To Enjoy or Not to Enjoy

DEVOTION

ECCLESIASTES

TO ENJOY OR NOT TO ENJOY

Eccl 6:1-6

6:1 I have seen another evil under the sun, and it weighs heavily on men: 2 God gives a man wealth, possessions and honor, so that he lacks nothing his heart desires, but God does not enable him to enjoy them, and a stranger enjoys them instead. This is meaningless, a grievous evil.

3 A man may have a hundred children and live many years; yet no matter how long he lives, if he cannot enjoy his prosperity and does not receive proper burial, I say that a stillborn child is better off than he. 4 It comes without meaning, it departs in darkness, and in darkness its name is shrouded. 5 Though it never saw the sun or knew anything, it has more rest than does that man— 6 even if he lives a thousand years twice over but fails to enjoy his prosperity. Do not all go to the same place?

NIV

It seems Solomon is inspired to write a whole lot of about wealth and its result upon a man. Again, we need to remember he is the wisest and the riches man to every live. He also seems to be a man who knows God quite well, who sought God out in prayer. But he is writing from this human perspective, man simply living as man in the world and living by the standard of the world. However, he does see what man has is a gift of God, such as he speaks here about God being the one who gives man wealth. Some men would say their wealth is because of their smarts, their efforts, their wisdom in managing their portfolio, their investments. But that is not the case, for God is specific in this matter. He is the one who gives man wisdom, wealth, possessions and honor, so that he lacks nothing his heart desires. But there is a catch. God does not enable him to enjoy them. The Hebrew carries the meaning of permit to enjoy or the power or dominion over them.  Solomon says it is a grievous evil. God does not do evil. But it is an evil thing for man to have all those desires and get everything and not get to enjoy them, but to leave them behind so a stranger enjoys them. Again this is all about making that wealth and possession and honor the central focus of life. Even among us Christians, we can have this same problem. We can get catch up in the world’s ways of wanting wealth and possessions and even honor. Do we not want people to think highly of us? Do we not want to be seen as upright holy, spiritually righteous believers in Christ? Do we not want people to think we know our bible, quoting verses as if we have it all memorized. Do we not get all dressed up for the benefit of looking good to others? Then this whole idea of either writing checks, or having our giving recorded so somebody knows how much we give, is it not all about seeking honor? Some churches give special honor to the big givers. We have seen it happen. Again God inspires Solomon to consider the matter of a man living many years, having many children, being blessed beyond measure by God and still no matter how long he lives he cannot enjoy all he has, and he does not get a proper burial. What does that mean? What is a proper burial? We all get put in the ground, somehow. Well some get cremated and their ashes either get kept on the mantel or thrown to the winds or in the sea. Nevertheless the man’s life is over and if he spent it all in the pursuit of increasing his wealth, making it his focus, his idol, then God says he is worst off then a stillborn child. Although a stillborn never sees life, the sun, it has more rest then this man who chases after wealth and never stops to smell the roses, never stops to enjoy his prosperity, he just keeps wanting more, never satisfied with what he has. How awful to live like that. What use is life if it is chasing after that which perishes? When we focus on God, when we live for Christ, we find true joy. God gives us a peace of mind, a restful spirit. He gives us contentment within, freeing us from anxiety, worry and stress about life. This is a life we can enjoy.