Even though he should live a thousand years twice over yet enjoy no good, do not all go to the one place?
– Ecclesiastes 6:6
I want to lead us to pray in two directions based on this verse. First, based on the first part of this verse, Ecclesiastes 6:6 is talking about enjoying good in this world. And Ecclesiastes, as we’ve talked about, a lot of this book is focused on the meaninglessness of life under the sun if there is no God.
Ecclesiastes 6:6 is a reminder to be thankful in the present.
But the picture that we know, I think about 1 Timothy 6 and from all the rest of the Bible, is that God gives us good things for us to enjoy. God loves us and gives us good things. So it’s good today to enjoy good things from God. Obviously not in a way that ignores God or His purpose for the good things in our lives that he gives us, but it’s good to enjoy a meal and thank God for the good food that he provides.
It’s good to enjoy friendship, as we prayed about, according to Ecclesiastes 4, and to thank God for that friendship, to see God as the Author of everything good in our lives, and to make sure to take time to thank him. “Give thanks in all circumstances,” 1 Thessalonians tells us. Why? Because this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. It’s God’s will for you to live a grateful life. So even when you’re walking through hard times, some of you are walking through major challenges today, well, in all circumstances, give thanks. Look for good things to thank God for amidst whatever you’re walking through right now. Just try intentionally to be grateful. And even when you don’t see good things, to trust that God is working all things together for good. So thank God for that.
Ecclesiastes 6:6 challenges us to live with an eternal perspective.
Then, the second part of Ecclesiastes 6:6 says, “Do not all go to the one place?” And we know again from the rest of the Bible that yes, all people die, but all people don’t go to the same place when they die. And it’s so important for us to live each day with an eternal perspective that realizes this world is not our ultimate home. That one day, we will either go to heaven, and ultimately, a new heaven and a new earth where we will enjoy everything good that comes from God in perfect purity. Oh, come, Lord Jesus, come quickly.
Or, apart from Jesus, people will go to everlasting suffering, separation from all that is good because we are separated completely from God. Oh, let that reality change the way you live today. Live for not just what’s going to matter today or tomorrow, or a week from now or a year from now, but for what’s going to matter 10 trillion years from now. And point people to Jesus who don’t know him as the one who makes restoration, reconciliation with the one true God, who is the author of all that is good. Jesus makes that possible for us. So, let’s point people to him today.
So God, we pray in these two directions based on Ecclesiastes 6:6. We praise you as the author of everything that’s good, and we thank you for all the evidences of your goodness and your grace around us today. God, help us to be thankful in all circumstances and help us to enjoy the good things you provide for us in ways that bring glory to your name in accord with your purposes for those good things.
Prayer for the Pingdi People
And God, we pray that you would help us to point others to you as the author of all that is good. Help us to live for people’s eternal good around us.
God help us to build them up in Christ. Help us to share the gospel of Jesus with those who don’t know you so that they might experience eternal good in you. God, we pray for the Pingdi people of China, 1.3 million of them, most of whom have never even heard of your goodness in Jesus, of your salvation in Jesus, of a new heaven and a new earth to come through faith in Jesus where we will be free from all sin and sorrow and suffering and pain and tears and death.
Oh God, help us to spread the good news as your church to all the peoples of the world, including the Pingdi of China. May it be so. We pray all of this according to your word in Ecclesiastes 6:6. In Jesus’ name, amen.
David Platt serves as a pastor in metro Washington, D.C. He is the founder of Radical.
David received his Ph.D. from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and is the author of Don’t Hold Back, Radical, Follow Me, Counter Culture, Something Needs to Change, Before You Vote, as well as the multiple volumes of the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary series.
Along with his wife and children, he lives in the Washington, D.C. metro area.
