What is the meaning of Ecclesiastes 5:11? When good things increase - Solomon observes that possessions and income often multiply beyond basic needs. “Every good and perfect gift is from above” (James 1:17), yet Ecclesiastes reminds us that material gain is not ultimate gain. - Deuteronomy 8:17-18 warns, “You may say in your heart, ‘The power and the strength of my hands have made this wealth for me,’ but remember that it is the LORD your God who gives you the power to gain wealth.” God is the Giver; increase should stir gratitude, not pride. - Proverbs 10:22 echoes, “The blessing of the LORD enriches, and He adds no sorrow to it.” Increase itself is not evil, but it carries responsibilities that cannot be ignored. - Ecclesiastes 6:1-2 illustrates the tragedy of abundance without enjoyment: “God gives a man wealth, possessions, and honor … yet God does not enable him to enjoy them.” so do those who consume them - More wealth attracts more consumers—family members, employees, taxes, and even random dependents. • Proverbs 19:4 notes, “Wealth attracts many friends, but a poor man is deserted by his friend.” • In Luke 15:13-14 the prodigal son discovers that fair-weather companions vanish when the money is gone. - The owner’s circle enlarges, but so does pressure, anxiety, and expectation. “The abundance of the rich permits him no sleep” (Ecclesiastes 5:12). - Stewardship, generosity, and wise boundaries are essential, reflecting passages like 1 Timothy 6:17-18, which urges the rich “to be rich in good deeds, generous, and willing to share.” what then is the profit to the owner, except to behold them with his eyes? - Possessions may end up being little more than display pieces. Ecclesiastes 2:11 confesses, “All was vanity and a chasing after the wind; there was no profit under the sun.” - Jesus reinforces the point: “Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven … For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19-21). - Wealth cannot follow us beyond the grave: “For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it” (1 Timothy 6:7). - At best, the owner looks at his plenty; at worst, Luke 12:20-21 warns of the rich fool whose soul is demanded while his barns stay full. Eternal perspective rescues us from mere sightseeing. summary Solomon’s proverb exposes the limits of material abundance: increase draws consumers, drains peace, and offers only the fleeting satisfaction of seeing wealth pile up. Scripture calls us to gratitude for God’s provision, responsible stewardship, generous sharing, and an eternal focus that values treasures in heaven over trophies on earth. |
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