The Futility of Possessions (Ecc 5:8–6:12)

Another of life’s frustrating and confusing mysteries is the futility of gaining possessions. Oftentimes the poor are oppressed by the wealthy, but God sees all and repays accordingly (5:8–9). However, greater possessions are not the answer, because possessions never satisfy (5:10). With greater income, there are more problems and greater expenses (5:11). Think about your favorite ball player making millions a year: he has to worry about all his houses, cars, taxes, properties, investments, retirement funds, plus all the people who want to get their hands on his money. Almost makes you want to be poor! Solomon (who was not a beggar) gives this conclusion: it is better to work hard and go to bed tired, then to be pampered and not be able to sleep (5:12).
The Preacher gives an example of the futility of possessions: a man saves up and amasses a huge wealth of possessions, only to lose them all in one catastrophic event or bad business deal (5:13–14). Now he has nothing to leave to his children and nothing to live on, and he dies a pauper (5:15). There is no advantage to gaining possessions (5:16–17). The best way seems to be to work hard and enjoy the blessings that God gives (5:18–19), thanking God for the present rather than dwelling on the past (5:20).
Another disadvantage is one that Solomon has brought up earlier: oftentimes people cannot enjoy their possessions at all because they are left to another person (6:1–2). To live an unfulfilled life is worse than never living at all (6:3–5), and death is the “great equalizer,” because it happens to rich and poor alike (6:6). How much of our hard work is “eaten up,” literally or figuratively (6:7–9)? Life is short, and man is not in control of his fate or destiny (6:10). Man must trust in One greater than himself to do what is right and best in his life (6:11–12). To try to control one’s life by gathering possessions is a fruitless and worthless endeavor.