Ecclesiastes 6:1-12

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TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

God Enables and Determines

According to verses 1-7, what is the life experience for the person who acquires wealth and riches but is not enabled by God in the use of it?
Apart from God, does the person who is wise and wealthy have any advantage over the foolish person (v 8)?
What is the lesson for us that Solomon shares in verse 9?
Which attribute of God is recognized in Solomon’s teaching in verse 10? Identify a New Testament verse that supports this teaching.
Would God’s control over every person be considered as fatalism?

The life experience for the person who acquires wealth and riches but is not enabled by God in the use of it will be one of frustration because others will consume the wealth (v 2), and it will be one of total futility, even to the point of being worse than not having been born alive (v 3).
Apart from God, the wise and wealthy person has no advantage over the foolish person (v 8).
In verse 9, we learn that it is better to be content with what we possess i.e., what we can see, rather than constantly striving to fulfill fleshly desires which is futile.
Solomon recognizes the attribute of God called omniscience, His knowledge of everything, past, present and future (v 10). This confirms the truth that everything has been predetermined by God. Ephesians 1:11 affirms this truth.
God’s control of the destiny of every person is not fatalism. Fatalism does not acknowledge God, whereas predetermination relies on God’s absolute sovereignty. Nothing man can say will change what God has predetermined (v 10).

Discuss the possible reasons that make it so difficult for the believer to commit all material possessions to the Lord and trust in His management and provision? Consider the areas of trust, dependence, comfort, pride, covetousness, and greed in your discussion.

Have you wisely handled the material possessions including money that the Lord has given you? Has the faithful practice of giving generously and increasingly to the Lord’s work been difficult for you? Are you willing to pray that the Lord would teach you how to manage your possessions and lead you to be generous in giving, even if it means seeing your possessions decrease? Are you willing to pray your money away?

“Whatever one is, he has been named already, for it is known that he is man and he cannot contend with Him who is mightier than he. For who knows what is good for man in life, all the days of this vain life which passes like a shadow? Who can tell a man what will happen after him under the sun?” Ecclesiastes 6:10, 12