1 Corinthians 15:19 KJV [19] If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
There once was a man who was a miserable man, and at first he didn’t even realize it. He was young and healthy and whatever pleasure he desired he joyously pursued it. He could eat or drink anything he wanted, seemingly without consequences. The world was his oyster, it appeared as if the possibilities were endless. Whatever pleasure he desired upon earth he had the finances to make it happen.
He was an architect, politician and a contractor. This man built houses, churches and healthcare facilities. He managed large corporations and owned vast farms. This person was an entrepreneur that lived in mansions all located in the most desirable real estate locations. He was like the mythical character Midas—if he touched something it turned to gold. Women wanted to marry him and men wanted to be seen as his friend. He ate, he drank, and he was merry, living everyday as if it were his last day.
This man was once young, but time passed quickly like a wisp of fog vanishes in the rising sun. Seemingly overnight he was old and realized despite all his knowledge he would soon die, just like any other fool whether rich or poor. Everything he ever did or owned would be lost upon his death. Finally, he realized the vanity of it all and what a miserable man he was!
If you haven’t already realized it, this miserable man is King Solomon. I have simply restated Solomon’s own story of his life from the Book of Ecclesiastes. The Bible relates that Solomon is the wisest man who ever lived. Consider this: given that Solomon was the wisest person to have ever lived, what does that say about the rest of us?
Let me expound; having already mentioned his accomplishments, now let’s look at the results of these accomplishments. All of his building projects resulted in not only Solomon having to raise taxes to pay for them, but also his son having to do the same.
As a matter of fact, Solomon’s son, Rehoboam, raised taxes so much that the people revolted and ten of the twelve nation tribes he ruled formed a separate or divided kingdom under a usurper named Jeroboam (see 1 Kings 12).
Additionally, Solomon’s political decisions regarding foreign policy led him to marry hundreds of wives from the many smaller tribal kingdoms, plus an Egyptian princess. All of which was a violation of God’s instructions to Israel (see 1 Kings 11:3).
This resulted in Solomon directly violating the First and Second Commandments at a minimum (see Exodus 20), which also caused the removal of God’s blessings upon Israel (see Deuteronomy 28:1-14) plus a pouring out of all the curses, as promised by God in Deuteronomy 28:15-68.
Solomon’s kingdom was a theocracy, which is a King and religious leader combined. The typical problem with theocracies is that “absolute power corrupts absolutely.”
This is why Jesus told his disciples, “If you want to be great in the kingdom of Heaven, become a servant. Jesus himself left his throne in Heaven to become a servant to illustrate his own example. Solomon on the other hand began with good intentions but gave in to the temptations of unrestrained authority.
Friendship with the world is not compatible with fellowship with God (See James 4:4). Much like Solomon but to a lesser degree, some in the Corinthian Church professed a religion, but not according to God’s teaching.
In 1 Corinthians 15, this age-old idea typified by the ever popular slogan “Eat drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die,” had infiltrated the church at Corinth. It probably stemmed from the teachings of the Sadducee religious sect of that time, which did not believe in a resurrection of the dead, or in an immortal soul. (See Matthew 22 or Acts 23).
If a person is living with no expectation of an immortal soul which will be resurrected, then naturally their focus would be on this life only. Yet most still have some form of a conscience and don’t want to fully acknowledge the depravity of their mind. So they need a type of religion to help justify their lust for the pleasures of this life. Many even endeavor in great philanthropy out of an abundance of wealth, to help sear over that wounded conscience. However, ultimately, they are reaching for their best life now.
Personally, I have more respect for an atheist, at least the atheist isn’t putting on a facade of Christianity as a pretense to sooth their conscience.
Jude summed it up thusly:
Jude 1:12 KJV [12] These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots.