Eld Ko Swee Chay

We take nothing with us, enjoy God’s gift with right perspective (Ecclesiastes 5:15-20)

Introduction

Under the theme of the vanity of wealth and materialism, Ecclesiastes 5:8-14 deals with: 1) the enduring fact of oppression and injustice, 2) the love of wealth that is evil travail.

Continuing on the same theme, Ecclesiastes 5:15-20 deals with: 1) the reality of life – we take nothing with us, 2) the enjoyment of the gifts of God. The study of these verses will help us to have a God-centred view concerning the acquiring and hoarding of wealth and the use of the gifts of God with the right perspective. 

The reality of life – we take nothing with us (Eccl 5:15-17)

¹⁵ As he came forth of his mother's womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand. ¹⁶ And this also is a sore evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit hath he that hath laboured for the wind? ¹⁷ All his days also he eateth in darkness, and he hath much sorrow and wrath with his sickness.

Eccl 5:15-16 emphasises that we come to this world with nothing, and we shall leave this world with nothing. This is a fact nobody with a sound mind can deny. Look at a baby at birth: naked, empty-handed. Look at a dead person in the coffin: holding nothing in his hands. Three other Bible verses echo the same theme as Eccl 5:15-16. “And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; ….” (Job 1:21); “For when he died he shall carry nothing away ….” (Ps 49:17); “For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.” (1 Tim 6:7).  These Bible verses remind us of the reality of life: we bring nothing into this world, and we certainly can carry nothing out. We ought not to put our heart, mind, and soul in chasing the things of this world. We ought to know that we are born in sin. If we do not sorrow for our sin and come to repentance, we will die in sin and end up in hell. “as he came, so shall he go”, i.e. born as a sinner, die as a sinner.  Solomon called this wasted life a sore evil and wasted effort as if he had laboured for the wind.

Eccl 5:17 describes such a sad life, of one who spends all his days in the endless toil, labour, and cares of this world, to live a carnal life away from God and to end up with much sorrow and wrath with sickness! Solomon wants us to ask this question: “what profit hath he that hath laboured for the wind?” The answer is obvious: nothing! This shows the foolishness of acquiring and hoarding wealth. Sadly, and tragically, many people amid the pursuing of career or business and of the things of the world have ignored this reality, that at death we will leave everything behind, and we will take nothing with us.    

In addition, when we are afflicted with a terminal disease, possessions and riches will mean nothing to us. This is the testimony of a rich and famous 38 year old singer who is afflicted with incurable cancer: “I own the world’s most expensive car parked in my garage, but now I only sit on a wheelchair; my house has lots of dresses and shoes but now I’m only clothed in hospital garments; I have a big bank account but  now I only use the money to pay for medical bills; I have a beautiful house like a palace but now I lie on a hospital bed; I signed my name for thousands of my fans with great happiness but now I only sign for procedures and bills with a heavy heart; I had many hairdressers to do my hair but now I have no hair; I have a private jet to fly me anywhere but now I need people to move me to the hospital; I can have lots of good food but now I have a few white tablets as my daily food.”

Worse than this miserable physical and emotional agony and struggle is that if she dies as a sinner, she will end up in hell, which will be eternal torment.      

The enjoyment of the gifts of God with the right perspective (Eccl 5:18-20)

¹⁸ Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it is his portion. ¹⁹ Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God. ²⁰ For he shall not much remember the days of his life; because God answereth him in the joy of his heart.

In Ecclesiastes 5:18-19, Solomon called our earnest attention to matters that he had experienced.  It is good and comely (fitting, legitimate) for man to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour all the days of his life; for it is his portion which God gives him. God had also given every man riches, and wealth, and the power (ability) to use and enjoy them, to take his portion, and to find happiness in his labour; this is the gift of God. 

This phrase “gift of God” occurs only twice in the OT – in Ecclesiastes 3:13 and 5:19. In both instances, the “gift” refers to material blessings. On the other hand, the six occurrences in the NT all refer to spiritual blessings – especially eternal life (Rom 6:23, Jn 4:10, Acts 8:20, 1Co 7:7, Eph 2:8, 2Ti 1:6). 

Life is a gift of God. How long we remain in this world is determined by God (Job 14:5). All that we are and all that we have come from God. The jobs, professions, and the businesses that we do are all given by God. Wherever God places us, let us be faithful and diligent to do a good job, and not murmur and complain. Let us bear a good witness and testimony for Christ. When God blesses our labour with riches, it is legitimate and fitting for us to enjoy them but remember to thank Him for His goodness and grace. Let us also not follow how the people of the world enjoy life to the fullest with all sorts of carnal entertainment: “…thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink and be merry.” (Luke 12:19). Although riches are not the source of joy, they can be a reason for us to rejoice, since every good thing comes from God. We should focus on God the Giver rather than the gift. We can drive a nicer car, live in a bigger house, have a big bank account, but always remember: “But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth,” (Deut 8:18b). We should be contented with what we have if we realise that with God, we have everything we need.    

When we enjoy the good of our labour, let us be clear that this is mere worldly happiness and temporal enjoyments. We need to carefully adjust and maintain the balance; for moderation is the key. While one might plead against over-strictness, one should also guard against wanton indulgence. Maintain a just appreciation of the gifts of God. Use these gifts prudently, not just for self and family, but also for the glory of God. Enjoying what God has given us is not evil. The evil is in the abuse of it and becoming the slave of worldly goods. Don’t allow riches to become a hindrance to our Christian life, to shut us out of heaven (Matt 19:23), to become high-minded and trust in uncertain riches (1 Tim 6:17). “Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life ….” (Jn 6:27).

Despite all the potential difficulties and frustrations, God has given man the ability to use and enjoy the things of life that He gives. Ecclesiastes 5:20 sums up that the blessing is when one receives all things as gifts from God and enjoys them with a grateful and thankful heart. He will not be overly concerned with the struggles of daily life. Whatever God gives, he receives with gratitude and enjoys it for the glory of God. He passes his time pleasantly and delightfully without being troubled by the difficulties of life. A cheerful spirit is a great blessing, for it makes labours easy and afflictions light.   

Conclusion

God wants us to realise that great wealth ultimately means nothing under the sun. Man comes with nothing into the world and leaves the same way. Man comes into the world as a sinner, but God doesn’t want him to leave this world as a sinner. Truly a rich man’s life without God is vanity of vanities. God wants us to know that the opportunity and ability to labour, the fruit of the labour and the power to enjoy the fruit of the labour are all gifts from God. 

One major gift is the ability to enjoy work and its fruit. Enjoying what God has given is not evil; the evil is in the abuse of it and becoming a slave of worldly goods. Don’t allow riches to become a hindrance to our Christian life. God wants us to have a cheerful spirit, to live pleasantly and delightfully and not be troubled by the difficulties of life; for God has put joy and gladness in our hearts.  Amen.