Day #12: Contentment

One of the greatest gifts we can experience in this life is the ability to enjoy the fruits of our labor.  When a person can find contentment in these simple things, it truly is a gift from God (Ec 5:19). But frequently, those who work hard all their lives, and accumulate many material things, still find contentment elusive.  In this next section, Solomon spells out an attitude that robs us of our joy- the desire for more.

Here is another misfortune that I have seen on earth, and it weighs heavily on people: 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. (Ec 6:1-2)

This person wants it all for himself.  He is miserly. What a misfortune!  What might have been the joy of sharing is stolen by his greed.

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!” (Ec 6:3)

You must ask, what would it take this guy to be happy? Is this a common ailment?  Why is contentment so hard to find?

All of man’s labor is for nothing more than to fill his stomach— yet his appetite is never satisfied! (Ec 6:7)

Solomon has dealt with this issue previously (Ec 5:10-12).  Now he takes it far beyond accumulation of wealth.  He is showing us the problem lies within the heart of man.  We've gotten to the place in Ecclesiastes that we would have to conclude that Solomon has made a solid case against humanism.  He would never agree that man is basically good. Solomon’s quest for fulfillment he has shown him something is wrong with this world (under the sun), but something is also wrong with man himself.  This is revealed in the fact that "his appetite is never satisfied".  There is a continual craving for more- a desire that cannot be quenched.

Certainly, Solomon knew this reality from firsthand experience.  The Scripture had explicitly forbidden kings to accumulate three things: wives, gold, and horses: But he couldn't resist himself. (Deut 7:1-5; Deut 17:14-20; 1 Ki 11:5-8; 1 Ki 11:5-8; 1 Ki 10:26-29; 1 Ki 10:14-21; 1 Ki 1:1-3).

What would drive a person with unusual wisdom in so many areas to be so naïve in his personal life?  Obviously, he struggled with the very thing he was preaching about- desire. He knew the answer was in contentment, but he seemed unable to get there.  Maybe later in life, when this book was finally written, he may have found the solution he was looking for.

So what advantage does a wise man have over a fool? And what advantage does a pauper gain by knowing how to survive? 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. (Ec 6:8-9)

I believe this concludes the section on futility.  When asking where meaning and purpose can be found, he has exhausted the main pursuits of man.  He has looked at accomplishments, wisdom, pleasure, materialism, and hard work.  Futility was all that he found.  He also looked at time and eternity, injustice and government corruption, and the elusive nature of riches.  He finds one redeeming aspect to labor- when someone can enjoy the fruits of his work.  Contentment seems to be the goal, but extremely hard to attain. 

From this point forward Solomon turns his attention to the mysterious nature of life. 

Questions to consider:

  1. Why do you think people seem to be on a perpetual search for something more?
  2. When was the time in your life that felt the most satisfied?  Why do you think that was?
  3. What is the secret to contentment in your opinion?

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