Ecc 6:3 | MHM | STEP | 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 ). 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 ). 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 ). 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.

‏ Ecclesiastes 6:3

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 ^a). 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 ^b). 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 ^c). 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.