Ecclesiastes 6
Outline
1-6 | An evil under the sun: a man blessed by God with riches but unable to enjoy them and another does in his place
7-9 | An unsatisfied appetite is not a good thing
10-12 | Man’s uncertain life
Reflections
Twice in this chapter the phrase “is not satisfied” is used to describe a person who is constantly pursuing more. More riches, more honor, more children, more possessions, more wisdom, more food, etc. Just MORE! When is that person satisfied?
Ecclesiastes 6:3-4 NASB If a man fathers a hundred children and lives many years, however many they 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.
Ecclesiastes 6:7 NASB All a man’s labor is for his mouth and yet the appetite is not satisfied.
God may have blessed you with different abilities but if we don’t enjoy the people around us we are missing out. That is not to say that we don’t keep doing the things that God gives us to do but we also need to allow for a time to enjoy life and the family that God blesses us with.
Jesus, after a period of intense ministry, would take time to be alone to pray and to just be with His disciples, even though it got harder as He became more popular.
Matthew 14:13 NASB Now when Jesus heard about John, He withdrew from there in a boat to a secluded place by Himself; and when the people heard of this, they followed Him on foot from the cities.
Mark 1:35 NASB In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there.
Mark 6:31-32 NASB And He *said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a while.” (For there were many people coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.) 32 They went away in the boat to a secluded place by themselves.
Luke 4:42 NASB When day came, Jesus left and went to a secluded place; and the crowds were searching for Him, and came to Him and tried to keep Him from going away from them.
This time of year is typically when families go on vacations. They don’t have to be elaborate but find ways that you can spend time together. Some of you might want to go camping or doing something outdoors. Others might want to spend time at a hotel / resort. Others might just want to pitch a tent in your backyard and spend the night out under the stars. It doesn’t really matter what you do, just enjoy your time together.
Dixie (the paper plate and cup manufacturer) has a commercial ad campaign running right now with the theme of going dark for dinner, which promotes the idea of turning off all electronic devices at dinner time and having a conversation. If you need help in find topics to talk about, I’m sure there are plenty of books and websites that can be helpful in that regard. Christianbook.com has a few.
Here’s another interesting idea that was mentioned to me, I think it was by my sister-in-law, Jodi. If you are out to dinner with family or friends, place all of your cell phones or electronic devices in the middle of the table and the first one to pick theirs up before the end of the meal has to pay for the meal.
Finally, here’s a couple of thoughts from Jesus.
Luke 14:12-14 NASB And He also went on to say to the one who had invited Him, “When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, otherwise they may also invite you in return and that will be your repayment. 13 “But when you give a reception, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed, since they do not have the means to repay you; for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”
Matthew 25:32-40 NASB “All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; 33 and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left. 34 “Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 ‘For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; 36 naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’ 37 “Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? 38 ‘And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? 39 ‘When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40 “The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’
Real conversations with real people, meeting them where they are at, whether it’s over a meal or in the midst of a time of need, and inviting them to meet the Savior through you. That will give you real satisfaction in life, both now and in eternity.
Lord, You have blessed us with so much! May I never forget to enjoy the life you’ve given me and especially the people, family, friends, and others, who make life worth living. Help me to be open to meeting people, whether it’s over a meal or in the midst of a need, so that I can share Your love with them. May Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
