Ecclesiastes Chapter Six

In our study of Ecclesiastes chapter six, we look at the importance of enjoying our lives and the things that God has provided.

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Ecclesiastes 6:1 & 2

I have seen another evil under the sun, and it weighs heavily on people: the case in which God gives someone riches, wealth and honor, so that he lacks nothing that he wants; but God does not give him the power to enjoy them, and some stranger gets to enjoy them - this is meaningless, evil, sick.

In chapter five, we saw Solomon's conclusion on the hoarding of wealth instead of sharing with those in need. He continues with the theme of possessions as he speaks of the man that has it all but does not have the ability to enjoy it. This speaks of contentment which is basically celebrating what God has given us. We often see cases of people who spend all of their time acquiring possessions or chasing recognition for their activities and yet die at an early age. God has numbered the days of each of us and we can use them as we want but we do not know how many we have. It is meaningless to store up things for a day in the future that you might not even have.

Ecclesiastes 6:3

Suppose a man fathers a hundred children and lives many years, so that he has a long life, but he fails to enjoy himself; then, even if he were to [live indefinitely and therefore] never be buried, I say that it would be better to be born dead.

Even if God grants us many days, what good are the days if we do not have contentment? If we do not slow down to enjoy the relationships that God has provided, Solomon says that we would be better off to have never lived. Many people today pass away and leave nobody that misses them or even knows they are gone. This is sad and they are no better off than a child that never had the chance to live.

Ecclesiastes 6:4-6

For the arrival of a stillborn baby is a futile thing, and its departure is in darkness; its name is [forgotten,] covered in darkness; and although it has never seen or known the sun, it is more content than he is, without enjoying himself, even if he were to live a thousand years twice over. Doesn't everyone go to the same place?

The stillborn child does not have to face the struggles of this world but instead goes to be with Jesus for eternity. That baby is better off than the man who lives a long life without happiness and contentment. That is what Paul was talking about when he said that it would be gain for him to die and to go to be with the Lord (see Philippians 1:21).

Ecclesiastes 6:7-9

The purpose of all toil is to fill the mouth, yet the appetite is never satisfied. What advantage has the wise over the fool, or the person with experience, if he is poor? Better what the eyes can see than meandering desire. Yet this too is pointless and feeding on wind.

Here, Solomon describes the futility of chasing the latest and greatest thing instead of being happy with what we have. Once again, he tells us that it is like trying to catch the wind. Without this contentment that can only come from God, we are at the mercy of the next advertisement that is put in front of our face. We can chase the latest thing but, even when we get it, there will be something new that the world says we must have.

Ecclesiastes 6:10-12

Whatever he is, he was named long ago, and it is known that he is merely human; moreover, he cannot defeat what is mightier than he [death]. There are many things that only add to futility, so how do humans benefit from them? For who knows what is good for someone during life, during the days of his pointless life spent like a shadow? Who can tell what will happen under the sun after a person is gone?

Now, we see that contentment also has to do with the fact that we cannot know and understand everything. We have to accept the fact that God knows all things and He is in control so we don't have to worry about the future.