UBF Daily Bread

GOD GIVES GLADNESS OF HEART

Passage: Ecclesiastes 5:8~20

Key verse: 19,20

Riches Are Meaningless

⁸If you see the poor oppressed^(A) in a district, and justice and rights denied, do not be surprised at such things; for one official is eyed by a higher one, and over them both are others higher still. ⁹The increase from the land is taken by all; the king himself profits from the fields.

¹⁰Whoever loves money never has enough;
whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income.
This too is meaningless.

¹¹As goods increase,
so do those who consume them.
And what benefit are they to the owners
except to feast their eyes on them?

¹²The sleep of a laborer is sweet,
whether they eat little or much,
but as for the rich, their abundance
permits them no sleep.^(B)

¹³I have seen a grievous evil under the sun:^(C)

wealth hoarded to the harm of its owners,
¹⁴    or wealth lost through some misfortune,
so that when they have children
    there is nothing left for them to inherit.
¹⁵Everyone comes naked from their mother’s womb,
    and as everyone comes, so they depart.^(D)
They take nothing from their toil^(E)
    that they can carry in their hands.^(F)

¹⁶This too is a grievous evil:

As everyone comes, so they depart,
    and what do they gain,
    since they toil for the wind?^(G)
¹⁷All their days they eat in darkness,
    with great frustration, affliction and anger.

¹⁸This is what I have observed to be good: that it is appropriate for a person to eat, to drink^(H) and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labor^(I) under the sun during the few days of life God has given them—for this is their lot. ¹⁹Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions,^(J) and the ability to enjoy them,^(K) to accept their lot^(L) and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God.^(M) ²⁰They seldom reflect on the days of their life, because God keeps them occupied with gladness of heart.^(N)

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We ought not to be surprised by injustice. It is a consequence of sin in the world. Money and wealth never satisfy those who love them. Rather an abundance of wealth and material things makes those who have them even more worried because they are afraid to lose it all. Wealth can end up harming its owners or entirely lost. Whether rich or poor, everyone is born in the same way and wealth cannot prevent death. The Teacher states that this is all a grievous evil.

Ecclesiastes can feel like a cynical, even nihilistic, reflection about human life. The author repeatedly says that different activities under the sun are all vain, limited, and meaningless. Though Ecclesiastes presents a realistic view of life in a sinful and cursed world, we can find satisfaction when we live under God’s blessing.

Though life is brief and full of toilsome labor, the Teacher realizes that satisfaction is possible. God’s gift to us is not merely wealth and possessions, but the ability to accept our lot in life and to be happy. Instead of only focusing on life’s limitations, God occupies our hearts with gladness or joy. Through Jesus Christ, we can have true joy and peace from the forgiveness of sins and hope of eternal life in God’s kingdom.

Prayer: Father, life is hard but thank you for giving us joy in Jesus that surpasses circumstances.

One Word: Gladness is God’s gift