffering. Yet, why is it that we attempt to live in a state of denial and complacency as the world around us continues to hurt?  

Believe it or not, the sadness and frustration has penetrated our inner selves too. Merely consider the human hunger for entertainment, for evidence of our desperation. The audience demand for lust, mirth and other forms of self-indulgence have only grown over the years as the performers remain sensitive to the lure of money. I was taught in my school days that humans needed recreation or entertainment, to overcome the mental tension of everyday life. In that case, does not the craving for more entertainment reveal the reality that more distress infiltrates our hearts everyday? 

To me, it appears as if our efforts have only served to further aggravate the internal crisis, which is alarming – the pill that draws appetite to itself, is never really medicine, it is only an addictive drug. Mankind does not ask what we are truly doing to ourselves, and we'll pay the price someday.

Worse yet, those of us who have absolutely no idea how biting the cold can be, attempt to convince others that it takes only a smile for the darkness to dissipate. You wish!

The Bible tells us this of God's Presence:
“In Your presence is fullness of joy;
At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” (Psalm 16:11)

The need of the hour is a solution that brings man into day-by-day personal experience of God's Presence, even as he confronts the challenges of pain and sorrow. Almost 2 millennia ago, was born the One called “Immanuel” - literally translated “God with us.” His biographies do not tell us anything about His laughter or whether He made people laugh. His messages eventually stung His enemies to retaliate with the death penalty because He made it plain that man could not taste happiness on his own terms. Unlike so many other heroes of history, He chose to suffer on a Roman Cross, silently, and for no fault of His. 

Having risen again on the third day, His Name is still called upon for salvation, all over the globe, irrespective of caste, colour or religion. Those who have tasted the sweetness of His friendship, declare the peace and joy that refuses to evaporate in times of trouble. They do not drown their sorrows with empty songs or nervous giggles, they'd rather share their sorrows with Him, Who has tasted suffering for them first-hand. He continues to be their Rock, where they stay anchored even when the world threatens to tear up their faith.

An old hymn cries out these words of challenge:
“Will your anchor hold in the storms of life,
When the clouds unfold their wings of strife?
When the strong tides lift and the cables strain,
Will your anchor drift or firm remain?”

Remarkably, Jesus Christ, our Immanuel, never was, is or ever will be, the result of man digging out the secret recipe of true happiness, but God offering it at His own expense, to anyone ready to take Him at His Word.