Ecclesiastes 5:19-20 Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God. They seldom reflect on the days of their l | New International Version (NIV) (2024)

FAQs

What is the meaning of Ecclesiastes 5 19 20? ›

19 And it is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it. To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life—this is indeed a gift from God. 20 God keeps such people so busy enjoying life that they take no time to brood over the past.

That means we should have a sense of urgency to “see the good” and gain our fullest reward from our toils. The only opportunity to gain our fullest reward is rooted in a proper perspective. Faith will be the foundation for our highest reward. This is true not just of the next life, but also life on earth.

This lack of perfection carries over into the moral realm as well, as today's passage teaches. The Preacher who wrote the book of Ecclesiastes says, "Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins" (Eccl. 7:20). This verse reveals the Preacher's commitment to the truth at any cost.

Solomon says do not be hasty in word or impulsive in thought in God's presence. We should not approach God with our minds made up what is best for us, then seek to sacrifice something in order to get God to do our bidding. We should come to God seeking guidance. We should let our words be few.

Ecclesiastes 5:19 in Other Translations

To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life—this is indeed a gift from God. 19 Yes, we should make the most of what God gives, both the bounty and the capacity to enjoy it, accepting what's given and delighting in the work. It's God's gift!

As for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, and given him power to eat of it, to receive his heritage and rejoice in his labor—this is the gift of God. For he will not dwell unduly on the days of his life, because God keeps him busy with the joy of his heart.

This verse from the book of Ecclesiastes presents a sobering observation about the human condition—no one is exempt from sin. It's a recognition of the universal reality that, despite our best intentions and actions, every person falls short of absolute righteousness.

The “good” does not refer to health and wealth now. Instead, God uses “all things”—everything in this life, including suffering (Rom. 8:17–18, 23–25)—to accomplish his purpose for us in his grand plan to conform us to his Son and to preserve us until he finally glorifies us.

Being virtuous is not compatible with being greedy ( mammonmeans “money”). This is a saying of Jesus in the Gospels . It explains, “ No man can serve two masters (see also No man can serve two masters ).”

GUARDING YOUR STEPS // VERSES 1-7

We begin with the matter of how to worship God properly. Let us break the commands issued within these verses down to five imperatives: 1) guard your steps, 2) draw near to listen, 3) avoid the sacrifice of fools, 4) avoid rash and hasty words, and 5) pay your vow.

What does Ecclesiastes teach us? ›

Ecclesiastes describes the meaninglessness of living without God. In creation, we see that God created the world and he called it “good.” But despite this original goodness, humanity fell into sin and all creation was subjected to the curse of God.

Ecclesiastes shows us in stunning ways that the key to life is not in life itself. Pleasure, materialism, wisdom, and money are all futile and folly. True happiness comes from centering our lives on God, not ourselves.

The Preacher's statement that "money answers everything" (Eccl. 10:19) is a simple practical observation that wealth is a tool that can meet the need for food, clothing, shelter, and so on. We should not take his words as endorsing the idea that absolutely every issue one can think of can be solved with money.

When Scripture declares that for everything there is a season, this means that the various circ*mstances we go through in life are not by incident, but orchestrated or allowed by God with great purpose and intentionality.

In Ecclesiastes 5:8–20, Solomon tackles the issue of wealth and its ability—or inability—to provide satisfaction. He highlights three basic realities we must consider: money's inability; money's ability; and money's purpose.

Genesis 3:19 New International Version (NIV)

By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.”