Three thousand years ago, wise King Solomon, likely the richest man who ever lived, spent years trying to find the right philosophy of life. He recorded his 10 attempts in the Book of Ecclesiastes.

• A scientific view: We live in a world that naively touts science as god. Solomon took the science of his day far beyond his peers. He studied the flow and cycles of the winds and waters, and saw them as pictures of the meaningless repetition of life. He felt that we humans were only a tiny speck lost in the repetition of nature.

• Hedonism: If anyone could afford a life of sensual pleasure, King Solomon could. He enjoyed more women than he could count, entertainment from around the world, the best wines, gardens, parks, ponds, gold and silver. He built a palace with irrigated gardens that was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. He was a billionaire with nothing out of his reach — but none of his hedonistic pursuits satisfied.

• Intellectualism: As much as he pursued wisdom and learning, he perceived that fools and wise men all die alike and as much as they think, invent and discover, they have to leave it all to their spoiled children.

• Existentialism: The philosophy of existentialism (echoed in post-modernism) grew out of Europe in the wake of World War II because of feelings of futility. It says that we have no control in our world over religion or politics but only over our personal reaction to life around us. Life cannot be thought out but only lived as it comes.

• Capitalism: Capitalism, which is motivated by selfishness and competitiveness, results in pride, oppression and injustice. We may rise to the top of the ladder, but, as quickly as we do, some younger, more zealous aggressor climbs right over us.

• Religion: This was a humanistic religious approach to God but is a picture of much of our culture in North America today. Recognize that God exists and try to be as good as you can, so he will treat you nice and won’t destroy you.

• Materialism: Three drives were the focus of Solomon’s quest: riches, family and health. Doesn’t that sound vaguely familiar? Likely most of us have been influenced by the philosophy of materialism. Solomon had more riches than most of us even dream of. He likely fathered hundreds of children and seemed to enjoy good health but still he wrote in his journey “my appetite is not satisfied."

• Stoicism: A 'who cares?' attitude gradually swept over the searching king. Passionless indifference to life was the natural defence mechanism that Solomon donned as he searched for answers to the big dilemmas of our existence. “Man is thoroughly messed up and life isn’t fair.” A stoic hardness enveloped his heart to protect him from hurt but it didn’t work.

• Common sense: Not religion, but horse sense. Leave God out of life. Do the best you can; be nice; treat those who are in charge with respect and they’ll do the same for you. But his common-sense philosophy did not fulfill the spiritual nature deep within him. Solomon understood that God had created man with an eternal spirit. And that knowledge led him to his tenth and concluding philosophy...

• Obey God, he’s in charge: In his old age, Solomon got scared. He realized that it wasn’t his prerogative to pick a religion like you pick a new horse. God had already made the rules. He is the Creator and we are the creation. His final conclusion, after a futile life of searching, was to fear God and keep his commandments; for God will bring everything into judgment, everything that is hidden, whether it is good or bad. Everything is empty unless God is at the centre of our lives.

Barry Buzza (www.barrybuzza.com and http://barrybuzza.blogspot.com) is senior pastor at Northside church in Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam.