I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life. Ecclesiastes 3:12 (KJV)
Things in general don’t seem to have any good in them that a man should hoard for one’s own profit. And from what we have followed, such a perspective over life only results in disappointment. We also know that such ‘things’ are transient. They follow a divine order. These things in themselves are not entirely evil. They have been ordered as joyous gifts for men. (Bartholomew, 143) They may not be good in themselves, but they are meant for ‘doing good;’ as Henry writes, “all the good there is in them is to do good with them, to our families, to our neighbours, to the poor, to the public, to its civil and religious interests.” The verse could also be read as an outline of a good life. To note, good does not mean moral in this context. This particular verse seems to have no moral connotations. (Seow, 164) By good life, the reference seems to be towards a notion of a healthy engagement with the good things in this world, i.e., an attitude of gratitude and absolute surrender to God and in His timely providence. Provan writes, “it involves the embrace of joy as it comes to us; it involves eating, drinking, and ‘seeing the good’ in our toil, rather than looking for the profit that may derive from it. All of this is to be received as a gift from God rather than sought for in our own efforts.” (102)
References:
Bartholomew, C. (2009). Ecclesiastes, Baker Academic
Henry, M. (1706). Commentary on the Whole Bible, Complete, Eccl. 3:1-10
Provan, I. (2001). Ecclesiastes/Song of Songs: The New Application Commentary, Zondervan
Seow, C.L. (1997). Ecclesiastes, Yale University Press
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