The Third Element of Indulgence is: The Investments of Life

Solomon says, “So I started some large project. I built houses for myself. I planted vineyards. I made gardens and parks. I planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. I made lakes to water groves of healthy trees.” It is beyond expression the size of the investment that Solomon made just to find

pleasure, and to no avail did any of these things bring fulfillment to his desire, for he overly states in verse 11 of chapter 2; “And nothing had any meaning. It was like chasing the wind. Nothing was gained on this earth.” Understand that investments are designed to bring about a return with profits. Any investment that has no fruitful gain is a bad investment.

1) Many of us have faced the results of a bad investment. And if we be honest with ourselves

we find ourselves being the perpetrators of the assaults against ourselves.

2) The stock that we place in the selfish ideologies of our wants and desires has lost its value

due to the intent of its outcome and forecast. When you invest with only you in mind, you

defeat the purpose of growth and development. One of the tell-tale signs of a bad

investment, is pride.

3) Pride is a deceitful element that creates impulses to make decisions without doing due

diligence.

The question I’d like to ask you is, “Where are your investments?” So many of us have invested

in a bad relationship because of image, a bad marriage because of looks, a bad career because of

status, bad habits because of selfishness and bad parenting because of self-control. All of these

investments have centered around self and have caused much damage to the ideals of togetherness,

which creates a holistic approach to fulfillment. The moment for evolution is now. Evolving from

the “me-myself-and-I concept to the we-ourselves-and-everybody concept.” This concept creates

value that brings a return to the deposits of unity.

Be blessed,

Baron Hopgood