He was middle class but expected to spend money he didn't have
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So the wisdom is, it is vain to work and be fine just working? If he's not satisfied with riches, then how is someone a miser, right? Usually people are greedy and hoard because they want the riches. Although, if they're in misery, then it does fit the arachaic definition of "miser".
Oh wait it's Old Testament, makes sense, nevermind
No, that's actually the opposite of the book. Read it with Thomas Nelson commentary.
I was interpreting it based on the words in the quote that Ahaus dropped in relation to the thread.
"hath neither child nor brother" -> the man is all alone
"no end of all his labour" -> he keeps working regardless
"neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he..." -> he's not happy with what he gains through labour, nor does he reflect on why he works
"This is also vanity" -> word with two very different meanings. If it really was supposed to be the other definition, "worthless, pointless", then I could understand. The idea that working / producing while still not pleased and not using the fruits could be a worthless endeavor, which makes sense in the context of Scrooge. I could also see the problems of laboring without a higher purpose or goal, but... I don't know what they should be doing if they're alone and stuck working. If it's by volition, yes it's pointless and a problem.
Vanity in the context of Ecclesiastes does indeed mean worthless or pointless. The general point of the book is that human endeavor, apart from God, is ultimately pointless and passes away like the wind.
Since the author was Solomon as he was aging and agonizing over the fact that he'd built his kingdom into something vast, powerful, and wealthy, and was about to die and give it to his recognizably worthless sons. This rings poignant.
https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?search=Gobseck&title=Special:Search&ns0=1
Gobseck is definitely a better depiction of the consequences of hoarding.