Ecclesiastes 5 explained: Careful Words and Restless Money

Coming to worship carefully (vv. 1-3)

The Teacher warns against going to the temple just to go through the motions, offering sacrifices without paying real attention. Since God is in heaven and we are on earth, it is wiser to listen and say little, because a flood of careless words is as empty as a restless dream.

Keeping promises to God (vv. 4-7)

A vow was a solemn promise to give God something, often made in hard times or when asking for help, and Israel's law said it must be kept. It is better to promise nothing than to break your word and then tell the temple messenger it was a mistake; most think this messenger was a priest, though some read it as an angel.

Officials who squeeze the poor (vv. 8-9)

Injustice should not surprise you, because every official is watched by a higher one. Some read this as layers of power protecting each other at the poor's expense, while others read the highest watcher as God, who sees it all and will judge; verse 9 is also unclear, perhaps saying the land's produce is meant for everyone, the king included.

Money never satisfies (vv. 10-12)

Loving money only makes you want more, and as wealth grows so does the crowd living off it, leaving the owner little but the pleasure of looking at it. A worker sleeps well whether he eats little or much, while the rich man lies awake, perhaps from worry or from overeating.

Wealth lost, wealth left behind (vv. 13-17)

The Teacher describes riches hoarded and then lost in some misfortune, so that a man's child inherits nothing. Even if nothing is lost, everyone leaves as naked as they came, and a life spent grasping can be lived in gloom, frustration and anger.

Enjoying life as a gift (vv. 18-20)

Against all this, the Teacher says the good thing is to eat, drink and find satisfaction in your work during your short life. Having things and also being able to enjoy them is a gift from God, and it fills a person with such gladness that life's shortness does not weigh on them.

Key verse: Ecclesiastes 5:19

Where Christians differ

Christians differ over whether the Teacher's advice to enjoy food, drink and work is real, God-given wisdom or the resigned conclusion of someone looking at life without hope beyond death.

Something to think about

When has having more made your life feel fuller, and when has it made it feel more crowded or anxious?