# Ecclesiastes 06 đź“–: Wealth Without Enjoyment
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> [!info] Table of Contents
> [[#đź“ś Scripture Text (NET)]]
> [[#đź“– Verse-by-Verse Commentary]]
> [[#🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]]
> [[#🧠Chapter Summary]]
> [[#✝️ Christ in This Chapter]]
> [[#🔎 Key Principles / 🛟 Life Application]]
> [[#đź’¬ Discussion Questions]]
> [[#✍️ Key Verses to Remember]]
> [[#đź”— Related Passages/Cross Reference]]
> [[#🙏 Devotional Reflection]]
> [[#đź“‚ Internal Notes]]
## đź“ś Scripture Text (NET)
(The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005)
### Not Everyone Enjoys Life
[[#Verse 01.]] Here is another misfortune that I have seen on earth,
and it weighs heavily on people:
[[#Verse 02.]]Â God gives a man riches, property, and wealth
so that he lacks nothing that his heart desires,
yet God does not enable him to enjoy the fruit of his labor—
instead, someone else enjoys it!
This is fruitless and a grave misfortune.
[[#Verse 03.]]Â Even if a man fathers a hundred children and lives many years,
even if he lives a long, long time, but cannot enjoy his prosperity—
even if he were to live forever—
I would say, “A stillborn child is better off than he is.”
[[#Verse 04.]] Though the stillborn child came into the world for no reason and departed into darkness, though its name is shrouded in darkness,
[[#Verse 05.]] though it never saw the light of day nor knew anything,
yet it has more rest than that man—
[[#Verse 06.]]Â if he should live a thousand years twice, yet does not enjoy his prosperity. For both of them die!
[[#Verse 07.]] All man’s labor is for nothing more than to fill his stomach—
yet his appetite is never satisfied!
[[#Verse 08.]]Â So what advantage does a wise man have over a fool?
And what advantage does a pauper gain by knowing how to survive?
[[#Verse 09.]] It is better to be content with what the eyes can see
than for one’s heart always to crave more.
This continual longing is futile—like chasing the wind.
### The Futile Way Life Works
[[#Verse 10.]]Â Whatever has happened was foreordained,
and what happens to a person was also foreknown.
It is useless for him to argue with God about his fate
because God is more powerful than he is.
[[#Verse 11.]]Â The more one argues with words, the less he accomplishes.
How does that benefit him?
[[#Verse 12.]] For no one knows what is best for a person during his life—
during the few days of his fleeting life—
for they pass away like a shadow.
Nor can anyone tell him what the future will hold for him on earth.
## đź“– Verse-by-Verse Commentary
###### Overall.
###### Verse 01.
###### Verse 02.
###### Verse 03.
###### Verse 04.
###### Verse 05.
###### Verse 06.
###### Verse 07.
###### Verse 08.
###### Verse 09.
###### Verse 10.
###### Verse 11.
###### Verse 12.
## 🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights
1. Verse 12 asks who can tell a person what will happen after him under the sun, a question only God can answer.
2. Having a hundred children and a long life (6:3) were among the highest blessings in ancient Israel.
3. Not receiving a proper burial (6:3) was considered a great disgrace in the ancient world.
4. The Teacher says a stillborn child is better off than a man who cannot enjoy life (6:3-5), a strong way of stressing the emptiness of joyless wealth.
5. Even a person who lives two thousand years without enjoying good still goes to the same place as everyone else (6:6).
6. Verse 7 says all labor is for the mouth, yet the appetite is never filled.
7. The phrase "the wandering of desire" (6:9) pictures a restless appetite always looking for more.
8. Verse 10 says whatever exists has already been named, a Hebrew way of saying God already knows and controls it.
9. Life is compared to a shadow (6:12), a picture also used in Psalm 144:4.
10. Chapters 1-6 are often seen as the first half of the book, focused on the emptiness of human striving.
## 🧠Chapter Summary
> [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way.
## ✝️ Christ in This Chapter
Christ is the bread of life who satisfies the appetite that is never filled (6:7). Whoever comes to Him will never go hungry (John 6:35). Our days pass like a shadow (6:12), but Jesus gives life that lasts forever.
## 🔎 Key Principles / 🛟 Life Application
> [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way.
## đź’¬ Discussion Questions
1. Verse 2 describes someone with wealth and honor who is not able to enjoy it. Why can having more still leave us empty?
2. It is better to be content with what you have than to crave more (6:9). How do you practice contentment?
3. Who knows what is good for a person in his short life (6:12)? Where do you turn to discover what is truly good?
## ✍️ Key Verses to Remember
- đź“– verse 2: God gives a man wealth and honor, yet he is not able to enjoy them.
- đź“– verse 7: All a person's labor is for his mouth, yet his appetite is never satisfied.
- đź“– verse 9: It is better to be content with what the eyes can see than to always crave more.
## đź”— Related Passages/Cross Reference
- đź”— [[John 06#Verse 35.|John 6:35]] - Jesus is the bread of life.
- đź”— [[Philippians 04#Verse 11.|Philippians 4:11-13]] - Paul learned the secret of contentment.
- đź”— [[Luke 12#Verse 15.|Luke 12:15]] - Life is not measured by possessions.
- đź”— [[Psalm 144#Verse 04.|Psalm 144:4]] - Our days are like a passing shadow.
- đź”— [[Isaiah 55#Verse 02.|Isaiah 55:2]] - Why spend money on what does not satisfy?
## 🙏 Devotional Reflection
đź“ť SOAP: [[Ecclesiastes 06 - SOAP|Use Wisdom When Dreaming]]
## đź“‚ Internal Notes