Connect Ecclesiastes 6:3 with Matthew 16:26 on gaining the world but losing soul. The Verses Side by Side • Ecclesiastes 6:3: “A man may father a hundred children and live many years, yet no matter how long his life lasts, if his soul is not satisfied with prosperity and he does not even receive a proper burial—I say that a stillborn child is better off than he.” • Matthew 16:26: “What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?” Shared Message: Earthly Plenty Cannot Rescue the Soul • Both writers expose the emptiness beneath impressive outward success. • Solomon pictures vast family, long life, and wealth—yet “soul not satisfied.” • Jesus raises the stakes: even “the whole world” cannot balance the scale against a lost soul. • Bottom line: prosperity without salvation is a tragic bargain. Ecclesiastes 6:3—Unfulfilled Despite Abundance • Cultural symbols of blessing—many children, length of days—are stacked high. • Two haunting lacks: – “Soul not satisfied with prosperity” → inner void no riches can fill. – “No proper burial” → ultimate disgrace, pointing to meaninglessness beyond death. • Verdict: a stillborn child, though never tasting life’s joys, rests in more peace than one who lives long yet dies unsatisfied. Matthew 16:26—The Ultimate Accounting • Jesus addresses disciples just after predicting His cross (v. 24–25). • “Gains the whole world” pictures the highest imaginable success. • “Forfeits his soul” unveils the catastrophic cost. • No “exchange” exists once the soul is lost; every earthly asset is non-transferable beyond the grave (cf. Psalm 49:6-8). Linking Solomon and Jesus 1. Same question, two angles: • Solomon: Is a long, prosperous life worthwhile if my soul remains empty? • Jesus: Is any worldly gain worthwhile if it costs my eternal soul? 2. Both texts assume the soul’s everlasting value. 3. Both warn that visible blessings can mask spiritual bankruptcy. Cautionary Snapshots from Scripture • The Rich Fool—Luke 12:15-21: “This very night your soul will be required of you.” • Demas—2 Timothy 4:10: “loved this present world” and abandoned the mission. • Laodicea—Revelation 3:17: “You say, ‘I am rich…’ but you do not realize you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.” What Truly Satisfies • Knowing God through Christ—Jeremiah 9:23-24; John 17:3. • Contentment rooted in godliness—1 Timothy 6:6-8. • Eternal inheritance that cannot perish—1 Peter 1:3-4. Practical Takeaways • Evaluate success with eternity in view: career plans, investments, even ministry goals. • Guard the affections of the heart—Colossians 3:1-2. • Cultivate satisfaction in Christ now; don’t wait for a crisis to expose emptiness—Psalm 16:11. • Hold resources loosely, souls tightly—Proverbs 11:4; Matthew 6:19-21. Closing Reflection • Solomon’s wisdom diagnoses the hollow life; Jesus offers the cure. • Earthly gain minus soul salvation equals ultimate loss, but surrendering to Christ secures a treasure no market crash—or grave—can touch. |
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