Verse 2

God gives a man riches, property, and wealth so that he lacks nothing that his heart desires, yet God does not enable him to enjoy the fruit of his labor– instead, someone else enjoys it! This is fruitless and a grave misfortune.

Referenced Verses

  • Eccl 5:19 : 19 To every man whom God has given wealth, and possessions, he has also given him the ability to eat from them, to receive his reward and to find enjoyment in his toil; these things are the gift of God.
  • Ps 17:14 : 14 LORD, use your power to deliver me from these murderers, from the murderers of this world! They enjoy prosperity; you overwhelm them with the riches they desire. They have many children, and leave their wealth to their offspring.
  • Ps 73:7 : 7 Their prosperity causes them to do wrong; their thoughts are sinful.
  • 1 Kgs 3:13 : 13 Furthermore, I am giving you what you did not request– riches and honor so that you will be the greatest king of your generation.
  • Job 21:9-9 : 9 Their houses are safe and without fear; and no rod of punishment from God is upon them. 10 Their bulls breed without fail; their cows calve and do not miscarry. 11 They allow their children to run like a flock; their little ones dance about. 12 They sing to the accompaniment of tambourine and harp, and make merry to the sound of the flute. 13 They live out their years in prosperity and go down to the grave in peace. 14 So they say to God,‘Turn away from us! We do not want to know your ways. 15 Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him? What would we gain if we were to pray to him?’
  • Luke 12:19-20 : 19 And I will say to myself,“You have plenty of goods stored up for many years; relax, eat, drink, celebrate!”’ 20 But God said to him,‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded back from you, but who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’
  • Ps 39:6 : 6 Surely people go through life as mere ghosts. Surely they accumulate worthless wealth without knowing who will eventually haul it away.”
  • 1 Chr 29:25 : 25 The LORD greatly magnified Solomon before all Israel and bestowed on him greater majesty than any king of Israel before him.
  • 1 Chr 29:28 : 28 He died at a good old age, having enjoyed long life, wealth, and honor. His son Solomon succeeded him.
  • 2 Chr 1:11 : 11 God said to Solomon,“Because you desire this, and did not ask for riches, wealth, and honor, or for vengeance on your enemies, and because you did not ask for long life, but requested wisdom and discernment so you can make judicial decisions for my people over whom I have made you king,
  • Deut 8:7-9 : 7 For the LORD your God is bringing you to a good land, a land of brooks, springs, and fountains flowing forth in valleys and hills, 8 a land of wheat, barley, vines, fig trees, and pomegranates, of olive trees and honey, 9 a land where you may eat food in plenty and find no lack of anything, a land whose stones are iron and from whose hills you can mine copper. 10 You will eat your fill and then praise the LORD your God because of the good land he has given you.
  • Deut 28:33 : 33 As for the produce of your land and all your labor, a people you do not know will consume it, and you will be nothing but oppressed and crushed for the rest of your lives.
  • Deut 28:43 : 43 The resident foreigners who reside among you will become higher and higher over you and you will become lower and lower.
  • Judg 18:10 : 10 When you invade, you will encounter unsuspecting people. The land is wide! God is handing it over to you– a place that lacks nothing on earth!”
  • Eccl 2:4-9 : 4 Futility of Materialism I increased my possessions: I built houses for myself; I planted vineyards for myself. 5 I designed royal gardens and parks for myself, and I planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. 6 I constructed pools of water for myself, to irrigate my grove of flourishing trees. 7 I purchased male and female slaves, and I owned slaves who were born in my house; I also possessed more livestock– both herds and flocks– than any of my predecessors in Jerusalem. 8 I also amassed silver and gold for myself, as well as valuable treasures taken from kingdoms and provinces. I acquired male singers and female singers for myself, and what gives a man sensual delight– a harem of beautiful concubines! 9 So I was far wealthier than all my predecessors in Jerusalem, yet I maintained my objectivity: 10 I did not restrain myself from getting whatever I wanted; I did not deny myself anything that would bring me pleasure. So all my accomplishments gave me joy; this was my reward for all my effort.
  • Eccl 4:4 : 4 Labor Motivated by Envy Then I considered all the skillful work that is done: Surely it is nothing more than competition between one person and another. This also is profitless– like chasing the wind.
  • Eccl 4:8 : 8 A man who is all alone with no companion, he has no children nor siblings; yet there is no end to all his toil, and he is never satisfied with riches. He laments,“For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?” This also is futile and a burdensome task!
  • Eccl 5:16 : 16 This is another misfortune: Just as he came, so will he go. What did he gain from toiling for the wind?
  • Lam 5:2 : 2 Our inheritance is turned over to strangers; foreigners now occupy our homes.
  • Dan 5:18 : 18 As for you, O king, the most high God bestowed on your father Nebuchadnezzar a kingdom, greatness, honor, and majesty.
  • Hos 7:9 : 9 Foreigners are consuming what his strenuous labor produced, but he does not recognize it! His head is filled with gray hair, but he does not realize it!