Ecclesiastes

Ecclesiastes 6: Riches without the enjoyment

Begin in prayer

Before we read about riches without joy, let us ask God to show our family that He alone gives the power to enjoy what we have, and to help us see Christ here.

He said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you, and will proclaim Yahweh’s name before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.”

Exodus 33:19

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Humble our restless desires and teach us to depend on You. Help us receive present good with thanks, and show us that our lasting hope is in Jesus. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

The Preacher sees a grievous evil when God gives someone wealth and honor without the power to enjoy them. A stranger enjoys what that person cannot. Many children and a long life cannot make up for a life without good or burial. The Preacher says a stillborn child has more rest than that person, though both finally go to the same place. Human labor feeds the mouth, yet appetite remains unsatisfied. Receiving what is present is better than restless desire for something else. People cannot contend with One stronger than themselves or know what will follow their brief lives under the sun.

As you read Ecclesiastes 6, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

God rules over both possessions and their enjoyment, and human craving cannot secure satisfaction.

The wealthy person has everything desired, yet God withholds the power to enjoy it (verses 1 and 2). Long life and many children cannot supply the missing good. The comparison with a stillborn child stresses the rest absent from long years of misery. Under the sun even the appetite is not filled, and the Preacher says “vanity and a chasing after wind” (verse 9). Enjoying the good before our eyes is better than desire that keeps wandering beyond it. The stronger One whom we cannot overcome is God, whose rule places our brief lives beyond our complete control. Many words cannot remove these limits or reveal what will happen after us. Only in Jesus are sinners made full, which is the fullness that wealth cannot buy (Colossians 2 verse 10).

How does Ecclesiastes 6 show us that God rules over both possessions and their enjoyment, and human craving cannot secure satisfaction?

Even a rich person cannot make himself enjoy his riches.

Wealth and honor are present, yet the person cannot enjoy them. The stranger receives the benefit instead. We cannot make enjoyment certain by gathering more.

Restless appetite cannot provide lasting satisfaction.

Labor supplies food for the mouth, yet appetite returns. Wandering desire keeps reaching beyond the good already in view. Receiving present good is better than endless craving.

God is stronger than we are, and we do not know what comes next.

A person cannot contend with One who is mightier. Our lives pass like a shadow. We do not know everything that will happen on earth after we die.

Memorise

All the labor of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled.

Ecclesiastes 6:7

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, what am I asking my possessions to give me instead of Jesus?

The Preacher says, “All the labor of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled.” More possessions cannot guarantee enjoyment or remove death. They cannot answer for our sins before the God whose rule we cannot overcome.

Jesus offers sinners a fullness that wealth cannot buy. Those who are united to Him are complete in Him (Colossians 2 verse 10). On the cross He gave Himself for His people and paid the debt of their guilt. He was emptied there so that His people could be made full. This is all that was needed to reconcile them to God. He rose victorious over death, securing their hope through His living power.

Turn from sin and trust Jesus. He welcomes repentant sinners with the forgiveness they cannot buy. His people find secure hope in the risen Savior when possessions disappoint and questions about their brief lives remain.

Parent's note

Tell your children that wealth cannot reconcile anyone to God, and each one needs forgiveness through Jesus. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call them to repent and trust Him. Ask God for the new birth that makes sinners willing to receive His Son.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God that possessions do not decide our standing before Him and that fullness is found in Christ. Bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

and in him you are made full, who is the head of all principality and power;

Colossians 2:10

Almighty God, our possessions and their enjoyment are in Your hands. Forgive our restless craving for more. Teach us gratitude for the good before us and humility about what we cannot know. Please bring each one of us to Jesus for forgiveness and lasting hope. Keep our family from treating wealth as our security. Amen.