“For God giveth” - this is a statement that describes the magnificence of our God; He has a tremendous giving nature. But what does God give? We know from John 3:16 that He gave His only begotten Son for us all, this reveals that He gives to man the best. What God “gives” is more than adequate to meet the need we have (Christ is the epitome of giving since we view that gift in light of Rom 5:8 that the Son was given to us when we were still Gods enemy). But God also gives virtues (the fruits of the Spirit, the armor of God, Righteousness Peace and Joy, etc.) We discover that He gives an abundant life to those who please Him (John 10:10), this too is the gift of God as we shall see in this verse.
“...to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy...” To a man that is good in His sight! Wouldn't we all like to know what “good in His sight” is? First and foremost it is one who has accepted the gift of His Son Jesus Christ and therefore has allowed the virtues of Jesus Christ to be worked out in them. We are specifically told in Micah 6:8 that there are thing required of us, we are to be just, to be merciful and one of humility. O' what keys these are to the abundant life God can give! From this verse in Ecclesiastes 2:26 we also learn that God has the ability to withhold a fulfilled life from those who are sinners. “...but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God”.
Solomon concludes “...This also is vanity and vexation of spirit”. This statement is very telling because it is not vanity and vexation if you are good in His sight! Solomon is in effect implicating himself in this verse as a sinner and he was certainly a sinner at this point. The more Solomon speaks the more he reveals his own heart. He has been depressed and consumed by the supposition that he will leave all his wealth and substance to someone else and he is vexed by it but a righteous man would have peace and joy knowing he is leaving an inheritance to his children. Solomon was becoming depressed, bitter and self absorbed, and many times we grieve for this man “if only he had continued in the Proverbs what a different man he would have become!” But alas, Solomon played with sinful activities; multiplied wives indulged in idolatry and contaminated his walk to the point where he was left without hope in grief and despair. This verse teaches us that an abundant life begins with accepting the gift of God, Jesus Christ His Son. Also, the life of Solomon warns, with his failure, every child of God to guard your heart! Deal with sin before it devastates you and leaves you in despair. Always remember what God gives to a man who is good in His sight...the merciful, upright and humble, wisdom, knowledge and joy!
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