Ecclesiastes 6
The Miseries of Covetousness.At the end of the last chapter, Solomon explained that it is good to enjoy and use what God gives us. Now, he warns about the opposite—when people gather wealth but do not use it. Some people just save for the future and refuse to spend, even when there are urgent needs. Solomon calls this a serious problem he has seen under the sun . He noticed that both being wasteful and being too stingy cause harm. Wealth, like blood in the body, is meant to circulate. If it just sits there, it causes problems for everyone. Solomon saw that this problem was common, even in times of peace and plenty. No matter how much riches increase, people’s hearts can still be too attached to them.v. 1: Solomon points out that it is a great evil to have much and not use it. Some people have many blessings, yet they do not enjoy them or share them. This hurts both themselves and others. v. 2: He describes a person whom God has given riches, wealth, and honour . These gifts often make people respected. But these are gifts from God, given only to some. Many people receive riches but do not get the wisdom or grace to use them well. Sometimes, God gives people wealth but not the ability to find joy or to use it to serve Him. Without God's special grace, wealth can do more harm than good.This person has everything he desires to satisfy himself, just as much as anyone could wish (Psalm 73:7 a). But he only wants things for his body, not for his soul. He is only interested in pleasures and comforts (Psalm 17:14 b), not spiritual growth. v. 3: He might even have a large family—a hundred children—which would bring honor and the hope that his name will live on (Psalm 17:14 c). Many people see children as a great blessing, but not everyone receives this gift.He may also live a very long time—a thousand years twice over—which is far longer than anyone really lives. But even if he had all these things, lasting happiness does not come from possessions or a long life. Experience would teach that true good is not just in having things, but in using them rightly. This rich person does not use what he has. He does not enjoy his blessings or share them. He cannot bring himself to use his wealth, even for his own needs. Sometimes God allows this as a punishment for misusing blessings. Instead, strangers end up enjoying his wealth (Hosea 7:9; Proverbs 5:10 d). This is called vanity, and a terrible disease. Not using what we have is foolish and harmful, like a sickness of the heart. His soul is never satisfied, and he does not even get simple pleasures from his riches. In the end, he might not even receive a proper burial. Those who benefit from his wealth later do not care about his memory.Solomon says that a stillborn child—an untimely birth—is better off than such a miser. A baby who dies at birth never gets to enjoy life, but it also avoids all the troubles and restlessness of a greedy person. That child comes in vanity and departs in darkness (Ecclesiastes 6:4-5 e). It never sees the sun or knows anything. Yet, this child has more rest than the covetous man, who is always troubled by his desire for more. – – v. 6: In the end, everyone goes to the same place—the grave (Ecclesiastes 6:6; Ecclesiastes 3:20 f). Whether a person lives a thousand years or only a few hours, they all die. Rich or poor, everyone ends up in the same place. The grave is the final meeting point for all, and all our wealth and worries are left behind. The Insatiableness of Desire.In this section, Solomon continues to show how empty it is to chase after wealth and expect happiness from it. He explains that no matter how much people work or gain, their desires are never truly satisfied. Even wise people and fools end up with the same basic needs, and it is better to be content with what we have than to always want more. Everything we receive is decided by God, and we cannot change His plans. In the end, we are all just human, and we cannot fight against God’s will.v. 7: Solomon says that all our hard work is just to meet our basic needs. All the labour of man is for his mouth . We work to eat and survive, but even if we get more, it does not truly satisfy us. Our bodies need only a little to live, and having much more does not help our souls. As Proverbs says, the appetite of laborers works for them; their hunger drives them on (Proverbs 16:26 g).Even when people get what they want, their desires return. Natural hunger comes back every day, and sinful desires are never satisfied (Ecclesiastes 5:10 h). Wealth is like water to a thirsty person—it only makes them want more. The soul cannot be filled with worldly things. When God gave Israel what they wanted, He also sent leanness to their souls (Psalm 106:15 i). The rich fool thought he could relax because his barns were full, but he was wrong (Luke 12:19 j). v. 8: Solomon asks, What advantage has the wise over the fool? . Both wise and foolish people can have wealth and enjoy it. Sometimes, fools even seem to have less trouble with their riches. In the end, both get only what they need to live. If there is no joy in the mind and heart, both are the same in this world.Even a poor person who knows how to live well and work honestly can have as much comfort as a rich person. If he knows how to walk before the living—to behave wisely and do his duty—he can be respected and content with what he has. He may even be happier than a rich person who is greedy and proud. Having enough and being content is true wealth (1 Timothy 6:8 k). v. 9: It is better to enjoy what we have than to always want more. Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire . Being content with what is in front of us is much happier than always chasing after new things. Wanting more is empty and leads to disappointment. If we get what we want, it is often not as good as we hoped. If we do not get it, we feel upset. This endless wanting is vanity and vexation of spirit. v. 10: Everything we have is decided by God. That which has been is named already . God has already planned our lives, and we cannot change His decisions. It is wise to accept what God gives us and not fight against it. We should let what pleases God please us, too.No matter what we achieve, we are still only human. It is known that it is man (Genesis 5:2 l). God made us from the earth, and we are weak and mortal. Even the richest and most powerful people are still just people. They can face the same troubles as anyone else. The Bible reminds us, Put them in fear, O Lord: that the nations may know themselves to be but men (Psalm 9:20 m). The Insatiableness of Desire.Solomon reflects on the emptiness of pursuing worldly things and concludes that life is already full of vanity, and many things only add to this emptiness. He emphasizes that we do not truly know what will make us happy, and life on earth is short and uncertain. Because of this, our hopes for the future are as uncertain as our current experiences. In the end, everything in this world is temporary and unreliable.v. 11: Solomon says, “There are many things that increase vanity” . Life is already brief and empty, but many events and desires make it feel even more pointless. Having more possessions or experiences does not bring true happiness. When we examine all we have gained, nothing provides lasting value or meaning. Solomon teaches that we cannot argue with God or change His plans. “Man may not contend with him that is mightier than he” (Job 33:12 n). It is foolish to complain about what God does because His wisdom and power are far greater than ours. No amount of wealth or possessions can protect us from sickness or death, and we cannot control what will happen after us. In the end, we must accept God’s will and trust His wisdom. Life is short and uncertain, and we should focus on eternal things rather than chasing after the temporary and unreliable things of this world. v. 12: Solomon asks, Who knows what is good for a man in this life? (Ecclesiastes 6:12 o). We often want things we think will make us happy, but sometimes those things end up hurting us. We are like children who want what is bad for us. Because life is so uncertain, we cannot even know what will happen to us or to those who come after us. Our lives are like a fleeting shadow—uncertain and passing quickly. Even our hopes for what comes after us are unsure. The Bible says, His sons come to honour, and he knows it not (Job 14:21 p). So, no matter how we look at life, all is vanity.
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