King Solomon, whom the Bible tells us was the wisest man who ever lived, penned some very powerful words in Scripture. Proverbs is full of rich spiritual wisdom and a book that God's men should often revisit. Ecclesiastes was written near the end of his life; at a time when Solomon realized that many of things he pursued had no lasting value, meaning or purpose.
Ecclesiastes 5 gives us a great snapshot of things that we traditionally value that ultimately leave us dissatisfied. Verses 1 through 7 emphasize the foolishness of an empty religious profession before a sovereign God. Verses 8 and 9 remind us that while those who rule over us may oppress, ultimately they will be held to a higher standard. Some of the most miserable people in the world are those who try to follow God's holy standards (and fail) without building a personal relationship with Christ. They can commiserate with those who worry and complain about the unfairness of life.
The rest of the chapter deals with the subject of wealth and enjoyment--something Solomon as the wealthiest man who ever lived--was qualified to speak on. He noted that the drive for wealth does not satisfy and can bring on it's own set of troubles, such as attracting dependents (v.11) and causing restlessness (v.12). Verses 13-17 remind us how easily wealth can be lost; making it a very unstable foundation for life.
What a bleak picture Solomon has painted, right? Not so. In verse 18, he unlocks the often elusive key to satisfaction. We are reminded to enjoy the fruits of our labor and to accept our position in life with joy. To cherish the blessings we have instead of coveting what we don't have will help keep us from chasing after the wind. ...to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil--this is the gift of God. (v.19)
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