Eld Ko Swee Chay

Looking at life with right perspectives (Ecclesiastes 6:9-12)

Introduction

In Ecclesiastes 6:1-8, Solomon highlighted to us the circumstances in life that lead to the evil disease of not enjoying good things in life. Riches, wealth, honour, children and long life are typical measures of prosperity and blessing used by the world, but the reality is that having those things is no guarantee that all is well with the soul. Many who have them are living a miserable life.

Despite life being full of “vanity and vexation of spirit”, as Solomon has shown before, he wants us to look at life with right perspectives: be content with what we have, contend not with God, and realise we know not the future.

Content with what we have (Eccl 6:9)

⁹ Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit.

“The sight of the eyes” is the reality before us. “The wandering of the desire” is the longing pursuit of unattainable things or imagined phantoms. A person longing for the unattainable and seeking the unreachable will only have the result of “vanity and vexation of the spirit”, i.e. meaningless, emptiness, or purposeless, never coming to a successful conclusion.

To “see” with one’s eyes signifies possession. What Solomon meant was, “It is better to have little and really enjoy it than to dream about much and never attain it.” This points to a positive perspective in life, especially when it comes to money and riches and possessions, that is contentment. Paul said: “godliness with contentment is great gain” (1 Tim 6:6). To be content with what is seen or possessed, a person needs to appreciate that many things in life are either unchangeable or unpredictable. There must be a willingness to accept the sovereign will of God: be content with what God has given us, don’t keep restlessly longing and seeking for more, thank God and enjoy the good things that He gives us. May this be our daily prayer: O Lord, “Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way” (Psalm 119:37), that we may maintain our focus on thy holy will and purpose for our life and repress the constant “wandering of the desire”, the flesh-pleasing indulgence.

Contend Not with God (Eccl 6:10)

¹⁰ That which hath been is named already, and it is known that it is man: neither may he contend with him that is mightier than he.

This verse emphasises that God has predetermined all that exists and man’s destiny, the fundamental truths of life are well known and there is nothing to be added. God has foreordained everything. He has known man – what he is, what will happen to him, etc.

The phrase “That which hath been is named already” can be translated “that whatever exists has already been named” or “that everything has been known and addressed beforehand”. The phrase “it is known that it is man” can also be translated “it is known what man is” or “what man shall be is already known”. This means that no one will find out something that changes the basic truth of man’s life. God knows all man and all things, the past, present and future (Eccl 3:14-15; Acts 15:18).

Since God is omniscient and omnipotent and He foreordained everything, man is in no position to, and therefore should not, contend (strive, argue or dispute) with God his Maker, who is mightier than he. God knows what He is doing in our lives. He has a plan for us that He determined before we were born. Hence, it is useless and pointless for man to contend with God about what is foreordained. Romans 9:20 says, “Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?” Arguing, reasoning, and complaining will bring no answers and will lead to further frustration. To contend is to add madness to folly, to submit is to give peace to the soul. It is comely for Christians to accept and submit to the authority and sovereign will of God; to be content with whatsoever state we are in (sickness or health, poverty or riches, success or failure); and to rejoice in the Lord always.       

Know Not the Future (Eccl 6:11-12)

¹¹ Seeing there be many things that increase vanity, what is man the better? ¹² For who knoweth what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?

The questions asked by Solomon in these two verses are rhetorical and call for negative answers: man is not the better, man does not know what is good for him, and man cannot predict the future.

“What is man the better?” - Nothing in life is enduring. Everything is subject to change and uncertainty. Unforeseen occurrences can increase the “vanity,” emptiness, or purposelessness of life like losing wealth and possessions, or businesses reduced to nothing, or sicknesses, or accidents. Seeing this reality of life, Solomon asked “what is man the better?” Answer: there is no advantage, profit, or gain from anything that individuals may acquire or possess. Eventually, they must part with everything (Job 2:21, Eccl 5:15, 1 Tim 6:7), even if they can hold on to everything despite unforeseen occurrences.

“Who knowth what is good for man in this life?” - What we think is good may be evil, what we think is evil may be good. Only the sovereign God knows what is good for man. This “good” must be evaluated using God’s standard and must be pleasing to God. We often think we know what is good for us; but do we really know? Which is better: Wealth or poverty? Health or sickness? Fame or obscurity? Man views promotion and salary increase as good, and cancer and sickness as evil. However, if promotion and high salary lead us to carnality, spending long hours in the office and drawing us away from and serving God, it is an evil. On the other hand, if cancer and sickness cause a believer to examine his life, repent and turn back to God or a non-believer to come to the saving knowledge of God, it is good.

Solomon stressed the brevity of man’s life by saying “he spends his vain life like a shadow.” A shadow is ever changing and then finally disappears. Likewise, the days of life are soon spent and will come to a swift end. Only what is done for Christ will count.    

“who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?” - Solomon was stating a profound truth that man does not know the future. Our future and destiny lie in the hand of a sovereign God. The inability of man to know or discern what will happen in the future is one of life’s limitations designed and ordered by God to lead man to the fear and trust of God who not only knows but also determines all the futures.  

Conclusion

The longing for the unattainable and desiring the unreachable will only end in “vanity and vexation of the spirit”. It is better to be content with and enjoy what God has given us than to restlessly seek to satisfy the wandering desire.

Man is ignorant of what is good for him and of what the future holds. Man is transitory and his days are few which pass like a shadow.

God has a plan for us that He determined before we were born. He knows and directs everything that happens, and He is in complete and total control of our lives, and He knows what is best for our lives. It is useless and foolish for man to contend with God his Maker, who is mightier than he is and who knows the future. The best thing for man to do is to submit to the authority and sovereign will of God. AMEN.