Ecclesiastes 6:11

Seeing there be many things that increase vanity, what is man the better? MANY THINGS THAT INCREASE VANITY. The more wealth the more vanity. WHAT (IS) MAN THE BETTER? "Seeing" that man cannot escape from the vanity," which by God's "mighty" will is inherent in earthly things, and cannot call in question God's wisdom in these dispensations ("cannot contend with Him that is mightier than he") "what is man the better" of these vain things, as regards the chief good? None whatever. The seeming advantage of the rich over the poor vanishes on a closer examination....

7-12 A little will serve to sustain us comfortably, and a great deal can do no more. The desires of the soul find nothing in the wealth of the world to give satisfaction. The poor man has comfort as well as the richest, and is under no real disadvantage. We cannot say, Better is the sight of the eyes than the resting of the soul in God; for it is better to live by faith in things to come, than to live by sense, which dwells only upon present things. Our lot is appointed. We have what pleases God, and let that please us. The greatest possessions and honours cannot set us above the common events of human life. Seeing that the things men pursue on earth increase vanities, what is man the better for his worldly devices? Our life upon earth is to be reckoned by days. It is fleeting and uncertain, and with little in it to be fond of, or to be depended on. Let us return to God, trust in his me...

THINGS - Namely, the various circumstances detailed in the foregoing chapters, from the Preacher’s personal experience, and his observation of other people, ending with the comprehensive declaration in Ecclesiastes 6:10 to the effect that vanity is an essential part of the constitution of creation as it now exists, and was foreknown. WHAT IS MAN THE BETTER? - Rather, what is profitable to man?...

EXPOSITION ECCLESIASTES 6:1 Section 9. Koheleth proceeds to illustrate the fact which he stated at the end of the last chapter, viz. that the possession and enjoyment of wealth are alike the free gift of God. We may see men possessed of all the gifts of fortune, yet denied the faculty of enjoying them. Hence we again conclude that _wealth cannot secure happiness_. ECCLESIASTES 6:1 THERE IS AN EVIL WHICH I HAVE SEEN UNDER THE SUN. The writer presents his personal experience, that which has fallen under his own observation (comp. Ecclesiastes 5:13;...

SEEING THERE BE MANY THINGS THAT INCREASE VANITY,.... As appears by all that has been said in this and the preceding Chapter s; such as wisdom and knowledge, wealth and riches, pleasure, power, and authority. Man is a poor vain creature himself, all he is and has is vanity; and these serve but to increase it, and make him vainer and vainer still; WHAT [IS] MAN THE BETTER? for these things? not at all, rather the worse, being more vain; there is no profit by them, no excellency arises to him from them, no happiness in them, nothing that will be of any service to him, especially with respect to a future state, or when he comes to die. It may be rendered, as it is in the Septuagint and Vulgate Latin versions, "seeing there are many words that multiply vanity"; as all such words do that are used with God by way of murmur and complaint concerning a man's lot and condition in this world, and...

CHAPTER 6 DISHEARTENING CONTRADICTIONS _ 1. Riches--Inability to enjoy them (Ecclesiastes 6:1)_ 2. Having All--Yet no fill of the soul (Ecclesiastes 6:3) 3. The sad ending wail (Ecclesiastes 6:10) Ecclesiastes 6:1. The first evil the wise searcher sees as a discouraging contradiction is, that God giveth a man riches, wealth, and honor so that he does not lack in anything whatever. But God does not give him the power to enjoy it, a stranger instead eats thereof. This makes impossible what he stated in the closing verses of the preceding chapter. The cherished desires of man

ECCLESIASTES 6. FURTHER REFLECTIONS ON WEALTH AND FATE. Parallel with the bitter experience of the avaricious man who loses his wealth is that of the rich and successful man whose cherished desires are unfulfilled. Having no keen satisfaction himself he yet hopes to see his son enjoy his acquisitions, but he is childless, or if he has the blessings of a large family (a hundred is just a round number) and a long life both highly prized by the Jews the children may disappoint him by their conduct and so fill his soul with sorrow instead of satisfying it with good, and he may even yet undergo the supreme dishonour of lacking interment. _Cf._ Jezebel (2 Kings 9:35) and Jehoiakim (Jeremiah 22:19), and many other references both in biblical and classical literature, especially the Greek legend of Antigone

_there be many things that increase vanity_ The Hebrew noun, as so often throughout the book, may stand either for _things_or _words_. In the former case, the maxim points to the pressure of affairs, what we call "business," the cares about many things, which make men feel the hollowness of life. In the latter, it probably refers to the speculative discussions on the chief good, destiny, and the like, which were rife in the schools both of Jews and Greeks, and finds a parallel in ch. Ecclesiastes 12:12, and in Milton's description of like debates, as to "Fixed fate, free will, fore-knowledge absolute; Vain wisdom all, and false philosophy." The latter fits in best with the explanation which refers the previous verse to the Divine decrees, the former with that which has been adopted here. _what is man the better_ Literally, WHAT PROFIT

SEEING THERE BE MANY THINGS THAT INCREASE VANITY— _For there are many arguments to shew the multitude of vanities which prevail on the earth._ Desvoeux: who concludes the verse here, and begins the 12th thus, _Now what remaineth to man? for who,_ &c. Solomon, in the 10th and 11th verses, thought proper to draw a general conclusion from the two former propositions, which were hitherto fully established, after a full inquiry into men's occupations and schemes of happiness: It appears that the name of _vapour,_ or _vanity,_ which was given them in the beginning, is a very fit one. Nay, it is a name as properly to be given to man, as to any thing else; for man can never be able to withstand the appointment of God, who sufficiently testified his will by the ways of his providence....

4. Reasons why it is useless to strive for riches Ecclesiastes 6:10-12 TEXT 6:10-12 10 Whatever exists has already been named, and it is known what man is; for he cannot dispute with him who is stronger than he is. 11 For there are many words which increase futility. What then is the advantage to a man? 12 For who knows what is good for a man during his lifetime, during the few years of his futile life? He will spend them like a shadow. For who can tell a man what will be after him under the sun? THOUGHT QUESTIONS 6:10-12 163. Man was made from what substance? (Cf. Genesis 2:7) 164. In what way is man described in Isaiah 45:9? 165. Who i