Ecclesiastes 5

Ecclesiastes 5:10-8

XXVII OTHER METHODS APPLIEDEcclesiastes 5:10-8:15.

The fourth method applied was riches with the result that they were found to be insufficient because, (1) they cannot satisfy; (2) consumers of wealth increase with wealth; (3) the owner can only look at it; (4) he cannot sleep like & laborer; (5) riches may hurt the owner; (6) they may perish in an unlucky venture; (1) the owner begets a son when he is bankrupt; (8) in any event he is stripped of it all at death; (9) it causes him to lead a worried life.

The conclusion of this matter is found in Ecclesiastes 5:18-20. According to this conclusion, it is good and comely for one to eat and drink and enjoy good in all his labor, but he must keep in mind that this is the gift of God; he will not much remember the days of his life, but it does not matter provided they were filled with the good which brings joy to his heart.

Another observation on riches is noted in Ecclesiastes 6:1-2, viz: that the man who has immense wealth may not be able to eat of his bounty) and like one multimillionaire, may offer a million dollars for a new stomach, but there are some things that money cannot buy. He must stand by and see another consume what he has not the ability to enjoy. In Ecclesiastes 6:3-6 the author reasons that an untimely birth would be better than the condition of a man, blessed with a hundred children and a long life, if his soul be not filled with good.

The reasons assigned in Ecclesiastes 6:7-12 for this failure of riches are,

(1) All labor is for his mouth, therefore, the eternity in his soul cannot be satisfied in this way (Ecclesiastes 6:7-9).

(2) The greatest is but a man and cannot contend against God; neither can anyone tell man what shall be after him (Ecclesiastes 6:10-12).

The fifth method applied was the golden mean, on which he says that a good name is better than precious oil (Ecclesiastes 7:1); that it is better to go to the house of mourning than to the house of feasting, because sorrow makes the heart better (Ecclesiastes 7:2-4); that the reproof of the wise is better than the laughter of fools (Ecclesiastes 7:5-7); that the end of a thing is better than the beginning of it and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit (Ecclesiastes 7:8); that it is not good to be hasty to get angry, for that is like a fool (Ecclesiastes 7:9); that we should not talk of “the good old days,” for this is not wise (Ecclesiastes 7:10); that wisdom is more excellent than wealth because wisdom preserves life to him that has it (Ecclesiastes 7:11-12); that it is not good to try to make all the crooked things straight (Ecclesiastes 7:13); that man should be joyful in his prosperity and considerate in his adversity, for they both come from God (Ecclesiastes 7:14); that since it sometimes happens that the righteous die while the wicked live, be not righteous over much, nor too wise, nor too wicked, nor too foolish, but hold somewhat to both (Ecclesiastes 7:15-18); that wisdom is stronger than ten rulers and this golden mean plan is great because there is not a righteous man in the earth that sinneth not (Ecclesiastes 7:19-20); that a man should not try to find out what people say about him, lest he might hear something bad about himself (Ecclesiastes 7:21-22).

The result of all this golden mean philosophy is that this theory is unsatisfactory and there is a higher wisdom attainable (Ecclesiastes 7:23-25). It is unsatisfactory because of its failure in the following particulars:

(1) Because woman is more bitter than death. There is one man of a thousand, though fallen, but there is not one woman of a thousand. Why? because he gave only one thousandth part of himself to each of them and for that reason he ought not to have expected a whole in return (Ecclesiastes 7:26-29).

(2) Because it is a failure when applied to public affairs (Ecclesiastes 8:1-9) saying, (a) Do not rebel, (Ecclesiastes 8:1-2); (b) Do not resent oppression (Ecclesiastes 8:3-4); (c) Leave the case to God’s retribution (Ecclesiastes 8:5-7) ; (d) The evil ruler will die and there is DO furlough in that warfare (Ecclesiastes 8:8).

(3) Because there are rulers who rule over men to their hurt (Ecclesiastes 8:9-10).

(4) Because the mills of the gods grind too slowly for the correction of this evil (Ecclesiastes 8:11-13).

(5) Because, though ultimately it is well with the righteous and evil with the wicked, yet here and now we do see wicked men get the crown of the righteous and vice versa (Ecclesiastes 8:14). The conclusion of all this, then, is that he commanded mirth, because he saw no better thing under the sun than for man to eat and drink and be joyful all the days of his life (Ecclesiastes 8:15).

1. What is the fourth method applied and with what results?

2. Why were riches insufficient?

3. What is the conclusion of this matter?

4. What is observation on riches noted in Ecclesiastes 6:1-2 and what reasonings based thereon in Ecclesiastes 6:3-6?

5. What reasons are assigned in Ecclesiastes 6:7-12 for this failure of riches?

6. What is the fifth method applied?

7. On this golden mean what says he of a good name?

8. What of the house of mourning and the house of feasting?

9. What of the reproof of the wise and the laughter of fools?

10. What of the beginning and end of a thing and the patient and proud in spirit?

11. What of anger?

12. What of “the good old days”?

13. What of the advantage of wisdom over wealth?

14. What of the crooked things?

15. What of prosperity and adversity?

16. What of the righteous and the wicked?

17. What of wisdom and rulers and why is this golden mean great?

18. What of things said about you?

19. What is the result of all this golden mean philosophy?

20. Why is this golden mean unsatisfactory?

21. What is the conclusion of all this?