Ecclesiastes 2:10 - Exposition

Whatsoever mine eyes desired . The lust of the eyes ( 1 John 2:16 ), all that he saw and desired, he took measures to obtain. He denied himself no gratification, however foolish ( Ecclesiastes 2:3 ). For my heart rejoiced in all my labor ; i . e . found joy in what my labor procured for it (comp. Proverbs 5:18 ). This was the reason why he withheld not his heart from any joy ; kept it, as it were, ready to taste any pleasure which his exertions might obtain. This was my portion of all my labor . Such joy was that which he won from his labor, he had his reward, such as it was ( Matthew 6:2 ; Luke 16:25 ). This term "portion" ( cheleq ) recurs often ( e . g . Ecclesiastes 2:21 ; Ecclesiastes 3:22 ; Ecclesiastes 5:18 , etc.; so Wis. 2:9) in the sense of the result obtained by labor or con-duet. And what a meagre and unsatisfying result it was which he gained! Contrast the apostle's teaching, "All that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the vain-glory of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever" ( 1 John 2:16 , 1 John 2:17 ).