Ecclesiastes 5-7

“For when dreams increase and words grow many, there is vanity; but God is the one you must fear” (5:7).  The author of Ecclesiastes, wealthy and powerful, saw the danger of “big dreams.”  He thought he could conquer wisdom, yet he ended up being reminded of his own limitations.  God gave humans many gifts, including intellect and creativity, but our hearts easily become arrogant (5:2-6), causing us to forget our Creator.  In contrast, when we are rooted in humility and thanksgiving, we can enjoy all of life as God’s gift – even wealth and power (5:19).

God wants us to be creative thinkers and bold doers, without becoming self-important. With humility, we can be “satisfied with life’s good things” (6:3).