Ecclesiastes 5:19

19 Furthermore, God has given riches and wealth to every man, and He has enabled him to enjoy them, to accept his lot, and to rejoice in his labor. This is a gift from God.

Ecclesiastes 5:19 Meaning and Commentary

Ecclesiastes 5:19

Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth
Which include the whole of a man's substance; all his estate, personal and real; and all his goods and possessions, movable and immovable, as gold, silver, cattle, fields, and farms; which are all the gift of God, by whatsoever means they may be acquired or possessed; and hath given him power;
or, "caused him to have dominion" ^F18, over his wealth and riches, and not be a slave to them, as many are: but to have so much command of them and of himself, as to eat thereof;
comfortably enjoy them; and dispose of them to his own good, the good of others, and the glory of God. It follows, and to take his portion;
which God hath allotted him; to take it thankfully, and use it freely and comfortably; and to rejoice in his labour;
in the things he has been labouring for, in a cheerful use of them; blessing God for them, and taking the comfort of them; this [is] the gift of God;
to have such power over his substance, and not be a slave to it, and to enjoy the fruits of his labour, in a cheerful and comfortable manner; this is as much the gift of God as riches themselves ^F19.

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FOOTNOTES:

F18 (wjylvh) "eumque dominari eum fecerit", Tigurine version; "imperare fecit eum", Gejerus; "dominari eum fecerit", Rambachius.
F19 "Di tibi divitias dederunt, artemque fruendi", Horat. Ep. l. 1. Ep. 4. v. 7.

Ecclesiastes 5:19 In-Context

17 Moreover, all his days he eats in darkness, with much sorrow, sickness, and anger.

18 Here is what I have seen to be good and fitting: to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in all the labor one does under the sun during the few days of life that God has given him—for this is his lot.

19 Furthermore, God has given riches and wealth to every man, and He has enabled him to enjoy them, to accept his lot, and to rejoice in his labor. This is a gift from God.

20 For a man seldom considers the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with the joy of his heart.