Ecclesiastes 6 Things Are Bad
6: 1-2 I looked long and hard at what goes on around here, and let me tell you, things are bad. And people feel it. There are people, for instance, on whom God showers everything—money, property, reputation—all they ever wanted or dreamed of. And then God doesn’t let them enjoy it. Some stranger comes along and has all the fun. It’s more of what I’m calling smoke. A bad business.
3-5 Say a couple have scores of children and live a long, long life but never enjoy themselves—even though they end up with a big funeral! I’d say that a stillborn baby gets the better deal. It gets its start in a mist and ends up in the dark—unnamed. It sees nothing and knows nothing, but is better off by far than anyone living.
6 Even if someone lived a thousand years—make it two thousand!—but didn’t enjoy anything, what’s the point? Doesn’t everyone end up in the same place?
7 We work to feed our appetites; Meanwhile our souls go hungry.
8-9 So what advantage has a sage over a fool, or over some poor wretch who barely gets by? Just grab whatever you can while you can; don’t assume something better might turn up by and by. All it amounts to anyway is smoke. And spitting into the wind.
10 Whatever happens, happens. Its destiny is fixed. You can’t argue with fate.
11-12 The more words that are spoken, the more smoke there is in the air. And who is any better off? And who knows what’s best for us as we live out our meager smoke-and-shadow lives? And who can tell any of us the next chapter of our lives?
Well, if you thought some of Solomon’s previous sentiments were depressing, this chapter is even worse. The wealthiest king in the world feels dejected. After all the complaints are finished, the most telling phrase is verse 7: “We work to feed our appetites; Meanwhile our souls go hungry.” Solomon has already confessed that he’s sought every kind of pleasure available. Now he’s complaining that everything is up to fate and that destiny is fixed and that nobody can tell anyone the next chapter of their lives. But is Solomon correct?
The Bible answers, “Absolutely not!” 1 Peter 1:3-5 tells us, “What a God we have! And how fortunate we are to have him, this Father of our Master Jesus! Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we’ve been given a brand-new life and have everything to live for, including a future in heaven—and the future starts now! God is keeping careful watch over us and the future. The Day is coming when you’ll have it all—life healed and whole.” The good news of the Gospel is that God has loved us so much that He sent his son Jesus to die for our sins. No matter how difficult life is, believers can count on eternal life because of that sacrifice.
In many respects, Solomon is a tragic figure. Despite incredible wealth and knowledge, Solomon refuses to acknowledge God or to truly worship Him. Solomon’s father King David began worshiping God as a child and continued to do so throughout his life, eventually authoring at least 73 of the 150 psalms. (Some authorities say 75.) But Solomon rapidly wandered away from the One True Living God, spiritually seduced by idolatrous wives and concubines.
Solomon’s mistakes can easily become ours if we do not guard our hearts. May God help us, so we will continue to be true to Him. Otherwise, we will become as soured on life as Solomon.
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, help us to remember that we always have an eternal hope in You. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
In 1977 the musical group Kansas popularized a song that expresses Solomon’s sentiments in this chapter:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbEf0MbkSv8&t=30s
[Verse 1]
I close my eyes
Only for a moment and the moment’s gone
All my dreams
Pass before my eyes, a curiosity
[Refrain]
Dust in the wind
All they are is dust in the wind
[Verse 2]
Same old song
Just a drop of water in an endless sea
All we do
Crumbles to the ground though we refuse to see
[Refrain]
Dust in the wind
All we are is dust in the wind
[Bridge]
Ohh-oh-ah
[Instrumental Break]
[Verse 3]
Now, don’t hang on
Nothing lasts forever but the earth and sky
It slips away
And all your money won’t another minute buy
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