Ecclesiastes 6

Ecclesiastes 6:1-6

2. It is possible to possess riches which cannot be enjoyed. Ecclesiastes 6:1-6

TEXT 6:1-6

1

There is an evil which I have seen under the sun and it is prevalent among men

2

a man to whom God has given riches and wealth and honor so that his soul lacks nothing of all that he desires, but God has not empowered him to eat from them, for a foreigner enjoys them. This is vanity and a sore affliction.

3

If a man fathers a hundred children and lives many years, however they may be, but his soul is not satisfied with good things, and he does not even have a proper burial, then I say, Better the miscarriage than he,

4

for it comes in futility and goes into obscurity; and its name is covered in obscurity.

5

It never sees the sun and it never knows anything; it is better off than he.

6

Even if the other man lives a thousand years twice and does not enjoy good thingsdo not all go to one place?

THOUGHT QUESTIONS 6:1-6

What is better than the rich man of this passage?

Give the five reasons listed in the passage why the miscarriage is better than the rich man.

Who gives men riches even when they are not enjoyed?

What is the prevalent evil among men?

What does the rich man lack of that which he desires?

Who enjoys the fruit of the rich man’s labor?

The rich man’s labor is considered vain because he is not satisfied with what? (Cf. Ecclesiastes 6:3)

Would begetting of children be considered a great blessing?

The rich man would not enjoy his riches even if he lived how many years? (Cf. Ecclesiastes 6:6)

What is the one place where all men go?

PARAPHRASE 6:1-6

I observed one other misfortune that lies heavily upon men who live and labor under the sun, and I concluded that not only is the burden heavy, but it is also prevalent among men. That burden is this: A man has everything his heart desires and yet he does not enjoy it. God grants him riches, possessions and honor in his community. As a matter of fact, he has every materialistic benefit needed to satisfy his soul. Although God permits him to possess all and experience social prominence, God does not allow him to enjoy it. One who is a stranger receives it and enjoys it instead. This is indeed a heavy burden to bear. More than this, it is a misfortune marked with hollowness! What can you say concerning a man who has everything except happiness? Even if he lives a good long time, is honored in his community, and is the father of a hundred children, and, yet, doesn-’t enjoy what he has, or doesn-’t even receive a proper burial when he dies, he would be better off not to have been born. It is my conclusion that a stillborn child is better off than he! I know that sounds extreme, but here are my reasons for such a conclusion: The stillborn has no name; it is marked with total futility; it leaves in darkness just as it arrived in darkness; and although it never saw the sun and never knew anything, it rests in greater peace than he. The important thing is to discover joy and find contentment. What good is there if one lives for two thousand years if he cannot share in either of these? Do we not all finally come to the grave anyway?

COMMENT 6:1-6

This entire chapter continues the theme of the futility of riches. The poor would discover some comfort in the fact that since he is poor he is not sharing in the evil which lies heavy on so many others. However, the message is directed toward the one who is able to gather and collect and yet fail to enjoy. The Preacher now turns to another side of the deceitfulness of riches and would have his reader note carefully that it is not possible to find satisfaction through possessions, where God does not permit, even when those possessions include everything the heart could desire!

Ecclesiastes 6:1 Wealth is relative. To the poor, a rich man is one who possesses more than he does. Thus, it is possible that a lesson is held in these verses for every man. Solomon does say that the incident which he has in mind is common or prevalent among men. In other words, one can see it everywhere. He also identifies it as an evil and influenced by vanity as it takes place once again under the sun. It is not to be thought of, therefore, as an incidental ill or burden but one that is heavy upon many men. When one looks to possessions for comfort and security and thus places his confidence in that which he owns, he is a prime candidate for the message the Preacher now proclaims.

Ecclesiastes 6:2 God is involved in this example in two ways: first, He permits the man to acquire all that his heart desires; secondly, He does not permit the man to enjoy what he has acquired. The first part of this verse is more easily understood. One can readily see that it is because of God’s providential activities working through His laws of nature that we have material success upon this earth. Jesus spoke to this point when he said that God causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous (Matthew 5:45). It is evident that although men do not acknowledge that their success in gathering and collecting materialistic things comes as a direct result of God’s blessing, it nevertheless does. The mercy of God is demonstrated in the apparent success of the wicked. Such success should be a means of bringing the wicked to the acknowledgment that his wealth is a result of God’s goodness and thus come to repentance and humility before Him. However, men often gather and collect and fail to acknowledge God in their endeavors. It is this kind of man who also fails to enjoy what he possesses. The Preacher states that God does not empower him to eat from them. The phrase to eat from them is a metaphor for to enjoy them. Just what does enjoy mean in this instance? Or more to the point, how can one fail to enjoy such possessions when he has everything his heart desires? This part is not so easily explained.

What the one who accumulated the riches failed to do, the stranger who inherits them does. It is said of the stranger or foreigner, and this should be understood as one who is not of the same family or rightful live to inherit the wealth, that he does enjoy them. That is, he eats from them with great satisfaction. To say that God does not empower the rich man to enjoy what he has accumulated is stating that the rich man cannot divorce himself from the power of his wealth. He is still greedy of gain; he is hoarding his riches to his own hurt; he is not content and perhaps he fails in health as a result of his avaricious spirit and thus cannot use what he has gathered together. Whatever the cause of such failure to enjoy, it is spoken of that God does not permit it simply because God’s laws will not permit such to find joy. God has ordained that personal fulfillment and joy are to be found only within the confines which he has established. One who chooses to live outside such an area may be able, because of God’s mercy, to gather and collect great amounts of wealth, but he will not genuinely enjoy it!

When riches capture the heart and control the will of an individual, it is indeed an evil. Such evil is common among men. In addition, Solomon speaks of it as vanity and a sore affliction. That which one believed would fulfill his life and bring lasting satisfaction has created an emptiness instead and is making a hollow mockery of life itself. Not only is this true of possessions, it is also true of prominent positions (Cf. Ecclesiastes 4:13). Honor suggests that the man has a place of respect in his community. The idea that he lacks nothing speaks entirely to the elements of this world which are marked with futility. In contrast James speaks of one who is perfect and complete, lacking in nothing (James 1:4). There is a marked difference. The man in Ecclesiastes has every possible physical need met and all that his heart desires; yet he is not enjoying life. The man in James may not have any physical blessings and yet lacks nothing. The difference? The Christian man of whom James speaks is content because he possesses wisdom from above and potentially all the blessings in Christ are his (Colossians 2:3). Contentment in Christ is not a result of riches, prestige, health or long life. Rather, it is a result of spiritual maturity. Therefore, the poor man is to glory in his high position (in Christ) and the rich man rejoice in that he has been brought to see that his riches will not bring him enjoyment and he has been humbled and divorced from the control his possessions held over his life. Study James 1:1-11.

Ecclesiastes 6:3 Our attention has been drawn to riches, possessions and prominence in the community. Perhaps, one may reason, a large family and long life will surely bring personal joy. But, no, the Preacher reasons that though one fathers a hundred children and lives for two thousand years (Ecclesiastes 6:6) this will not change the picture. It would certainly add to his list of blessings which God permits him to have, but the additional blessings are not of such a nature that they in themselves will produce the joy.

The failure to have a proper burial was a disgrace (Isaiah 14:19-20). The tragedy of the rich man is compounded as he has everything his heart desires except the means of enjoyment, and now at the end of his useless and hollow life he has no burial. To leave a body upon the ground to be devoured by animals or fowls of the air was reserved for the enemies of Israel or the despicable members of their society. (Cf. 1 Samuel 17:46; Jeremiah 22:18-19) It is not noted as to the reason why the rich man does not have a burial, but circumstances of life led to this unfortunate conclusion. To face such a reality is indeed a heavy burden especially in light of the unlimited wealth the rich man possessed, to say nothing of the fact that he was honored in his community.

Once again the qualifying mark of such a man is the fact that his soul was not satisfied with good things. He has placed his values on things of this earth rather than being content with each day’s activities. The sorrow and bitterness of such a wasted life is intensified in the following analogy. He compares such a wasted life with a stillborn baby and concludes that miscarriage is better!

Ecclesiastes 6:4-5 The baby born prematurely or born dead is said to be better off than the rich man. This is a strange conclusion because the child has no name, is not honored in the community, knows nothing, and never experiences one day of life. It is nameless, unrecorded, unburied and unremembered! Yet, such an untimely birth is more to be desired than the long life of the rich man under consideration. The key appears in the marginal reading of verse five in the NASV. Here it reads, more rest has this one than that. The idea of rest is the reason why the one is desired above the other. It has previously been noted that when a rich man places his ultimate values on riches that he is restless at night and is unduly concerned for his riches during his waking hours. In other words, he has been robbed of rest. The stillborn does not experience the perpetual restlessness of the rich. Certainly one must agree that the description of the stillborn is depressing and undesirable. Yet, whatever the plight of the untimely birth, it is better than the misery of a covetous man! Rest may suggest freedom from suffering. The entire picture leads one to the conclusion that such rich men in any society are to be objects of pity rather than envy.

Ecclesiastes 6:6 There are three significant points in this verse: (1) Regardless of how long one may live, even if it is twice as long as the longest life recorded, it would not change the circumstances nor would one come to different conclusions, (2) the reason being that the man who is under consideration did not enjoy good things. This is the equivalent of verses two and three which teach that God did not permit him to enjoy life. (3) Both the stillborn and the rich man will return to dust and, in the grave as it were, there will be no remembrance of previous things. It is on the basis of these arguments that the conclusion is drawn that an untimely birth is better than living in the midst of plenty and yet failing to divorce oneself from an avaricious spirit.

FACT QUESTIONS 6:1-6

What theme is continued here?

How could the poor find some comfort in this passage?

Why does one fail to enjoy riches even when he has all his heart desires? Discuss.

Explain what is meant by the statement, wealth is relative.

Who is a prime candidate for the Preacher’s message?

In what two ways is God involved in this example? (Cf. Ecclesiastes 6:2)

How does God permit evil men to acquire wealth?

What should such blessings from God lead even evil men to do?

What is meant by the metaphor to eat from them?

Who is a foreigner?

What does the foreigner do?

List the possible causes why the rich man fails to enjoy his riches.

What is suggested by honor?

In what sense can one lack nothing and still be miserable?

What does James mean when he speaks of one who lacks nothing?

What two additional blessings come from God? (Cf. Ecclesiastes 6:3)

Who usually failed to receive burial?

List the characteristics of the stillborn.

What is the key that makes the untimely birth better than the long life of the rich man?

List the three significant points in verse six which serve as his final arguments for his conclusion.

Ecclesiastes 6:7-9

3. Reasons why riches cannot satisfy Ecclesiastes 6:7-9

TEXT 6:7-9

7

All a man’s labor is for his mouth and yet his appetite is not satisfied.

8

For what advantage does the wise man have over the fool? What advantage does the poor man have, knowing how to walk before the living?

9

What the eyes see is better than what the soul desires. This too is futility and striving after wind.

THOUGHT QUESTIONS 6:7-9

Man labors for what primary cause?

Is man’s appetite for either food or pleasure ever completely satisfied?

Does the wise man have an advantage over the fool in respect to being satisfied with pleasure or food?

Does the poor man have an advantage over the rich man?

Explain verse nine in the light of Ecc 5:18-19.

What parallel is found between verses seven and nine?

After reading over these verses, what does the Preacher identify as futility and striving after wind?

PARAPHRASE 6:7-9

A man labors all the days of his life for food and pleasure, and regardless of how much he gathers and collects he will never say, It is enough! If one’s appetite is never satisfied, how is the wise man better off than the fool? Or, what advantage does the poor man have who at least knows enough to enable him to get along in lifeeven as he walks over against the rich and the wise? It is better that one enjoy daily what he has than fret over what he might be able to acquire. To always anticipate more possessions and additional pleasures and think for a moment that when they are realized you will be satisfied is an empty dream which never will be fulfilled.

COMMENT 6:7-9

In searching for one idea in these three verses which would give clear insight to the unlocking of the mystery of how one with such great wealth could go through life unfulfilled, one discovers the thought that the appetite is not satisfied. This explains the first seven verses in this chapter as well as giving direction to the remaining verses. The man under consideration has an insatiable appetite. He will never have enough regardless of how much he accumulates. Such a man is given over to the cares of this world and has lost control of his own spirit. In these three verses, therefore, we are discussing the same individual who has been under consideration from the beginning of this chapter. It is not to be concluded that the Preacher has one particular person in mind, but rather this evil which is common to men is simply being illustrated through a hypothetical situation. This activity is so designated as futile and striving after wind.

Ecclesiastes 6:7 Some render this verse as All of man’s toil is for his mouth and yet his soul is not appeased. In doing so, it is argued that mouth represents the lower areas of desire and soul represents the higher, spiritual areas. This, however, is not the intention of the verse. It is not a comparison; it is an additional argument to demonstrate that certain men labor endlessly for the products of food and pleasure, and yet their desire is never satisfied. Certainly it is the soul that desires such things and it is the soul that is in difficulty. What Solomon is saying is simply that some men are so attached to earthly things that like fire, the barren womb, and the grave itself they never cry, Enough! (Cf. Proverbs 30:15-16) Once again the lesson which teaches the power riches have over the minds of men is vividly demonstrated. Indeed the man’s soul is in trouble. He has perverted his true purpose of living to God’s glory and has become slave to things futile and transitory.

Ecclesiastes 6:8 One would think that the wise man would have great advantage over the fool. The wise man in this situation is the one who is skillful and has the ability to increase his possessions and receive healthy profits from his investments. In addition he has merited the esteem of his peers and managed his physical affairs in such a way that his life has been extended. He is also surrounded with his children. Yet, he does not hold an edge on the fool. The fool, of course, is the one who lacks the wisdom to make such a mark in his community as that which distinguishes the wise man. When a wise man fails to enjoy what he possesses, he is no better off than a fool. There is a sense in which he is indeed a fool (Luke 12:20).

The second part of this verse is difficult to understand. The tenor of this section would lead one to see here the simple statement that the poor man does not have an advantage over the wise man simply because, like the stillborn, all finally go to the grave and there are no distinctions there. The Paraphrase attempted to speak to this truth. However, there is much disagreement as to how the verse should actually be translated. Leupold translates it: or what advantage has the poor man that knows how to walk over against the living? He would argue that the poor Israelite, under Persian rule, is the only one who knows how to walk (because of his inheritance of Wisdom) over against the living (his oppressors). Two items militate against this translation or interpretation. One, the historical setting would necessitate a date at least 500 years later than Solomon, and secondly, such an interpretation does not speak to the line of reasoning pursued in this entire section. The Septuagint suggests that the living is to be translated life, and implies that he knows how to walk in this world to prepare for the life to come. Thus the Septuagint reads, For what advantage has the wise man over the fool? since the poor man knows how to walk before life? This idea appears to be foreign to not only the immediate context, but the thought of the entire book. The Anchor Bible eliminates the problem by actually changing the direction of thought and making the idea of knowing how to conduct himself during his life refer to the wise man and thus pointing out that this is the only advantage the wise man has over the fool. This translation seems to be more from convenience than meeting the issue. Perhaps what Solomon is saying is that the poor has his troubles, too. He never has his desires fulfilled, and thus his appetite does not receive the numerous benefits of the wise man, rich in the things of this world, but like the rich man his desires are insatiable. No man has an advantage over another if each is controlled by greed and earthly goods. If this is indeed the correct interpretation then what Solomon is saying is that such an evil is truly common to all men. Both the rich and the poor have demonstrated a failure to enjoy life, and both have the same misery as the result of a lack of fulfillment. Their inability to eat from what they possess places them on equal status in that respect at least.

Ecclesiastes 6:9 What the eyes see is better than what the soul desires, is not that which is spoken of in the same verse as futility and striving after wind. Rather, it is good advice and is in harmony once again with previous conclusions found in Ecclesiastes 2:24; Ecclesiastes 3:12-13; Ecclesiastes 3:22; Ecclesiastes 5:18 and later in Ecclesiastes 6:12. The adage, a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush, speaks of this truth. It is better to take what one has and enjoy it rather than entertain a craving for what is possibly in the future and uncertain. To control one’s appetites and make the most of what one has is the mark of a truly wise man. God will evidently permit such a one to find joy in living and eat from what he possesses.

The contrary attitude which manifests the dissatisfaction with life regardless of what one possesses is that which Solomon speaks of as futile. The oft-occurring striving after wind marks this type of activity as totally useless.

FACT QUESTIONS 6:7-9

What key statement found in these verses helps to clarify the conclusions in this entire section?

What is demonstrated by the argument found in verse seven?

What characterizes the wise man of verse eight?

What characterizes the fool?

What advantage does the wise man have over the fool? Discuss.

Give two reasons why Leupold’s translation of verse eight should not be considered.

Explain what the Septuagint does with the term the living.

What does the poor man have in common with the rich, wise man?

What good advice does Solomon offer? (Cf. Ecclesiastes 6:9)

How can one eat from what he possesses?

What does futility refer to?

Ecclesiastes 6:10-12

4. Reasons why it is useless to strive for riches Ecclesiastes 6:10-12

TEXT 6:10-12

10

Whatever exists has already been named, and it is known what man is; for he cannot dispute with him who is stronger than he is.

11

For there are many words which increase futility. What then is the advantage to a man?

12

For who knows what is good for a man during his lifetime, during the few years of his futile life? He will spend them like a shadow. For who can tell a man what will be after him under the sun?

THOUGHT QUESTIONS 6:10-12

Man was made from what substance? (Cf. Genesis 2:7)

In what way is man described in Isaiah 45:9?

Who is stronger than man?

Can man dispute with God?

What increases when man’s words increase?

Does man’s ability to speak many words prove to be profitable to him?

Does man have the ability to know what tomorrow holds?

Man’s short life is likened unto what?

PARAPHRASE 6:10-12

Man cannot contend with God. God is stronger than man. It is well known that God created man from the earth, and man should never forget that. Man knows that whatever he is, he is created and came from the earth. The more man talks, the more evident this truth becomes! Man’s much speech betrays his origin and his nature. How does man profit from that? His life is but for a few days, and is compared to a shadowit lengthens and then quickly disappears. Who can tell a man what will be after him in this life marked with such a heavy stamp of meaninglessness and death?

COMMENT 6:10-12

Solomon now returns to speak to a theme introduced in Ecclesiastes 1:9-11. This idea has been carried through his book. (Cf. Ecclesiastes 2:12; Ecclesiastes 3:15) The nature of man does not change. Man should know who he is and recognize that his ability to speak long and loud will not change his nature but only compound his futility. He concludes once more that one should simply make the most of the present and not fret over that which is beyond one’s control.

Ecclesiastes 6:10 What is man? Whatever he is, he is certainly less than God. Perhaps it is a passing observation, but the Preacher admonishes his readers not to dispute with Him that is stronger than man. The idea that God is Creator is consonant with all the teachings of the book. Direct reference to the fact is made when the Preacher begins to drive home his point like well-driven nails (Cf. Ecclesiastes 12:1; Ecclesiastes 12:11). The relationship that exists between Adam and the fact that Adam was taken from the earth is very close. God’s new creation is called Adam because he is taken from the earth. One has aptly translated the idea into the English with the sentence: His name is earthling because he was taken from the earth. Since this is true, man cannot dispute with God, for he is but the created, not the creator. It would also follow that man depends upon his Creator to empower him to eat of that which he possesses. The discussion here would be an additional argument for the Preacher’s main thesis: i.e. The gift of God is for a man to enjoy his labor and stay occupied each day with the gladness of his heart. The superiority of God is demonstrated that man can see the futility of trying to find enjoyment without Him. God is definitely the One who is stronger than man and the One with whom man cannot contend.

Ecclesiastes 6:11 Although the NASV translates this idea as many words which increase futility, other translators have offered varying suggestions. One popular translation supplies things for words, and thus suggests that wealth, pleasure, knowledge, all human pursuits along with every endeavor gives credence to the fact that man is subjected to futility. However, these are aspects that have previously been considered. The idea of words offers a different view of man. Now, one can see that the Preacher is saying that even though man is very glib and capable of varying and lengthy speeches, such exercises will only manifest his vanity. Perhaps this tendency on the part of man to demonstrate his futility through his speech was the thought in the Preacher’s mind when he admonished, Do not be hasty in word or impulsive in thought to bring up a matter in the presence of God. For God is in heaven and you are on the earth; therefore let your words be few (Ecclesiastes 5:2).

We are now confronted with the question: What profit has a man? This may refer to the general approach of the entire book, or it may speak specifically to the immediate context. However, it is obvious that the Preacher is concerned about man’s role on this earth and if there is any way in which he can come to the end of the day and honestly say, See, this is my profit for today! It is evident from his previous reasoning that the rich have nothing more than the poor. We are to accept his inquiry then as a sad but true commentary of life’s endeavors. Regardless of what is accumulated, there is no profit to man who lives simply for pleasure itself.

Ecclesiastes 6:12 The first question of this verse has been taken by some to mean that he is not only questioning the meaning of life on the earth, but also the value of life to come. This is out of character with the book, and it is forcing the immediate context into an unwarranted position. He is speaking only to life as it is lived on this earth. Such ideas or terms as futile, under the sun, few years, shadow and his life time, verify this contention.

In answer to his question, the implication of verse ten is that God knows what is good for man. This is the basis for his reasoning in Ecclesiastes 5:18-20. Man is not in a position to determine what is good because he, like that which he desires, is subjected to vanity. His own conclusions, apart from God’s help, will inevitably lead to the frustrating burden of feasting on the wind.

To spend his life like a shadow suggests that it is fleeting. This figure reinforces the idea of a few years. Too much should not be made of the idea that when the sun goes down, the shadow vanishes. However, the concept of living one’s life under the sun is interesting in view of the analogy with the shadow. There is a sense in which when the sun sets life is over for all. (Cf. Ecclesiastes 8:13; 1 Chronicles 29:15) Sufficient comment has already been made concerning the shortness of life and the concurrent emptiness that accompanies it.

The final question of this section is: For who can tell a man what will be after him under the sun? It does not refer to eternity but rather to the activities which shall occur upon the earth tomorrow, the day after that or in the following years. No man knows. Since God is in control of His world and is the One who permits man to enjoy living, then it would follow that man should cease fretting about what might happen and live each day with simple trust and enjoyment. The wise, rich, but yet unhappy man has concerned himself with many problems that pertain to tomorrow: Who will come after him? To whom will he really leave all that he has collected and gathered? What if he has no son to carry on? Will he receive proper burial? What will people think of him when he has died? These and many other questions continually trouble his mind. He is rather required to submit to the power of God and enjoy with moderation the goods of life which God has permitted to accumulate and now potentially at least offer him the ability to enjoy.

FACT QUESTIONS 6:10-12

Solomon now returns to what theme?

What is the meaning of the name Adam?

In what way does man depend on God?

Why do many words prove man’s futility?

Why is man admonished to guard and select wisely the words he speaks? (Cf. Ecclesiastes 5:2)

What kind of life robs even a rich man of profit?

Give two reasons why Solomon is not writing of eternal life in verse twelve.

Why is man not in a position to determine what is good for himself?

What is meant by man spending his life like a shadow?

What period of time is referred to in the final verse by the phrase after him under the sun?