When Solomon wrote of the emptiness of pleasure and achievement, was he making excuses for all the  “pleasures” in which he had indulged?

One of Solomon's bits of wisdom is that there are some questions that cannot be answered.  Wisdom is knowing that.

"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief."

The more we know about God and His Word the more we are able to understand what has happened with churchianity and religiosity, therefore the more sorrow and grief we feel for those who are deceived and for those who don't know.

In all of Solomon's wisdom he sees that everything here on earth is meaningless so there must be something more.

In Chapter 4 he writes, "I saw the tears of the oppressed - and they have no comforter." How very blessed we are as Believers in Jesus!  We have the Great Comforter in the presence of the Holy Spirit.

John 14:16  

And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, so that He may be with you forever, 

 As Solomon comments of the meaninglessness of false worship, these words stand out.  "Therefore stand in awe of God."  What wonderful words of wisdom for us today - to stand in awe of our Creator, Savior, and Lord! 

In chapter 5, he writes about the emptiness of wealth.  He seems to come to an understanding that it is God who enables us to enjoy what He gives us.  "He seldom reflects on the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart."

We should focus on the Giver.  With God we have everything we need.

In his wisdom it seems that Solomon was seeing that everything on earth is meaningless so he must be thinking "There must be something more".

Praise God, we know there is something more – life everlasting.