Ecclesiastes 2:18-26

Ecclesiastes, Part 5

It is clear that we cannot hold things forever, so it is important that things do not have a hold of us. Paul tells us that "we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content" (1 Timothy 6:7,8). Yes, the most important things in life are not things! God Himself is the One we must love and seek. He is our true satisfaction and source of contentment.

In Ecclesiastes 2, God's name is not mentioned one time until verse 24. Solomon uses the personal pronoun "I" at least thirty two times! We can definitely say that Solomon's perspective is all wrong; he is focused upon himself and not the Lord. This perspective gives Solomon an unrealistic perspective toward life.

How can we maintain a realistic attitude toward our work and our possessions we accumulate?

1. Realize You Can't Keep Them, v.18

Solomon hated the thought that he would have to leave behind his kingdom to someone who may not have the wisdom that he possessed. At death, we cannot keep any possession, power, or earthly pleasure. We can only pass them on.

Someone has said that money is an article that may be used as a "universal passport to everywhere except heaven and a universal provider for everything except happiness." When a wealthy man died, someone asked, "How much did he leave behind?" A wise man answered, "He left it all." Funeral hearses have no hitches; they do not pull the possessions of the deceased to the cemetery!

2. Realize you Can't Protect Them, v.19-21

It's one thing to leave everything behind, it is another thing to have the person you leave it to squander it all! Suppose the person who receives all the results of your hard work wastes it? I know pastors who spent their lives seeing a church built up, only to have the next pastor take his place and tear up the work. Others have built businesses, to leave it to ungrateful sons who run the business into the ground through bad decisions.

Solomon's fear became fact when his son, Rehoboam, made bad decisions that led to the Kingdom of Israel being divided and weakened.

3. Realize what the Love of Money Brings, v.22,23

What does the love of money give? Read these verses and you will see that many times money and possessions brings sorrow, grief, a lack of rest, and vanity!

With a note of pessimism, Solomon says that the love of money gives sorrow, stress, and sleepless nights (v.23). Have you seen this to be true?

Why do you think Solomon is so pessimistic? It is because he is seeing things from under the sun with himself as the center of his world. The people who see this earth as the be-all and end-all of life will have a pessimistic perspective.

4. Enjoy what you have rather than worry about what you want, v.24-26

In these last three verses, Solomon makes his first major conclusion of this book (The others are 3:12-15; 5:18-20; 8:15; 9:7-10; 11:9-10; 12:13,14). Solomon finally brings God back into the picture. From Ecclesiastes 1:14 to Ecclesiastes 2:23, God's name is not referenced.

Solomon in effect is saying, "BE CONTENT, and thank God for what you have, and enjoy it for God's glory." It is from "the hand of God" to enjoy what we have rather than always covet what we do not have. It is better to enjoy what you do have rather than grasp miserably for what you do not have. Paul says a similar thing in 1 Timothy 6:17; "Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy."

Money is not evil in itself; and it is no sin to be rich. It is only wrong to trust in those riches that are so uncertain. Money is not to be trusted! If a person does not have the right kind of character, no amount of "things" will satisfy.

Solomon compares the saved, or the one "good in his sight" to the unsaved, the one who is a sinner. The saved are given "wisdom, knowledge, and joy" to enjoy what he has, even if it is a little in comparison to the unsaved wealthy man. The unsaved man experiences much travail and grief although he possesses many things. It is vanity for a person to pile up possessions and yet disregard God. Apart from God, there is no real joy. In his presence is fullness of joy and at his right hand there are pleasures forevermore.

Proverbs 15:16; Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith.

Proverbs 15:17, Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.

Proverbs 16:8; Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right.

Proverbs 17:1; Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than a house full of sacrifices with strife.