Ecclesiastes 6:8 says, For what hath the wise more than the fool? what hath the poor, that knoweth to walk before the living?  I believe what Solomon is saying to us is that no matter how wise or foolish the world may view someone as being, life really comes down to meeting the basic needs of life, food, clothing, and a place to stay.  The world may place more value on clothes that have a certain name on them, but they still simply cover the body.  Some with a big name and price don't do that very well, but for some reason we, who consider ourselves to be wise, chase after them.  Then, Solomon continues by asking what do the poor that know to walk honorably among men have.  Even though they may have little in the eyes of the world, they do not deal with their neighbors in a way to simply gain more for themselves.  Verse nine says, Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit.  Solomon is again speaking of being satisfied.  We should learn to live in satisfaction with the things that God has entrusted us with instead of having a wandering eye desiring more.  This is not just a warning to those we consider rich, but to everyone.  As long as we continue to live wanting more and more, we will never be satisfied.  Verse ten says, That which hath been is named already, and it is known that it is man: neither may he contend with him that is mightier than he.  A person may be the most powerful person in the world, but that person is still but a human being.  We are all created in the image of God, to follow His leadership.  We tend to look around at those who are different than us and feel that they are of less value to God than we are, but all are created in His image.  Verse eleven says, Seeing there be many things that increase vanity, what is man the better?  There is so much in the world today for people to desire, whether it be a bigger house, a better car, or just to make oneself look better, but what does it all amount to?  In the end, we leave the world as we came into it, with nothing to carry with us, except the things done for God.  Verse twelve concludes the thought saying,  For who knoweth what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?  There may be those today who would tell us how to make life meaningful, based on materialism, but we as followers of Christ have to understand that the only true meaning and happiness comes from following the will of God.  Everything else amounts to nothing.