Start here: http://biblehub.com/nasb/ecclesiastes/2.htm
At times, Solomon must be venting. Why else would the one
who compiled the Proverbs turn to us and say, “Living wisely is better than
living foolishly, but in the end, we all end up the same.” The wise dies like
the fool, there is no more remembrance of the wise than of the fool.
Compounding this is his assessment about his heir (v.12,
18&ff). He will work his entire life, and leave all that he has worked for,
all that God has entrusted to him, to one who did not work for it, and who may
squander it through foolishness. We’ve all seen that. A hardworking father who
labors to build a business, a reputation, who hands it over to a son that runs
it into the ground. Life is just not fair.
The wise die. The hardworking die. All we’ve worked for may
evaporate, and the name will one day wear off our tomb stone… So, what are we
to do?
Go have a steak.
No seriously, that is exactly what he says.
God has given you only so long to live; so live a little. That
is your reward, when you sit down to a meal, when you embrace your children,
when you watch a great show on TV, or read a good book, when you have a glass
of tea on the porch, when you reap the fruits of your labor, thank God for what
has been given by relishing in what you have; with what time you have.
Because you only have so much time left.
Postscript:
Lastly, be careful with v.26. It could easily inject you
with pride, and cause you to embrace some serious errors about the value of
others. One can see how this text could be contorted in support of any number
of injustices. Don’t think God loves you more because you have more than
someone else.
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