We are at verses 4:13-16. They talk about a poor wise youth who became the successor of an old foolish king. Everyone followed the youth at first but later people were not pleased. This too is meaningless. Yes, it is pretty meaningless. So what?
We are now at chapter five, verses1-7. This is telling people to not be fools in front of god. They are to be careful how much they say and what they say at the house of god. They are not to make foolish vows they cannot keep, then claim it was a mistake. Can you see that none of this matters? Vows to gods are all in the minds of believers. Nothing happens to them if they don't keep them, except their own pointless feelings of guilt.
We move on to verse 8. There we begin a section that discusses poverty and wealth. The poor are oppressed by the wealthy. This should not be a surprise says the author. He describes a hierarchy of exploitation that reaches to the top, the king. Then the author comes down on those who love money, speaking of their greed and insatiability. He says, "As goods increase, so do those who consume them. And what benefit are they to the owner except to feast his eyes on them."
This feels so relevant to today's consumer driven economy in the United States. Many are opting out in a search for a fulfilling life without all the stuff. Minimalism has become trendy. I myself am attracted to shedding the accumulation of years. However, I must quibble and say that most of us want to get rid of all the stuff that give us no pleasure from feasting our eyes on. This is so we can more fully enjoy the things that actually do bring pleasure. Yes, there can be things that bring lasting pleasure just by having them in your life. It is different for each person, but to say things can not bring real pleasure is just not true. That falsehood is usually perpetuated by proponents of religions, who believe that the only true pleasure is found in the service of their god. Will this author go there?
In verse 12, the author tries to convince us that a laborer is better off than a rich man. Why? He sleeps better, even if he doesn't get much to eat. I wonder if this author has ever been truly hungry or poor. Would he say these things if he had? I suspect not. The cares of the poor often weigh heavily on their minds and prevent sound sleep.
The author has seen a grievous evil under the sun: wealth hoarded to the harm of its owner or lost through misfortune. Are there no in-betweens with this guy? Does he not recognize the middle class? Where are the people who have moderately decent lives?
Verses 15-17 tell in poetic language how we were born with nothing and we will not be able to take anything with us when we die, which is quite true. However, the author claims it to be a grievous evil.
What does a man gain by working for this end? Frustration, affliction, and anger. What good is that? Mr. Whiner is back again. I don't know about you but I want to enjoy the short life I have. What difference does it make what becomes of my stuff when I am gone? I won't know or care.
In verse 18, the author has a revelation. Everyone should eat, drink, and accept their lot in life that god gave them. That goes for the laborer and the wealthy man. It is a gift of god for the rich man to be able to enjoy his possession, he should accept that and be happy. Mr Split personality is back! Woe is us.....but it's not that bad if you look at it the right way.
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