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"An evil affliction"

Text: Ecclesiastes 6:2

A DISTURBING SCENARIO

Solomon’s discussion about God’s blessing was not the last word. He considered another element. What if God blesses with riches and honour, but not the blessing of enjoying the fruit of his labour?

“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 honour,
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.”

Ecclesiastes 6:1-2

1. “There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men”

a) Once again, the word “evil” is employed.

b) And this “bad set of circumstances” (evil) was not uncommon at all.

2. God’s involvement and His gift

a) “Riches and wealth”

When used in this combination, it means that the man is “super rich”.

b) “Honour”

He even has this.

c) He lacks nothing at all.

d) He can satisfy all his desires (and not just wants).

3. God’s withholding of this blessing

a) “God does not give him power to eat of it”

i) The reasons are not given.

ii) The usual reasons are quite obvious.

iii) They are sin-related problems (rebellion, disobedience etc).

b) All that he has acquired would be possessed by a foreigner.

i) God has dispossessed the individual.

ii) He has given it to someone else (a foreigner).

4. “This is vanity, and it is an evil affliction”

a) Once again, this word comes up, “vanity”.

b) It is now identified with a new phrase “an evil affliction”.

i) A life time of work ends up in nothing!
That is truly “vanity!”

ii) It may indeed be called “an affliction that is evil”.