What does "God does not enable him to enjoy them" teach about contentment? Opening the Text “...yet God does not enable him to enjoy them, but a stranger enjoys them. This is vanity and a grievous evil.” (Ecclesiastes 6:2) The Context of Ecclesiastes 6:2 • Solomon surveys a man who has everything—wealth, possessions, honor—“so that he lacks nothing of all that he desires.” • In spite of abundance, the man cannot savor what he owns; someone else ends up enjoying it. • The Teacher labels this “vanity and a grievous evil,” spotlighting the emptiness of life lived apart from God-given contentment. Observations from the Phrase “God does not enable him to enjoy them” • Enjoyment is a divine gift, not a human guarantee. • Accumulation without enjoyment is worse than poverty with peace. • Contentment, therefore, is fundamentally spiritual, not circumstantial. • God reserves the right to withhold the taste of pleasure even while granting the objects of pleasure. God’s Sovereign Role in Contentment • Proverbs 10:22: “The blessing of the LORD enriches, and He adds no sorrow to it.” Possessions bless only when the Lord adds the ability to enjoy them. • James 1:17: “Every good and perfect gift is from above.” The capacity to rejoice in a gift is itself part of the gift. • Psalm 127:2: “He gives sleep to His beloved.” Restful enjoyment flows from God’s hand as surely as riches do. The Danger of Mere Accumulation • Luke 12:15 warns, “Beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” • 1 Timothy 6:9-10 shows that craving riches “plunges people into ruin and destruction,” because love of money never satisfies. • Ecclesiastes 5:10 notes, “Whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income.” Accumulation without gratitude breeds dissatisfaction. The Path to Genuine Contentment • Philippians 4:11-13: Paul learned to be content “in any and every situation… I can do all things through Him who gives me strength.” • Hebrews 13:5: “Be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’” Presence outweighs possessions. • 1 Timothy 6:6: “Godliness with contentment is great gain.” True profit lies in a heart at rest in God, not in expanding assets. Practical Applications • Receive possessions with thanksgiving, recognizing both the item and the joy of it come from the Lord. • Cultivate daily gratitude; list God’s mercies rather than tallying unmet wants. • Hold material blessings loosely, ready to share (1 Timothy 6:18); generosity dethrones greed and maximizes enjoyment. • Pursue intimacy with Christ through Scripture and prayer; satisfaction flows from relationship, not from receipts. • Measure success by faithfulness and peace, not by portfolio size; peace is the surest evidence of God-given enjoyment. Summing Up Ecclesiastes 6:2 teaches that contentment is God’s gift, independent of how much we own. Riches without the divine capacity to enjoy them are empty, but even modest means overflow with joy when the Lord grants satisfaction. Trust Him, treasure Him, and He enables you to savor every blessing He provides. |
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