God’s Gift of Enjoyment - Eccl 6:1-9

There is an evil which I have seen under the sun and it is

prevalent among men — 2 a man to whom God has given riches and wealth and honor so that his soul lacks nothing of all that he desires; yet God has not empowered him to eat from them, for a foreigner enjoys them. This is vanity and a

severe affliction. 3 If a man fathers a hundred children and lives many years, however many they be, but his soul is not

satisfied with good things and he does not even have a

4

is covered in obscurity. 5 “It never sees the sun and it never

knows anything; it is better off than he. 6 “Even if the other man lives a thousand years twice and does not enjoy good things — do not all go to one place?”

proper burial, then I say, “Better the miscarriage than he, for it comes in futility and goes into obscurity; and its name

God’s Gift of Enjoyment - Eccl 6:1-9

All a man’s labor is for his mouth and yet the appetite is not satisfied. 8 For what advantage does the wise man

have over the fool? What advantage does the poor man

have, knowing how to walk before the living? 9 What the eyes see is better than what the soul desires. This too is futility and a striving after wind.

...not wrapped in the package of our possessions

more is not always better

1Chron 29:12 Both riches and honor come from You,... Deut 28:11 The LORD will make you abound in

prosperity, in the offspring of your body....
Deut 6:2 ...all the days of your life, and that your days may be prolonged.

...not wrapped in the package of our successes

success doesn’t satisfy the soul

Work adds joy to a satisfied life but it will never bring satisfaction to an empty life

...wrapped in the package of God’s Grace

2Chron 1:12 And I will give you riches and wealth and honor, such as none of the kings who were before you has possessed nor those who will come after you.

BECAUSE GOD IS THE ONE WHO THEN GIVES THE GIFT TO ENJOY THEM