In this chapter, Solomon starts with darkness, but ends with an enlightened perspective. Here’s the chapter in its entirety: “There is another serious tragedy I have seen in our world. God gives great wealth and honor to some people and gives them everything they could ever want, but then he doesn’t give them the health to enjoy it. They die, and others get it all! This is meaningless – a sickening tragedy. (Yes, this is sad, but it is not for us to understand. God says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways.” (Isaiah 55:8))
A man might have a hundred children and live to be very old. But if he finds no satisfaction in life and in the end does not even get a decent burial, I say he would have been better off born dead. I realize that his birth would have been meaningless and ended in darkness. He wouldn’t even have had a name, and he would never have seen the sun or known of its existence. Yet he would have had more peace than he has in growing up to be an unhappy man. He might live a thousand years twice over but not find contentment. And since he must die like everyone else – well, what’s the use? (Solomon’s dark perspective shows his emotional state.)
All people spend their lives scratching for food, but they never seem to have enough. Considering this, do wise people really have any advantage over fools? Do poor people gain anything by being wise and knowing how to act in front of others?
Enjoy what you have rather than desiring what you don’t have. Just dreaming about nice things is meaningless; it is like chasing the wind. (Okay…Solomon’s wisdom restored.)
The Future – Determined and Unknown
Everything has already been decided. It was known long ago what each person would be. So there’s no use arguing with God about your destiny. (Yes, Lord!)
The more words you speak, the less they mean. So why overdo it? (Yes! We have a tendency to want to get our point across, which causes us to talk way too much. Lord, help us be slow to speak and quick to listen.)
In the few days of our empty lives, who knows how our days can best be spent? And who can tell what will happen in the future after we are gone?” (Ecclesiastes 6)
Lord, thank you for your Word today! Help us find strength in silence, knowing, Lord, that you are working things out. Romans 8:28 tells us that all things work together for good, to those who love the Lord, and are called according to your purpose. Lord, help us have complete faith in that statement and in you, knowing that you are in control. Lord, we love you!
May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26)
….AND MAY WE ALL PRACTICE THIS WITH ONE ANOTHER.
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