READ: Ecclesiastes 5:8-6:12
Verses
chosen for meditation: Ecclesiastes 5:18-20
18 Behold, what I have
seen to be good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment in
all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life that
God has given him, for this is his lot. 19 Everyone
also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to
enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil—this is the gift
of God. 20 For he will not much remember the days
of his life because God keeps him occupied with joy in his heart.
REFLECT
In
this chapter, the Preacher talks about the unsatisfactory nature of wealth, the
toiling to get them and the anxiety over losing them (Ecclesiastes 5:10-17). Those
verses showed that human desire often outruns the accumulated possessions. The more we have, the more we want. It's never enough. An increase in wealth also demands more
attention to manage it. Who knew having so much wealth could be stressful!
There
is also the fleeting nature of wealth, as we can easily lose it through bad
investments, misfortunes, fraud, disasters beyond our control. For a person whose
sense of security is in wealth, it's a double whammy, worrying about the
toiling and means to get wealth, and also worrying about losing the wealth. Death is the great leveller, as both rich and poor return to our
creator without these possessions. Still, many spend their whole lives in great
sorrow over their toiling, for an empty goal such as this (v16-17).
V18-20
offers a better way of living. These verses, at first sight, may look like advice
about simplicity and moderation. But the key is God and our attitude to whatever
He gives. The secret to overcoming the above problems is to
receive everything that comes from His hand with thanksgiving, whether it is
wealth or toiling or even pain. We must get enjoyment in life, not possessions. The capacity to enjoy is a gift from God. Though our wealth is also a gift, it is much
better to receive it with the ability to enjoy that wealth, rather than see
wealth as an end in itself.
The
Preacher highlighted this lack of ability to enjoy possessions in Ecclesiastes 6:1-9. People who have so much, yet lack the power to enjoy them lead very
burdened lives. This ability to enjoy, God freely gives, but also withholds
(Ecclesiastes 6:2). Why would God give people the ability to gain wealth, but
withhold the ability to enjoy them? What is the condition then to receive this ability?
These answers can be found in Ecclesiastes 2:26.
RELATE
I
have this ex-colleague and close friend, whom I enjoy catching up with. He occasionally
asks about how I’m coping with my current finances,
seeing how my wife and I make lifestyle changes after leaving our previous lucrative jobs. I shared about
contentment, saying the exuberance on my face is answer enough that
we’re more than fine. In contrast, with his haggard face, I reversed
the question on him. I invited him, not to ditch his vocation or lifestyle,
but to join in the mentality of contentment rather than amassing possessions. He
replied, “I’m the type who must see huge sums of money in my bank account (even
if they’re never utilised). And the figure must not drop, or I’ll feel worried.”
On
the surface, this friend had a lot. Marriage, good career, beautiful house, a car,
multiple holidays a year, regularly buying cool stuff and still see his bank
figure increase. However, there was a hollowness to it all. He admitted that
the expected enjoyment didn’t quite match up, no matter how much he gained and
spent. The toiling he had to return to to maintain his riches often fills
his mind, preventing him from enjoying anything fully. He explained the
phenomenon with economics concepts of diminishing returns, but the reason
really lies in Ecclesiastes. He did not have the ability to enjoy his possessions.
The problem was not his wealth, nor the toiling that he attributed his misery to. It was
good and meaningful work, but he could not see his toiling
with joy and thanksgiving.
I
have tons more examples of people I know trapped in this rat race. They seem
miserable despite their wealth, constantly anxious about their pursuits and expressed their envy in my simpler life. Yet they can’t take the step to stop chasing possessions.
That shows the strong pull of the world that only communion and trust in God
could overcome. It’s not like I'm in a state of perpetual
contentment. I still fall into traps of chasing after things and complain
about my toiling sometimes, but I find this to be true: the more we seek first the kingdom of God, the
more we seem able to enjoy whatever comes to us, even the less pleasurable
things.
Ecclesiastes
presents this truth: the poor who obeys God, approaches life with gratitude to God
despite the circumstances, can live a more enjoyable life than the rich constantly trying to match his appetite for more toys, unable to be thankful for a life that offers otherwise. But be careful not to think that wealth is bad and that being poorer leads to more enjoyment. No. God blesses
both the rich and poor, giving both the ability to enjoy their lot in life. I enjoyed what I had
when I was richer. I enjoy what I have now even if I’m relatively poorer. It depends not on the wealth we have but our attitude towards what we receive from God.
REST
Lord, thank you for your gifts to us. We can be
thankful with all that you give, including the pain and toil, as we know it
comes from a loving Father who knows our best interests. May we retain this
heart of thanksgiving even in dire circumstances. Amen.
Chris Chong
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