You Can’t Take it With You

Continuing with our study of Ecclesiastes:

Eccl. 2:17-19 Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit. Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me. And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun. This is also vanity.

Solomon finally came to the point that he “hated” life; he saw no meaning or purpose in life. The possessions that he had amassed would eventually go to another, and who knew if this man would be wise or foolish? There was certainly no satisfaction in the thought that what he left might be squandered in foolishness.

This is a very interesting statement in light of the fact that he expected his son to inherit his throne. He had to realize that his example had not been one to encourage his son to follow wisdom. The book of Proverbs gives testimony that Solomon gave his son wise instruction, but the truth is that actions speak much louder than words—especially as pertains to father and son.

Eccl. 2:20-23 Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour which I took under the sun. For there is a man whose labour is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity; yet to a man that hath not laboured therein shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil. For what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the sun? For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity.

Again, this is interesting wording coming from King Solomon. The more he thought about his life, the more depressed he became. Most of us would not classify his life experience as one of labor. He was the wealthiest of the kings of Israel; scripture states that silver was accounted for nothing in his day.

1Kings 10:21 “And all king Solomon’s drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon were of pure gold; none were of silver: it was nothing accounted of in the days of Solomon.”

Solomon had servants and the wherewithal to hire out any work that needed to be done. In my mind that fact probably contributed to his lack of satisfaction in the things “he” had accomplished. Experience has shown me that the things you truly work for are the things you appreciate. This, of course, excludes things that money can’t buy and man can’t achieve on his own.

Without peace, one cannot truly rest. Without God as the center of one’s life, one cannot have peace.

Isaiah 26:3 “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.”

Psalms 4:8 “I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.”

Philippians 4:7 “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Eccl. 2:24-26 There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God. For who can eat, or who else can hasten hereunto, more than I? For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.

Finally, Solomon concludes that God meant for man to enjoy satisfaction from honest labor and the fruit it produces. It is God who chooses to reward good men with wisdom, knowledge and joy. The sinner experiences just the opposite because his expectations are rooted in this life only; and if that’s the case, what’s the point?

Solomon had no excuse for not understanding what gave evidence of true wisdom. His own words testify to that truth.

Proverbs 1:7 “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

Proverbs 9:10 “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.”

Proverbs 15:33 “The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.”