Ecclesiastes 6:1-12

Enjoy what the Lord has given you.

Have you ever wanted more in life? Have you ever felt the need to be cool or just to find a cure to your boredom or life freedom? For me, my greatest times of dissatisfaction were the times I had the greatest amount of time on my hands. I would have around 4 months of summer at my christian school. As summer started I would feel amazing and be super excited to not have to do homework, wake up early, and spend my time being bored in class. But after about 10 weeks of playing video games pretty much non-stop, I was tired of the games, bored, and just wanting to go back to school.

Ecclesiastes 6:1–3 ESV

There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, and it lies heavy on mankind: a man to whom God gives wealth, possessions, and honor, so that he lacks nothing of all that he desires, yet God does not give him power to enjoy them, but a stranger enjoys them. This is vanity; it is a grievous evil. If a man fathers a hundred children and lives many years, so that the days of his years are many, but his soul is not satisfied with life’s good things, and he also has no burial, I say that a stillborn child is better off than he.

This is talking about a person who just cannot find joy in life. They are so discontent with life that no matter how great their family is, how many children and grandchildren they have, and lives to be a hundred years old, they are still dissatisfied. This person is both unhappy and ungrateful. This is the person who made his first million dollars,

but there still is a void in his heart. There still is a void in his soul, where he does not enjoy life. How many of us have gotten on the team of our dreams, or gotten opportunity to do something we’ve wanted to be able to have or do for a long time. All of a sudden it happens for us, we are excited and what happens next is… the excitement dies and we are now bored or wanting the next big thing.

Illustration: For me it’s coffee. I can drink one type for maybe a couple weeks, but then I get bored and want a different type of coffee like iced or hot, and a different type of bean, dark roast, medium roast, and light roast.

For Francesca she gets bored with food. Like we cannot have sushi for more than once a week or else she is afraid she will get tired of it.

Example:My dad working in a bakery

This discontentment is bigger than coffee, sushi, and donuts. This is devastating if you allow discontentment and dissatisfaction to guide your life.

Application: Keep on reading Solomon does not stop in a depressing spot he continues to write.

Point 1: We all experience discontentment in life.

Ecclesiastes 6:4–7 ESV

For it comes in vanity and goes in darkness, and in darkness its name is covered. Moreover, it has not seen the sun or known anything, yet it finds rest rather than he. Even though he should live a thousand years twice over, yet enjoy no good—do not all go to the one place? All the toil of man is for his mouth, yet his appetite is not satisfied.

Tremper Longman makes this observation:

In Psalm 58:8

Psalm 58:8 ESV

Let them be like the snail that dissolves into slime, like the stillborn child who never sees the sun.

To be a still born baby that never sees the sun is seen as an ultimate punishment for David’s enemies. David is wishing this upon his very own enemies, In Ecclesiastes Solomon is saying this is even a worse and more horrible punishment. TO have all that the world could offer, riches, a great family, and a long life and to still hate life.

In verse 6 Solomon also makes a great observation. Whether you’re rich or poor temporarily while on this earth we all have the same fate. The fate is we all will cease to have life here on this earth. But the amazing thing is, is that we have been given the opportunity for something greater, through Christ, we are able to live eternally.

“Frank Sinatra’s struggle story from the richest.com

Although “old blue eyes” provided many people with a lot of happiness through his beautiful, soulful music, he was plagued with unhappiness throughout his life. His son, Frank Jr., has commented to the press that his father was withdrawn and often seemed sad, and his daughter, Tina, has written that she feels he could have benefited from anti-depression drugs. Sinatra is said to have suffered from depression and from mood swings throughout his life. The singer even attempted suicide twice in 1953, once after he had a fight with his second wife, Ava Gardener, and then again later that year.

Point 2: Although life can be difficult and mundane there still is hope.

Ecclesiastes 6:8–11 ESV

For what advantage has the wise man over the fool? And what does the poor man have who knows how to conduct himself before the living? Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the appetite: this also is vanity and a striving after wind. Whatever has come to be has already been named, and it is known what man is, and that he is not able to dispute with one stronger than he. The more words, the more vanity, and what is the advantage to man?

Even when comparing yourself there is no contentment, because you wish your were more than you are or better than you are.

Point 3: Find your identity and life satisfaction in Christ.

Paul did and so can you.

Philippians 4:10–20 ESV

I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble. And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again. Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Lets pray:

Small Group Questions:

Read about these biblical characters who at one time

wanted to die or wished they’d never been born: Moses

(Num. 11:15), Elijah (1 Kings 19:4), Job (Job 3:21; 7:15),

Jeremiah (Jer. 8:3; 15:10), Jonah (Jonah 4:3), and Paul (2

Cor. 1:8–11). What led to each of these people’s struggle?

(Wiersbe)