How does Ecclesiastes 5:19 connect with the concept of stewardship in Genesis 1:28? The gift acknowledged: Ecclesiastes 5:19 “God has also given riches and wealth to every man, and He has empowered him to eat from it, to receive his reward and to rejoice in his labor; this is a gift of God.” The mandate announced: Genesis 1:28 “God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and every creature that crawls upon the earth.’” Two texts, one thread • God is the Owner of everything (Psalm 24:1). • Humanity receives what God owns and distributes—whether resources, abilities, or opportunities. • Enjoyment (Ecclesiastes 5:19) and dominion (Genesis 1:28) are twin responsibilities, never rivals. Stewardship defined • Dominion in Genesis is not domination; it is caretaking on God’s behalf. • Enjoyment in Ecclesiastes is not indulgence; it is gratitude lived out under God’s authority. • Therefore, stewardship = gratefully enjoying + responsibly managing. Parallel movements in the two verses 1. Source: – Genesis: “God blessed them.” – Ecclesiastes: “God has also given.” 2. Scope: – Genesis: “fill the earth…rule.” – Ecclesiastes: “riches and wealth…reward.” 3. Strength: – Genesis: “subdue…rule” assumes God-given capacity. – Ecclesiastes: “He has empowered him to eat” supplies capacity for enjoyment. 4. Satisfaction: – Genesis implies fruitfulness and multiplication bring honor to the Creator. – Ecclesiastes states “rejoice in his labor” is itself “a gift of God.” 5. Accountability: – Both verses assume humans answer to the Giver (cf. Matthew 25:14-30). Practical takeaways • Receive every asset—time, money, influence—as God’s property on loan. • Exercise wise oversight that multiplies blessing for others (1 Timothy 6:17-18). • Celebrate God’s generosity with humble gratitude; pleasure in His gifts is part of obedient stewardship. • Measure success not merely by accumulation but by faithfulness to God’s original commission: cultivate, preserve, and reflect His glory in all creation. |
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