How does Ecclesiastes 5:16 illustrate the futility of earthly pursuits?

The Text at a Glance

“As he came from his mother’s womb, so he will depart again, naked as he arrived; he takes nothing for his labor to carry in his hands.” (Ecclesiastes 5:16)

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What the Preacher Observes

• Birth and death bookend life in identical poverty—both times we are “naked.”

• Every ounce of labor and every possession accumulated in between is left behind.

• The scene underscores a sobering reality: earthly toil cannot secure lasting gain.

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Why Earthly Pursuits Fall Short

• Impermanence of wealth

– Riches “make wings and fly away” (Proverbs 23:5).

– Even hoarded treasures can “perish through misfortune” (Ecclesiastes 5:14).

• Powerlessness at death

– “We brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out” (1 Timothy 6:7).

– Job echoes the same truth: “Naked I came… and naked I will depart” (Job 1:21).

• Emptiness without eternity

– Gaining the whole world yet forfeiting the soul is ultimate loss (Matthew 16:26).

– The rich fool’s barns could not postpone the summons of God (Luke 12:15-21).

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Lessons for Our Lives Today

• Hold possessions loosely; stewardship outweighs ownership.

• Measure success by faithfulness and eternal fruit, not accumulation.

• Let contentment displace consumerism (Hebrews 13:5).

• Direct energy toward treasures “where moth and rust do not destroy” (Matthew 6:19-20).

• Remember that life’s closing moment will reveal what truly mattered.

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Christ-Centered Perspective

• Only in Christ do our labors gain eternal value (1 Corinthians 15:58).

• He offers an inheritance “imperishable, undefiled, and unfading” (1 Peter 1:4).

• Investing ourselves in His kingdom transforms futile striving into fruitful service, ensuring that nothing done for Him is ever in vain.