Ecclesiastes 6
Today's Passage: Ecclesiastes 6
Verse 2 was giving me some trouble: “God gives some people great wealth and honor and everything they could ever want, but then he doesn’t give them the chance to enjoy these things.” I began asking the question, “Is God mean?”
I found a commentary by Jonathan Akin and Paul Akin and here is what they had to say:
“It is not just what you have that is a gift from God; the ability to enjoy it is also a gift. To be able to rightly and fully to enjoy the things of this world is a gift of God’s grace… One can only enjoy material blessings as rightly intended and designed in dependence on God.”
And:
“God sovereignly allots things to us, and He even allots the ability or inability to enjoy what He has given to us. God chose what you would get and where you would be stationed in life. He chose the life, family, job, skills, looks, and intellect you have. But why in the world would God give someone something but withhold the ability to enjoy it? Because He knows what is best for us. He gives some the inability to enjoy what they have because in His goodness He will not give you something that drives you away from Him. He knows there is no such thing as happiness apart from Jesus.”
I learned something totally new. Our inability to enjoy certain things is a gracious gift of God and we should thank Him for it. Our dependency, our happiness, should rest fully on God.
How is God at work in your life right now? How might He be leading you to rely on Him?
Written By: Brice Stockton
Verse 2 was giving me some trouble: “God gives some people great wealth and honor and everything they could ever want, but then he doesn’t give them the chance to enjoy these things.” I began asking the question, “Is God mean?”
I found a commentary by Jonathan Akin and Paul Akin and here is what they had to say:
“It is not just what you have that is a gift from God; the ability to enjoy it is also a gift. To be able to rightly and fully to enjoy the things of this world is a gift of God’s grace… One can only enjoy material blessings as rightly intended and designed in dependence on God.”
And:
“God sovereignly allots things to us, and He even allots the ability or inability to enjoy what He has given to us. God chose what you would get and where you would be stationed in life. He chose the life, family, job, skills, looks, and intellect you have. But why in the world would God give someone something but withhold the ability to enjoy it? Because He knows what is best for us. He gives some the inability to enjoy what they have because in His goodness He will not give you something that drives you away from Him. He knows there is no such thing as happiness apart from Jesus.”
I learned something totally new. Our inability to enjoy certain things is a gracious gift of God and we should thank Him for it. Our dependency, our happiness, should rest fully on God.
How is God at work in your life right now? How might He be leading you to rely on Him?
Written By: Brice Stockton
1 Comment
Ecclesiastes 6:2, as I think about how our economy has evolved, could talk about how God has provided all we need yet there are those who exploit others and take much more than their share, leaving many destitute. This would explain "This is vanity, and it is an evil affliction." Also, the power to enjoy what God has provided comes from recognizing and honoring the Provider.