Eld Ko Swee Chay

Introduction

In Ecclesiastes chapter 5, we learned that the love of wealth is an evil travail: for great wealth ultimately means nothing under the sun, man comes with nothing into the world and leaves the same way; and that for those to whom God has given riches and wealth, God also gives him the power (ability) to enjoy those things: both the opportunity and ability to labour for riches and wealth and the power to enjoy them are gifts from God.

In Ecclesiastes 6:1-8, Solomon wants us to know the circumstances in life that lead to the evil disease of not enjoying good things – the vanity of chasing the good things in life.

No power to enjoy God’s gifts (Eccl 6:1-2)

¹ There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men: ² A man to whom God hath given riches, wealth, and honour, so that he wanteth nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but a stranger eateth it: this is vanity, and it is an evil disease.

Solomon shared his personal observation of an evil situation in life which is common (prevalent) among men. God gives riches, wealth and honour to a man, so that he is not lacking in anything for his soul (or for himself) in all that he desires, but God gives him no power (ability) to eat (enjoy) what he has. Instead, a stranger will enjoy them. This is vanity (meaningless) and an evil disease (sickening tragedy).

God gives to all men common grace: sunshine and rain; whereas God gives to some riches, wealth and honour, as God sees fit according to His sovereign will. These gifts of God appear to be a good thing, but without the ability given by God to enjoy them, is “vanity, and it is an evil disease”, is a cause of suffering. We may understand that man’s situation is the result of circumstances beyond his control. Factors that would deprive a man of the legitimate enjoyment of his wealth could be sickness, depression, bodily injury, crippling disability, death, or heavy demands imposed by work and position. Often, we hear of people toiling for years to build up their business only to be stricken with a serious illness or death when the business is successful and making profit. Adding to the man’s pain is a stranger or foreigner, someone not even distantly related, who ends up enjoying what he could not. In today’s context, things that could lead to this situation include childlessness, unethical competition, unfair policy, copying, copyright violation, acquisition, scam, or robbery.

Truly riches, wealth and honour do not guarantee true satisfaction and enjoyment in life. “Enjoyment without God is merely entertainment, and it doesn’t satisfy. But enjoyment with God is enrichment and it brings true joy and satisfaction.” (Quote by Warren W Wiersbe).      

Soul is not Satisfied (Eccl 6:3-6)

³ If a man beget an hundred children, and live many years, so that the days of his years be many, and his soul be not filled with good, and also that he have no burial; I say, that an untimely birth is better than he. ⁴ For he cometh in with vanity, and departeth in darkness, and his name shall be covered with darkness. ⁵ Moreover he hath not seen the sun, nor known any thing: this hath more rest than the other. ⁶ Yea, though he live a thousand years twice told, yet hath he seen no good: do not all go to one place?

Solomon went on to share another situation in life. Here is a man with many children and who lived a long life, but sadly his soul is not filled or satisfied with the good (fruit of his labour); also there is no burial for him. “the days of his years be many” implying that the days are filled with distresses, worries and problems, i.e. living a miserable life. “he have no burial” implying he is deprived of a decent or honourable burial, i.e. to die unlamented. For the Jews, having abundant offspring and living a long life were regarded as blessings from God, but Solomon viewed these as not necessarily resulting in a purposeful and happy life.

Viewed from the standpoint of an empty life filled with distress and hardship, Solomon noted an untimely birth (stillborn baby) is better off than the man’s life. Solomon used the illustration of a stillborn baby for rhetorical purposes, to make the point that a long life with abundant offspring but lived away from God is a wasted life. Unlike such a man, the stillborn baby escapes all sorrow and misery. Although the stillborn baby departs immediately from the womb to the grave, his name is covered in darkness, he does not experience life, he experiences rest (calmness) exceeding those who live. Solomon was saying that the rich man who lives a thousand years twice after much labour and sorrow and the baby did nothing and when both die both return to the grave (Eccl 6:6). For those who live without Christ, it makes no difference whether in this life they are rich or poor, foolish or wise, live a long or short life – all will end up in the common destination of eternal separation from God, in hell.

Appetite is not filled (Eccl 6:7-8)

⁷ All the labour of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled. ⁸ For what hath the wise more than the fool? what hath the poor, that knoweth to walk before the living?

The word “appetite” is often translated “soul” and designates the whole person. All the labour of man is for his mouth, and yet the soul is not filled or satisfied. A person must eat and drink to continue living. So, humans must work to be able to earn the food and the drink that enter the body through the mouth. Proverbs 16:26 expresses the similar thought, “He that laboureth laboureth for himself; for his mouth craveth it of him”. This is like saying the desires of the soul find nothing in the wealth of the world to give him satisfaction. The more he has, the more he wants, never satisfied. The appetite not being filled refers to more than worldly wealth. It includes the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes.

The fact that the “soul,” i.e. desire or appetite, is not filled or satisfied prompted Solomon to ask the two questions in Eccl 6:8. Though the wise one and the fool may deal with their desires differently, they are alike in having to labour for their mouth and having the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes in them, for the necessities of life are the same to both, and their condition in life is nearly similar. Wisdom does not set free one from troubling desires. So, in this context, the wise one has no advantage over the fool. Likewise, the poor man does not have an advantage (over the rich) from knowing how to conduct himself before others, for both the poor and the rich have the same necessities of life and are subject to the same lusts. The root of the problem is the original sin in man that manifests in “the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life” which we need to suppress and even eradicate.      

Conclusion

Riches, wealth, honour, children and long life are typical measures of prosperity and blessing used by the world. Often, man looks at someone who seems to have everything for a happy and enjoyable life and becomes envious. Solomon showed the folly by highlighting the difference between the appearance and reality. Although having abundant wealth, honour, many children, and a long life may appear to be good, the reality is that having those things is no guarantee that all is well with the soul. In fact, many who appear to have it all are living a miserable life. It is best to trust and to submit to the sovereignty of God who has control over all circumstances and knows what is best for our life. Only a life lived for God is meaningful and profitable. Therefore, look to the Lamb of God for salvation grace, and for help to live for Him and to manage our desires and life, and to be ready for eternity. AMEN.