1 There is another evil I have seen under the sun, and it weighs heavily upon mankind: 2 God gives a man riches, wealth, and honor, so that he lacks nothing his heart desires; but God does not allow him to enjoy them. Instead, a stranger will enjoy them. This is futile and a grievous affliction.

3 A man may father a hundred children and live for many years; yet no matter how long he lives, if he is unsatisfied with his prosperity and does not even receive a proper burial, I say that a stillborn child is better off than he. 4 For a stillborn child enters in futility and departs in darkness, and his name is shrouded in obscurity. 5 The child, though neither seeing the sun nor knowing anything, has more rest than 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?

7 All a man’s labor is for his mouth,
yet his appetite is never satisfied.

8 What advantage, then, has the wise man over the fool? What gain comes to the poor man who knows how to conduct himself before others? 9 Better what the eye can see than the wandering of desire. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.

10 Whatever exists was named long ago, and what happens to a man is foreknown; but he cannot contend with one stronger than he. 11 For the more words, the more futility—and how does that profit anyone? 12 For who knows what is good for a man during the few days in which he passes through his fleeting life like a shadow? Who can tell a man what will come after him under the sun?

REFLECTIONS

Written by James Davidson

Verse 9 is thought-provoking: ‘Better what the eye can see than the wandering of desire.’ I take it that means that it’s better to be thankful for and enjoy what you do have rather than to be continually wanting what you don’t have.

I can see the application to friendships. Far better to be thankful for and enjoy the friendships I do have rather than always wishing for friendships I don’t have. 

For the married, I can see the application to marriage. Far better for to be thankful for and enjoy the spouse you do have rather than be wishing for other romantic relationships.

I can see the application to possessions. Far better to be thankful for and enjoy what I have than to be continually striving for and wanting what I don’t have – that is a recipe for frustration.

And I can see the application to my spiritual life. Far better to be thankful for and enjoy all the blessings I have in Christ than to desire the fleeting pleasures of sin.

No wonder the Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 6:6, ‘But godliness with contentment is great gain.’ O Lord, give us the priceless gift of contentment. Help us to appreciate and be thankful for and enjoy all you have generously given us. Take from us the greed in our hearts that is never satisfied with what it has, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

James is one of our Assisant Ministers.