[Anglican Devotional 3 November 2021] Topic: From Vanity Into Darkness

Posted by: Henry || Categories: Devotional

TOPIC: From Vanity Into Darkness

READ: Ecclesiastes 6:1-6 (NKJV)

There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it [is] common among men:
A man to whom God has given riches and wealth and honor, so that he lacks nothing for himself of all he desires; yet God does not give him power to eat of it, but a foreigner consumes it. This [is] vanity, and it [is] an evil affliction.
If a man begets a hundred [children] and lives many years, so that the days of his years are many, but his soul is not satisfied with goodness, or indeed he has no burial, I say [that] a stillborn child [is] better than he —
for it comes in vanity and departs in darkness, and its name is covered with darkness.
Though it has not seen the sun or known [anything,] this has more rest than that man,
even if he lives a thousand years twice — but has not seen goodness. Do not all go to one place?
MESSAGE:

The “Preacher” in this chapter comes up with what he calls “another evil under the sun” (v.1). Though he concluded Chapter 5 by saying that enjoyment is a gift of God (5:19-20); here he makes the point that wealth, honour and family do not necessarily bring joy (vv. 2-3.) In fact, a still-born child is better off than a person who has all these things and whose perspective of life is limited to what takes place under the sun” (like “good burial”).

While wealth and other life’s goods are gifts from God (1 Tim. 6:17), the Scripture admonishes us in sundry places not to put our hope in them because they are simply described as “vanity, “and building our hope in them is moving from vanity to darkness (v.4). There is a saying that money can buy a bed, but cannot buy sleep. Money can afford us the good things of life, but real happiness and joy come through a genuine relationship with Jesus. Make Him your Lord and Master today and you shall experience true happiness.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father I have realised that true joy and happiness come from You alone. Help me to put my trust in you alone all the days of my life. Amen.

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