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Intentional Living - Ecclesiastes 6

Updated: Apr 25

What is the morality of life?

 

Ecclesiastes Chapter 6 offers an interesting truth about virtue and the worthiness of existence. Solomon gives insight to the person who has monumental abundance but doesn’t enjoy it and the riches are given to the next person after they die. The scripture reads, “a man whom God has given riches, and wealth, and honor, so that he lacks nothing for his soul of all that he desires; yet God does not give him the power to eat of it, but a stranger eats it – this is vanity.”

 

My spirit immediately thought why didn’t God give him the ability to enjoy it?

 

“If a man fathers a hundred children, and lives many years, and the days of his years are many, and his soul is not satisfied from the good, and also there is no burial for him; I say, a miscarriage is better than he.”

 

If we don’t remain thankful and find contentment in the blessings God has provided us, we will never have fulfillment. Solomon is giving wisdom to the importance of understanding that longevity and material abundance isn’t the key to true blessings and happiness. Only God is! In the analogy that is given in verse 3-4 we see that when we don’t appreciate the experiences and blessings that God has given us our soul will become anemic. We will develop a lifeless misery and a discontentment to all the gifts we receive, internal or external because our heart posture doesn’t display gratitude towards God. Regardless if life is full of bliss or suffering, we must remain thankful because all of it is a gift from God. The Bible says if we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord (Romans 14:8). This should give believers clarity for all aspects of life. If you claim to be a Christian, then we must know our lives are not our own. Whether in joy or suffering—it’s meant to honor and serve the Lord. Our very existence should be dedicated as an offering to God, daily!

 

Solomon goes on to say, “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.” Another way to frame this verse is to infer that everything has been decided. God knew it long ago what each of us would be, and simply how the scripture puts it, “there is no use arguing with God about your destiny” (Eccl 6:10-11). Whatever is happening on the earth has already been known, because to name something is to know it. All things are foreknown and foreordained by God. We can attest to this if we look at Ecclesiastes 1:9, it states, “That which has been is what will be, that which is done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun. is there anything of which it may be said, “See, this is new”? It has already been ancient times before us.”

 

So, what is the morality of life?

 

“And whatever you do or say, do it as representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father” (Colossians 3:17).


“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).

 

Christians are to do everything in the name of the Lord. It’s a clear command that no matter what life brings, maintaining your focus on God brings forth purpose and hope. Our lives are like a shadow, and since it’s so brief, lets live it by giving God GLORY!

 

Amen.

 

 
 
 

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