What is the meaning of Ecclesiastes 2:26? To the man who is pleasing in His sight “ ‘To the man who is pleasing in His sight…’ ” (Ecclesiastes 2:26). • Scripture treats “pleasing” God as a real, observable condition of the heart and life (1 Samuel 13:14; Hebrews 11:5–6; 2 Corinthians 5:9). • It begins with faith that submits to the Lord (Romans 12:1–2). God actively notices and responds to those who honor Him. He gives wisdom and knowledge and joy • Wisdom – insight to see life from God’s viewpoint (Proverbs 2:6; James 1:5). • Knowledge – practical understanding for daily choices (Colossians 1:9–10). • Joy – deep, Spirit-given gladness that circumstances cannot steal (Psalm 16:11; John 15:11; Galatians 5:22). God is not stingy; He “gives” these gifts, anchoring the believer in contentment regardless of outward wealth. But to the sinner He assigns the task of gathering and accumulating • “The sinner” lives for self, ignoring God’s authority (Psalm 14:1). • His labor becomes a treadmill of acquisition—an “assignment” that ultimately burdens rather than satisfies (Proverbs 13:11; Job 27:16-17; Luke 12:16-21). • Even his productivity is under God’s sovereignty; the very work he loves becomes toil without enduring reward. That which he will hand over to one who pleases God • God often transfers resources from the unrighteous to the righteous (Exodus 12:35-36; Esther 8:1-2; Proverbs 13:22; Matthew 25:28). • This handover is not accidental but deliberate: wealth and influence end up serving God’s purposes through those who honor Him. • The righteous, equipped with wisdom and joy, steward these resources for God’s glory rather than self-promotion. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind • For the sinner, the cycle is “futile”—empty, like trying to grasp wind (Ecclesiastes 1:2; Psalm 39:6). • Without a relationship with God, accumulation cannot secure meaning (Matthew 6:19-20; 1 Timothy 6:7-10). • The verse underscores the larger Ecclesiastes theme: life apart from God is vanity, however impressive the bank balance. summary Ecclesiastes 2:26 draws a clear dividing line. God delights in those who please Him through faith and obedience, gifting them with wisdom, knowledge, and joy that money cannot buy. Meanwhile, the unrepentant grind away, piling up wealth only to see it redirected by God to serve His people and His purposes. In the end, the believer’s inner riches outlast and outshine every material possession, while the unbeliever’s hoard proves as weightless as the wind. |
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