The Teacher finishes chapter 5 of Ecclesiastes by looking further into the some of the quagmires of wealth. He has said that with the blessing of wealth can come the problem of sleepless nights due to worry and the hunt for that “one more dollar” to be satisfied. Now he notes that many who accumulate wealth may pile it up not knowing what financial challenges may be in the future. But then the stock market crashes, recession, war or any number of unexpected crises enter and that wealth for the future is eaten by the need of the present. We might glibly say, “You can’t take it with you.” We are born naked and we die naked. The Teacher calls this “a grievous evil”. That which we work so hard to accumulate we may never get to enjoy nor will to others. That tension between having enough to be comfortable and having a buffer for the future is a hard balancing act. He is looking at the ups and downs of life and not the circles of life.
In Chapter 3:13 we saw that the Teacher talked about when all of us are faced with the circles of life, turn-turn-turn, that the “gift of God” is the ability to find satisfaction in our toil. He ends chapter 5:18 with the same conclusion.
18 This is what I have observed to be good: that it is appropriate for a person to eat, to drink and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given them—for this is their lot. 19 Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God.
The cycles of life can lead us to feel like we are running on a treadmill with the hamster. On the treadmill we experience the ups and downs of life in our endless task of having enough wealth to make life work. It can defeat us also. So what is the secret?
I notice that in each conclusion, the Teacher uses the phrase “God has given” or “ God gives.” The ability to appreciate the “giftedness” of life is important. Others may not appreciate our talents, our assets, or our point of view but gauging the success of my life on the reactions of others is like riding a roller coaster. The Teacher is clear that ultimately there is a God walking with us through the events of our lives, running beside us on the treadmill that turn, turn, turns and riding with us as our boats navigate the waves and hurricanes life sends us.
Let’s use the image of the wave to represent the ups and downs we face. When events are leading us to new highs, what might we praise God for? When events seem to be sending us crashing what sort of prayer do we need to generate? Ask the Holy Spirit if there is someone you might pray for today as that person faces the ups and downs of life.
On the Way to Wonder 