Morning Devotion - Eccl 6

Read Ecclesiastes 6

Ecclesiastes 6:1-7 is the wrap-up of the middle cycle of the book, the cycle about the futility of man's labors. The remaining verses in chapter six are the introduction to the final cycle. As with the introductions to the earlier two cycles, the same themes are repeated for us again as we enter the final cycle on the futility of man's pursuit of wisdom.

The specific issue addressed in the opening of chapter six (1-7) is the problem of abundance. This is ironic, because no one thinks of abundance as a problem. Earlier in this cycle we considered the problem of scarcity. That kind of problem people can appreciate... too little money, too few friends, not enough food to eat. Normally we think that if we had more of what we can get under the sun, then we would be able to enjoy life.

The fundamental issue is still death. Who can conquer it? What if God gives you wealth beyond your wildest imagination, but you do not have the time to enjoy it today and your life is taken away before tomorrow comes? How many people live for retirement, but sickness or the loss of a spouse never allow them to live out their dreams? Think of the Romanian despot of the 20th century who built for himself the largest palace in the world, but never got to sleep in it for even one night. Before it was finished he had been executed by his own people. How many buildings built as special places by corporate or political leaders are today being occupied and used by people who opposed them? Not only was the wealthy man unable to enjoy these things, but his enemy regularly informs visitors who it was who originally built this for him, and they all laugh. Of course, do not laugh too loudly, because you do not know who will take possession of the property after you are gone, or if the property will instead be an albatross rather than a jewel.

What about many children and a long life? How many people throughout history have had these kind of gifts from God, yet when their lives are over they are hated more than admired, and are not even given a proper burial? Who can observe such things without wondering about the big question of meaning? The ultimate problem of death, or the more immediate symptoms of the scarcity of time and the loss of love or respect from those who matter most to us more than erase all the victories that we thought that we had through accumulation. Better a stillborn child, says Qoheleth. What a brutal shock!

After this conclusion to the middle cycle we get ready for the final cycle with a familiar chorus. The words are somewhat different but we recognize the same themes. There is no profit, no progress, and no legacy for man under the sun. Even the pursuit of wisdom will not ultimately satisfy us.

The answer to the brutal honesty of Ecclesiastes 6 is that the Son of God has conquered death for us. His cross work involved the cutting short of his life. Jesus did not have abundance of possessions. He had no descendants. He had wisdom that no one was able to understand, and at the end of his life a mob who had witnessed his miracles shouted for his death. But by that one death he defeated death for us. He has won eternity, an abundant life of eternity, for a posterity of millions who own His name. They are willing to take whatever reproach may come to them today, simply to own the name "Christian." This is an amazing victory that more than swallows up the futility of this world and leaves us with the gift of hope - a hope that is not afraid to hear an honest assessment of the futility of even the most abundant life that could be lived under the sun. Even such a life will run into the problem of death . But Christ has conquered death for us.