What is the meaning of Ecclesiastes 5:14? Setting within Ecclesiastes Solomon has been tracking the emptiness of chasing riches “under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 2:4-11, 5:10-12). Verse 14 zooms in on one tragic snapshot: “wealth lost in a failed venture, so when that man has a son there is nothing to pass on” (Ecclesiastes 5:14). The Teacher is spotlighting how quickly earthly security can vaporize, echoing Proverbs 23:4-5 and James 4:13-14. The fragile nature of wealth • Riches can “sprout wings” (Proverbs 23:5). • Jesus warns that moth and rust destroy and thieves break in and steal (Matthew 6:19). • Job lost everything “in a single day” (Job 1:13-19). Ecclesiastes 5:14 underscores that same vulnerability: the treasure once piled up evaporates in a moment. A failed venture The phrase pictures an investment gone bad—a shipwrecked business, a market collapse, a risky scheme that backfires. Similar scenes appear in Luke 12:16-20 (the rich fool) and 1 Timothy 6:9-10, where the craving for wealth plunges people “into ruin and destruction.” The failure is not merely unfortunate; it’s a divinely permitted megaphone announcing the limits of human control (Proverbs 16:9). Nothing to pass on The sting deepens because a son now stands empty-handed. In Israel, inheritance was more than money; it was heritage, identity, and security (Numbers 27:8-11). Yet Ecclesiastes 5:14 shows a father unable to fulfill that duty. The scene echoes Psalm 49:10-12—no matter how great one’s estate, it cannot be permanently secured for the next generation without God’s blessing (Proverbs 13:22). Lessons for today • Hold wealth loosely, recognizing God alone gives power to gain and to retain it (Deuteronomy 8:17-18). • Diversify generosity, not just investments—lay up treasure in heaven (Matthew 6:20; 1 Timothy 6:17-19). • Anchor your legacy in Christ, who offers “an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade” (1 Peter 1:4), unlike the fortune in Ecclesiastes 5:14. summary Ecclesiastes 5:14 paints a sober picture: riches are slippery, ventures can fail, and earthly inheritances can vanish overnight, leaving loved ones with nothing. The verse drives us to seek lasting security in the Lord, stewarding resources with humility and eternal perspective, confident that only His inheritance endures. |
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