Context No. 2847 of 4322 · Ecclesiastes

Ecclesiastes 6:1-12: in context

1There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is heavy on men: 2a man to whom God gives riches, wealth, and honor, so that he lacks nothing for his soul of all that he desires, yet God gives him no power to eat of it, but an alien eats it. This is vanity, and it is an evil disease. 3If a man fathers a hundred children, and lives many years, so that the days of his years are many, but his soul is not filled with good, and moreover he has no burial, I say that a stillborn child is better than he; 4for it comes in vanity, and departs in darkness, and its name is covered with darkness. 5Moreover it has not seen the sun nor known it. This has rest rather than the other. 6Yes, though he live a thousand years twice told, and yet fails to enjoy good, don’t all go to one place? 7All the labor of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled. 8For what advantage has the wise more than the fool? What has the poor man, that knows how to walk before the living? 9Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire. This also is vanity and a chasing after wind. 10Whatever has been, its name was given long ago; and it is known what man is; neither can he contend with him who is mightier than he. 11For there are many words that create vanity. What does that profit man? 12For who knows what is good for man in life, all the days of his vain life which he spends like a shadow? For who can tell a man what will be after him under the sun?

The Preacher names an evil he has watched weigh heavily on people: a man to whom God gives riches, wealth, and honor, so that he lacks nothing he desires, and yet God does not grant him the ability to enjoy it, and a stranger consumes it instead. So bitter is this to him that he says a stillborn child has more rest than such a man, though he lives a thousand years and never tastes good.

Ecclesiastes sits with a hard truth we would rather not face: having is not the same as enjoying. A person can possess everything and relish nothing. The gift and the capacity to enjoy the gift are two different things, and both come from God's hand. Wealth cannot manufacture contentment; that too has to be received as grace. Elsewhere the Preacher says plainly that even the ability to enjoy your own bread and work is the gift of God.

Do I chase having more, when the gift I actually need is the God-given capacity to enjoy and be content with what I already have?

Sources

Ecclesiastes 6:2: "A man to whom God gives riches, wealth, and honor... yet God gives him no power to eat of it."
Ecclesiastes 5:19: "To accept his portion and to rejoice in his labor. This is the gift of God."
1 Timothy 6:6: "But godliness with contentment is great gain."