Life in this world is brief, and the pursuit of wealth can easily blind people to their true purpose. King Solomon grapples with the meaning of life in the face of limited time, exploring the delicate balance between a person, their possessions, and Divine providence. The primary approach among commentators is that people must actively keep in mind just how few their days truly are [מצודת דוד]. This realization raises a practical question: why should anyone exhaust themselves gathering vast fortunes? Rather than getting lost in empty plans for the future, it is far better to enjoy peace in the present. This awareness should drive a person to quickly perform acts of kindness and charity, and to engage in Torah study to secure a place in the World to Come [רש"י, מצודת דוד, שטיינזלץ, צאינה וראינה].
However, wealth presents a real psychological danger. Human nature often dictates that the sheer joy of riches causes people to forget the brevity of life, which can lead to arrogance and sin [תעלומות חכמה]. On a deeper, interpretive level, this concept of shortened days serves as a historical reference to the family of Eli the Priest, who faced a decree to die at a young age [תורה תמימה].
When considering how God interacts with human joy, the concept can be understood as a form of Divine testimony. Since only God knows the hidden thoughts of the heart, He acts as a permanent witness when a person performs good deeds out of genuine, internal happiness [רש"י, מצודת דוד, מצודת ציון]. This idea is beautifully illustrated by the story of Elkanah. Every year, he would lead the Israelites to the Tabernacle in Shiloh, deliberately taking a different route each time to publicize the Commandment and inspire others. God testified in the scriptures that Elkanah acted from a place of pure, joyful devotion [רש"י, תורה תמימה].
Alternatively, this Divine interaction is seen as God actively supplying needs and answering prayers. God is the one who provides for a person, responds to their requests, and grants them positive, fulfilling work that brings true joy [אבן עזרא, רלב"ג, שטיינזלץ]. This serves as a vital reminder for the wealthy. A person must never assume that their own strength and power produced their success. Every good thing is a gift and a form of assistance from God. Without recognizing this help from Him, wealth can easily cause a person to turn against their Creator [תעלומות חכמה].