The Unfulfilled Life - Ecclesiastes #23
Ecclesiastes 6:1-2
6 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men: 2 A man to whom God has given riches and wealth and honor, so that he lacks nothing for himself of all he desires; yet God does not give him power to eat of it, but a foreigner consumes it. This is vanity, and it is an evil affliction.
Today and
tomorrow, the text will be covering the idea of owning immense riches, but
being unable to enjoy them. In these two verses, a “foreigner” is enjoying the
wealth. Foreigner, in this passage (also translated “stranger”), means someone
who would not legally inherit the man’s God-given “riches and wealth and
honor.” This could be due to theft, much like the things (and children) taken
from Job (Job ch. 1). Also, your property and possessions could be casualties
of war, violence, or another senseless act of injustice.
This could
also be due to lack of an heir, such as Abram’s sad but necessary plan of naming
Eliezer of Damascus as his heir before he had a son of his own (Genesis 15:2). Too
often, though, the reason has to do with something preventable, such as not planning
similarly to the way Abram planned in Genesis 15. In our world, we call this a
last will and testament; many with great means may choose an irrevocable trust.
Even if you are not wealthy, you are wealthier than numbers can measure if you
have children; therefore, you need a will.
What
priorities do you have in the care and use of your possessions? How about the
raising and nurturing of your young children? Do you want them to be raised in
“the training and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4)? These priorities are
easy to carry out when you are alive, healthy, and actively around. However,
what will happen to your children and possessions if you are no longer able to
be alive, healthy, or actively around? For Americans, is your state’s plan for
taking care of minors the best plan for them if they become orphans? If not, heed
the advice in this passage and do what is right for your children.
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