Verses 1-3a, 11-12
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Be righteous and be wise, as this is best, but know that you will still experience unexpected hardships and suffering from time to time.
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This is an inevitable part of God's will—being “in the hand of God.” See Ecclesiastes 7:13-14.
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No person can judge whether they are loved or hated on the basis of circumstances, because good and bad things happen to everyone. Remember that you are loved because God sent His Son for you (Romans 5:8-9).
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Although the general rule is that those who are strong, wise, and skillful will prosper (Proverbs 21:5), there are times when the unexpected will happen and the same will experience loss.
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Eventually, all creation will undergo the greatest unexpected evil and loss in world history when the time of the end arrives (1 Thessalonians 5:3).
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Verses 3b-10
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All men are born sinners. We all sin, and then we die. And we don't know when we're going to die. Our only hope is to learn what is good while we are still alive.
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So, rather than ignoring or neglecting God to chase worldly power, put God first and prioritize learning and obeying the Word above everything else. Becoming a “lion” of worldly power will have meant nothing if you died without being saved and right with God.
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Also remember that when you die, everything in this physical world that you envied or hated will have perished, and you will know how stupid it was to envy or hate anything. So stop that now; don't waste your energy on such meaningless emotions.
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There are two other tasks to honor this life, while we still have it:
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1. Do what you enjoy! God accepts this. As long as what you do is not sinful, it's a way to honor the temporary life He's given you. Eat, wear clothes you like, get married if you want to, and have fun!
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2. Whatever you do, do it with all your heart (Colossians 3:23-24), as this also honors God. Be diligent, work hard, make goals and accomplish them! You only get one shot at this physical life, so make it count!
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Verses 13-17
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Having wisdom is powerful for all situations, but the sad reality is that, in this world, you lose credibility in other people's eyes if you're poor. People most often won't listen to you if you aren't skilled with your money.
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If you want your wisdom to be heard, also learn to earn money well and steward it well. This, in part, proves wisdom.
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For instance, “Wisdom is good with an inheritance” (Ecclesiastes 7:11).
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“The crown of the wise is their wealth” (Proverbs 14:24).
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About wisdom the Word says, “Length of days is in her right hand, in her left hand riches and honor” (Proverbs 3:16).
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When wisdom speaks, it says, “Those who seek me diligently will find me. Riches and honor are with me...I...cause those who love me to inherit wealth, that I may fill their treasuries” (Proverbs 8:17-18,21).
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The world generally makes it hard to become wealthy. It doesn't want you to be skilled with money. For that reason it takes growth and skill in many areas to become wealthy, and such will make you a more effective witness for the gospel.
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Wisdom comes quietly (verse 17). The foolishness of the world is much louder, in people's ears, than the voices of wisdom and the whispers of the Spirit. Because wisdom is quiet, you will need to have an attractant in your life to make people want to listen to the wisdom God has given you through His Word. And good conduct and wealth are great attractants to people in this world (Luke 16:9).
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Verse 18
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Also keep in mind that just as wisdom is a powerful force for good, sin is a powerful force for evil. Even a single person living in sin brings much destruction.
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And as one who is seeking to be wise, and someone of good reputation, be careful that you stay away from sin! Even a little sin in your life will spoil any good reputation (Ecclesiastes 10:1). This is why wisdom must be coupled with strict integrity in everything.
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