WHAT'S WORTH DOING?
To start with, let's note that Solomon is exploring in detail
a theme expressed elsewhere in Scripture, namely, the nature of
a world cursed to toil and frustration by God.
HEBEL
The word vanity, or breath, is the Hebrew hebel.
It is interesting that this is also the name of the first saint—Hebel—Abel
(Ge 4:2). So Solomon speaks to us in this metaphor—"All is
a breath". It is therefore helpful to let the metaphor speak
to us so we can draw our own conclusions rather than accept someone
else's. He is saying that all things done under the sun are like
a breath, like feeding on or striving after the wind. The metaphor
of labouring for "breath", "feeding on the wind"
is a graphic metaphor of man's life—labouring for something that
gives fleeting satisfaction, but which then has to be given up,
which cannot be retained, like beauty (Pr 31:30). We keep labouring
(just as we keep breathing) again and again, but in the end we
seem to gain nothing from it. We can't keep it. Everything done
under the sun is like this metaphor of a breath. Let's consider
how he drives home this point.
CYCLES—THE WORLD WEARIED BY REPETITIVE LABOUR
ANXIETY
EAT, DRINK, ENJOY YOUR LABOUR
From its very beginning, the Book of Ecclesiastes confronts and
shocks us perhaps more than any other book in the Bible.
Eccl 1:2-3 "Vanity of vanities," says the Preacher;
"Vanity of vanities, all is vanity."
What do you think of the person who wrote Ecclesiastes?
The world's most famous pessimist? Few would call him an optimist.
Perhaps you consider him a realist. In my study into this book,
I have found its message surprisingly comforting, and a powerful
weapon against the anxieties of life.
Solomon wanted to know, "What is worth working
for? What is worth doing?" Let's notice how this thought
runs through his message:
Eccl 1:3,13 What profit
has a man from all his labor in which he toils under the sun?
Why did Solomon ask such questions? I think because
he saw so many examples—and had experiences himself—of wasted
lives, misused lives, frustrated and disappointed lives. Here
was a man who had a love of life and who earnestly desired to
know how it could be best lived. Ecclesiastes isn't a book written
by a cynical spectator of life. Only a man who was wrestling with
the dilemma of life under the sun could write such an essay as
we read in Ecclesiastes. Solomon is striving to answer some of
the core questions of life: man works, he expends effort, but
what is he working for?
13 And I set my heart to seek and search out by
wisdom concerning all that is done under heaven; this burdensome
task God has given to the sons of man, by which they may be exercised
[or "be busy with"].
Eccl 2:3,22 I searched
in my heart how to gratify my flesh with wine, while guiding my
heart with wisdom, and how to lay hold on folly, till I might
see what was good for the sons of men to do under heaven all the
days of their lives.
22 For what has man for all his labor, and for the
striving of his heart with which he has toiled under the sun?
Eccl 3:9 What profit
has the worker from that in which he labors?
Eccl 4:8 There is one
alone, without companion: he has neither son nor brother. Yet
there is no end to all his labors, nor is his eye satisfied with
riches. But he never asks, "For whom do I toil and deprive
myself of good?" This also is vanity and a grave misfortune.
Eccl 5:15-16 As he came
from his mother's womb, naked shall he return, to go as he came;
and he shall take nothing from his labor which he may carry away
in his hand. 16 And this also is a severe evil; just exactly as
he came, so shall he go. And what profit has he who has labored
for the wind?
Ge 3:17-19 Then to Adam He said, "Because you have
heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of
which I commanded you, saying, 'You shall not eat of it': Cursed
is the ground for your sake; in toil you shall eat of it all the
days of your life. 18 Both thorns and thistles it shall bring
forth for you, and you shall eat the herb of the field. 19 In
the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to
the ground, for out of it you were taken; for dust you are, and
to dust you shall return."
Paul also describes in summary what Solomon considers in detail:
Ro 8:19-22 For the earnest expectation of the creation
eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the
creation was subjected to futility [this is what Solomon wrestles
with; all of Ecclesiastes is an exploration of this, Paul's summary),
not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; 21
because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage
of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labours with
birth pangs together until now.
Let's go back to Solomon's exploration.
1Co 15:54-58 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption,
and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought
to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up
in victory." 55 "O Death, where is your sting? O Hades,
where is your victory?" 56 The sting of death is sin, and
the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives
us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my
beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in
the work of the Lord, knowing that your labour is not in vain
in the Lord [so Paul understood what Solomon is guiding us to—a
striving for the faith: 1Co 15:2; Jude 3; 1Jn 6:29].
If you were writing an essay on the experience of life and you
had to summarise your conclusion in a short, succinct saying,
what would it be? Solomon gives us the phrase "Vanity of
vanities! All is vanity." But this is actually an interpretation
of what Solomon was saying. More literally, he says:
"Breath of a breath! The slightest breath! All is a breath!"
And then he also parallels this with the phrase "a striving
after wind".
Eccl 1:2 "Breath of a breath! The slightest breath!
All is a breath!"
Eccl 1:14 I have seen
all the works that are done under the sun; and indeed, all is
vanity [a breath] and grasping for the wind.
Eccl 1:17 And I set my
heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived
that this also is grasping for the wind.
Eccl 2:15 So I said in
my heart, "As it happens to the fool, it also happens to
me, and why was I then more wise?" Then I said in my heart,
"This also is vanity [a breath; the man who spends
his life working hard and becoming skilful in his work has the
same ultimate reward as the beach bum. So why does he bother?]."
Eccl 2:18-23,26 Then
I hated all my labor in which I had toiled under the sun, because
I must leave it to the man who will come after me. 19 And who
knows whether he will be wise or a fool? Yet he will rule over
all my labor in which I toiled and in which I have shown myself
wise under the sun. This also is vanity [a breath; how
does that thought strike you: all the precious treasures that
you've laboriously built up or accumulated may one day belong
to someone who could just throw them into the bin?!). 20 Therefore
I turned my heart and despaired of all the labor in which I had
toiled under the sun. 21 For there is a man whose labor is with
wisdom, knowledge, and skill; yet he must leave his heritage to
a man who has not labored for it. This also is vanity [a breath]
and a great evil. 22 For what has man for all his labor,
and for the striving of his heart with which he has toiled under
the sun? 23 For all his days are sorrowful, and his work burdensome;
even in the night his heart takes no rest. This also is vanity
[a breath].
26 For God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy to
a man who is good in His sight; but to the sinner He gives the
work of gathering and collecting, that he may give to him who
is good before God. This also is vanity [a breath] and
grasping for the wind [This thought appals me! There are some
people who spend their lives laboriously gathering so that God
can give what is accumulated to someone else!].
Eccl 4:4 Again, I saw
that for all toil and every skilful work a man is envied by his
neighbour. This also is vanity [a breath] and grasping
for the wind [People are always striving for what others have,
or to be something they are not. Why can't we be happy with what
we have, and with the abilities we possess?].
Eccl 5:10 He who loves
silver will not be satisfied with silver; nor he who loves abundance,
with increase. This also is vanity [a breath].
Eccl 6:2 A man to whom
God has given riches and wealth and honour, so that he lacks nothing
for himself of all he desires; yet God does not give him power
to eat of it, but a foreigner consumes it. This is vanity [a
breath], and it is an evil affliction [This is a terrible
curse on mankind. Our labours are consumed by others. The taxman
takes his slice before we even see it. Bills, repairs—how much
remains left to really enjoy?].
Eccl 6:9 Better is the
sight of the eyes than the wandering of desire. This also is vanity
[a breath] and grasping for the wind.
Eccl 7:6 For like the
crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool.
This also is vanity [a breath; people get together for
a wild time. There is heat, there are sparks and lots of raucous
noise. But what do you have left at the end of it?].
Eccl 8:10 Then I saw
the wicked buried, who had come and gone from the place of holiness,
and they were ["soon" (NASB)] forgotten in the city
where they had so done. This also is vanity [a breath; the
experiences that should sober us, we too often fail to benefit
from].
Eccl 8:14 There is a
vanity [something like a breath] which occurs on
earth, that there are just men to whom it happens according to
the work of the wicked; again, there are wicked men to whom it
happens according to the work of the righteous. I said that this
also is vanity [this is part of the cursed world men have created
for themselves. Sometimes bad management in business gets rewarded
and promoted].
Eccl 11:7-10 Truly the
light is sweet, and it is pleasant for the eyes to behold the
sun; 8 but if a man lives many years and rejoices in them all,
yet let him remember the days of darkness, for they will be many.
All that is coming is vanity [man's past, his present and his
future are all like a breath]. 9 Rejoice, O young man, in your
youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth;
walk in the ways of your heart, and in the sight of your eyes;
but know that for all these God will bring you into judgment.
10 Therefore remove sorrow from your heart, and put away evil
from your flesh, for childhood and youth are vanity [some may
try to, but who, except Peter Pan, has been able to hold on to
their youth?].
Man, in his toil "under the sun", living in a world
subjected to sin (Ro 8:20), cannot hold on to anything of lasting
value. Our efforts are like breathing, striving after the wind.
This is the message of the Gospel. Elsewhere the same Gospel message
is preached, with a different metaphor:
Isa 40:6-8 The voice
said, "Cry out!" And he said, "What shall I cry?"
"All flesh is grass, and all its loveliness is like the flower
of the field. 7 The grass withers, the flower fades, because the
breath of the LORD blows upon it; surely the people are grass.
8 The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God
stands forever."
(Isa 40:6-8; Job 14:12; Ps 90:5-6; 102:11; 103:14-18; 1Pe 1:24-25).
Let's go back to Ecclesiastes to see how Solomon further describes
the world in which we live.
Eccl 1:4-9 One generation
passes away, and another generation comes; but the earth abides
forever. 5 The sun also rises, and the sun goes down, and hastens
to the place where it arose. 6 The wind goes toward the south,
and turns around to the north; the wind whirls about continually,
and comes again on its circuit. 7 All the rivers run into the
sea, yet the sea is not full; to the place from which the rivers
come, there they return again [Everything runs the course
set for it, and just repeats it again, and again, and again. In
all of creation, everywhere you look, it's the same]. 8 All things
are full of labor; man cannot express it ["more than one
can say" (NIV); or as Paul says, "the whole of creation
groans!"). The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the
ear filled with hearing. 9 That which has been is what will be,
that which is done is what will be done, and there is nothing
new under the sun.
And man likewise is engaged in ceaseless, repetitive activity.
His eyes and ears are never satisfied. Men crave for something
new (Acts 17:21). But man is cursed in this cycle of repetitive
activity, just like the creation, and so Solomon can conclude:
Eccl 1:9-11 That which
has been is what will be, that which is done is what will be done,
and there is nothing new under the sun. 10 Is there anything of
which it may be said, "See, this is new"? It has already
been in ancient times before us. 11 There is no remembrance of
former things [people don't take to heart the lessons of the past],
nor will there be any remembrance of things that are to come by
those who will come after [the next generation will likewise ignore
the lessons presented to it].
Nature reveals this repetition without any seeming progress, as
does human history from which man seems unable to learn. So much
for the idea of evolution! And Solomon sums all this up by giving
us the metaphor of 'it is all a breath'. Nature, like man, is
like a breath, ever working but never ultimately filled or satisfied.
However, within this scheme of regularity, we have a sense of
consistency and stability; within this stability the wicked scoff
at the idea of God and His promises and the righteous await their
sure realisation (Eccl 2:17; 3:14-15; Mt 24:38,48; 2Pe 3:3-7).
2Pe 3:3-7 knowing this
first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according
to their own lusts, 4 and saying, "Where is the promise of
His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue
as they were from the beginning of creation." 5 For
this they wilfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens
were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water,
6 by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded
with water. 7 But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved
by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment
and perdition of ungodly men.
And it cannot be altered:
Eccl 1:12-15 I, the Preacher,
was king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13 And I set my heart to seek
and search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under heaven;
this burdensome task God has given to the sons of man, by which
they may be exercised. 14 I have seen all the works that are done
under the sun; and indeed, all is vanity and grasping for the
wind.
Solomon now inserts a proverb to render his conclusion
about the tediousness of the repetition into which man and creation
are locked.
15 What is crooked cannot be made straight, and what
is lacking cannot be numbered.
The vanity of everything done under the sun is a situation that
cannot be changed. What is twisted cannot be straightened; what
is lacking, what is empty, cannot be made complete. The carnal
mind cannot be changed. Sin will always produce this.
Eccl 7:13 Consider the
work of God; for who can make straight what He has made crooked
[or, as Paul says: God subjected the creation to futility, so
ultimately it all is part of his work and purpose. Therefore,
who is able to change it?]
Only with God can a way be made straight, or can something truly
new come forth.
So what do we labour for? We can work hard to build something
up, but so often we will leave it behind for another who may not
value it.
Ps 39:4-6 LORD, make
me to know my end, and what is the measure of my days, that I
may know how frail I am. 5 Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths,
and my age is as nothing before You; certainly every man at his
best state is but vapour. Selah. 6 Surely every man walks about
like a shadow; surely they busy themselves in vain; he heaps up
riches, and does not know who will gather them.
Ecclesiastes makes the point that nothing profitable
is gained by man's toil under the sun. Solomon asked "What
profit has a man from all his labor?"
Eccl 2:11 Then I looked
on all the works that my hands had done and on the labor in which
I had toiled; and indeed all was vanity and grasping for the wind.
There was no profit under the sun.
So, according to the teacher of Ecclesiastes, what does man gain
from his labours?
Eccl 5:16 And this also
is a severe evil; just exactly as he came, so shall he go. And
what profit has he who has labored for the wind?
Eccl 1:18 For in much
wisdom is much grief, and he who increases knowledge increases
sorrow.
Eccl 2:15 So I said in
my heart, "As it happens to the fool, it also happens to
me, and why was I then more wise?" Then I said in my heart,
"This also is vanity."
Eccl 2:21 For there is
a man whose labor is with wisdom, knowledge, and skill; yet he
must leave his heritage to a man who has not labored for it. This
also is vanity and a great evil.
Lk 12:19-21 'And I will
say to my soul, "Soul, you have many goods laid up for many
years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry."' 20 "But
God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul will be required
of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?'
21 So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich
toward God."
Eccl 2:22-23 For what
has man for all his labor, and for the striving of his heart with
which he has toiled under the sun? 23 For all his days are sorrowful,
and his work burdensome; even in the night his heart takes no
rest. This also is vanity.
Eccl 5:11 When goods
increase, they increase who eat them; so what profit have the
owners except to see them with their eyes?
Eccl 5:15-17 As he came
from his mother's womb, naked shall he return, to go as he came;
and he shall take nothing from his labor which he may carry away
in his hand. 16 And this also is a severe evil; just exactly as
he came, so shall he go. And what profit has he who has labored
for the wind? 17 All his days he also eats in darkness, and he
has much sorrow and sickness and anger.
Solomon is not the only one to have such a view of
the fruits of man's labours. Paul tells us what the rewards of
a man's work are in this world:
Ro 6:23 For the wages
of sin is death [this is what Solomon is pointing out in greater
detail], but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our
Lord.
Or put another way, toiling away for profit and gain
produces death. People work their guts out for years, and the
wage they earn for their labour is death! And so Solomon came
to hate life:
Eccl 2:17 Therefore I
hated life because the work that was done under the sun was distressing
to me, for all is vanity and grasping for the wind. 18 Then I
hated all my labor in which I had toiled under the sun, because
I must leave it to the man who will come after me.
However, these are not his final conclusions, but
rather some of the difficult ground he traverses so we can better
appreciate the advice he has for us. Solomon does not say these
things to drive us to despair, which is the state in which so
many live as they try to escape the meaninglessness of their lives.
In spite of our sin, God is working to liberate all of creation
from its bondage to decay. Therefore, even the perplexity of life
can work out for the good of those who love God and who are called
according to His purpose (Ro 8:19-28). God wants us to give up
stupid illusions and embrace the true gift of life as He gives
it, not as we labour for it. Solomon tells us we should work
to remove such things from our hearts:
Eccl 4:1-3 Then I returned
and considered all the oppression that is done under the sun:
and look! The tears of the oppressed, but they have no comforter;
on the side of their oppressors there is power, but they have
no comforter. 2 Therefore I praised the dead who were already
dead, more than the living who are still alive. 3 Yet, better
than both is he who has never existed, who has not seen the evil
work that is done under the sun.
Eccl 6:3-5 If a man begets
a hundred children and lives many years, so that the days of his
years are many, but his soul is not satisfied with goodness, or
indeed he has no burial, I say that a stillborn child is better
than he; 4 for it comes in vanity and departs in darkness, and
its name is covered with darkness. 5 Though it has not seen the
sun or known anything, this has more rest than that man.
Eccl 11:10 Therefore
remove sorrow from your heart, and put away evil from your flesh,
for childhood and youth are vanity.
LOOK
We have considered the word hebel, which is one of the
major themes of Ecclesiastes. Another word also used often in
Ecclesiastes (about 47 times), is the word ra'a. It means
to see, to look, to centre one's interest and attention
on, experience, consider. To illustrate the breadth of its
meaning, here are a number of verses from Ecclesiastes that use
this word ra'a.
Eccl 5:8 If you see
[ra'a] the oppression of the poor, and the violent perversion
of justice and righteousness in a province, do not marvel at the
matter; for high official watches over high official, and higher
officials are over them.
Eccl 5:13 There is a severe
evil which I have seen [ra'a] under the sun:
riches kept for their owner to his hurt.
Eccl 10:5-7 There is
an evil I have seen [ra'a] under the sun, as an error proceeding
from the ruler: 6 folly is set in great dignity, while the rich
sit in a lowly place. 7 I have seen servants on horses, while
princes walk on the ground like servants.
Eccl 1:14 I have seen
[ra'a] all the works that are done under the sun;
and indeed, all is vanity and grasping for the wind.
Eccl 2:3,13 I sought
in mine heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting mine heart
with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till I might see [ra'a]
what was that good for the sons of men, which they should do under
the heaven all the days of their life.
13 Then I saw [ra'a]
that wisdom excels folly as light excels darkness.
Eccl 3:18,22 I said in
my heart, "Concerning the condition of the sons of men, God
tests them, that they may see [ra'a] that they themselves
are like animals."
22 So I perceived that nothing is better than that
a man should rejoice in his own works, for that is his heritage.
For who can bring him to see [ra'a] what will happen after
him?
Eccl 4:4 Again, I saw
[ra'a] that for all toil and every skillful work a man
is envied by his neighbor. This also is vanity and grasping for
the wind.
Eccl 9:11 I returned
and saw [ra'a] under the sun that the race is not to the
swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor
riches to men of understanding, nor favor to men of skill; but
time and chance happen to them all.
Eccl 1:16 I communed
with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and
have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me
in Jerusalem: yea, my heart had great experience [ra'a]
of wisdom and knowledge.
Eccl 2:1 I said in my
heart, "Come now, I will test you with mirth; therefore enjoy
[ra'a] pleasure"; but surely, this also was vanity.
Eccl 2:12 And I turned
myself to behold [ra'a] wisdom, and madness, and folly:
for what can the man do that comes after the king? even that which
has been already done.
Eccl 7:27-29 "[Behold
(KJV): ra'a] Here is what I have found," says the
Preacher, "Adding one thing to the other to find out the
reason, 28 which my soul still seeks but I cannot find: one man
among a thousand I have found, but a woman among all these I have
not found. 29 [Lo (KJV): ra'a] Truly, this only I have
found: that God made man upright, but they have sought out many
schemes."
Eccl 4:1 Then I returned
and considered [ra'a] all the oppression that is done under
the sun: and look! The tears of the oppressed, but they have no
comforter; on the side of their oppressors there is power, but
they have no comforter.
So where have we come to? Solomon has shown us that the whole
of creation is stuck in this rut. All of man's efforts under the
sun are like grasping (or gasping!) for wind. Labouring for knowledge
and wisdom brings grief. Having fun is also shallow and temporary,
as are personal achievements. Having come to these conclusions,
what advice does Solomon therefore offer?
Eccl 7:13,14-15 Consider
[ra'a] the work of God; for who can make straight what
He has made crooked?
14 In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the
day of adversity consider [ra'a]: surely God has appointed
the one as well as the other, so that man can find out nothing
that will come after him. 15 I have seen [ra'a] everything
in my days of vanity: there is a just man who perishes in his
righteousness, and there is a wicked man who prolongs life in
his wickedness.
Eccl 2:24 Nothing is better for a man than that he should
eat and drink, and that his soul should enjoy [ra'a] good in his
labor. This also, I saw, was from the hand of God.
The word "enjoy" used in this verse is the word ra'a
which, as we have seen, means much more than just physical enjoyment.
Therefore Solomon is saying that we should enjoy, see, understand,
consider the good in all our labours.
Eccl 3:12-14 I know that
nothing is better for them than to rejoice,
The ability to enjoy what we have been given is better than striving
for things we don't have. This is a gift of God. This gift is
given to those who please God, while others are given the unsatisfying
task of gathering what will be given to others.
and to do good in their lives, 13 and also that every man should
eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor; it is the gift
of God. 14 I know that whatever God does, it shall be forever.
Nothing can be added to it, and nothing taken from it. God does
it, that men should fear before Him.
Eccl 3:22 So I perceived [understood] that nothing
is better than that a man should rejoice in his own works, for
that is his heritage. For who can bring him to see what will
happen after him?
So it is more than just a matter of enjoyment. Part of the Gospel
is learning to see clearly. Solomon tells us there is nothing
better for us to do than to see what is before us, and to put
our whole being into doing what is good, worthwhile and meaningful
with it. Can we do this, or are our minds distracted by other
worries, cares and desires?
Eccl 5:18-19 Here is what I have seen [ra'a]:
it is good and fitting for one to eat and drink, and to enjoy
[ra'a] the good of all his labor in
which he toils under the sun all the days of his life which God
gives him; for it is his heritage [this is what we have been given,
so make the best of it, and stop your futile striving for what
you have not been given]. 19 As for every man to whom God
has given riches and wealth, and given him power to eat of it,
to receive his heritage and rejoice in his labor; this is the
gift of God.
Eccl 8:15 So I commended enjoyment, because a man has
nothing better under the sun than to eat, drink, and be merry;
for this will remain with him in his labor all the days of his
life which God gives him under the sun [developing the ability
to enjoy whatever we are doing].
Solomon positively encourages this action:
Eccl 9:7-9 Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your
wine with a merry heart; for God has already accepted your works.
8 Let your garments always be white, and let your head lack no
oil. 9 Live joyfully with the wife whom you love all the days
of your vain life which He has given you under the sun, all your
days of vanity; for that is your portion in life [this is what
you have been given, so enjoy it—and stop wishing, hoping, dreaming
for something else], and in the labor which you perform under
the sun.
The apostle Paul draws the same conclusions as Solomon:
Eccl 11:9-12:1 Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and
let your heart cheer you [lit: "make your heart make you
cheerful"; we must choose!) in the days of your youth;
walk in the ways of your heart, and in the sight of your eyes
[pursue what is of genuine interest in whatever is before you];
but know that for all these God will bring you into judgment.
10 Therefore remove sorrow from your heart, and put away evil
from your flesh, for childhood and youth are vanity. 12:1 Remember
now your Creator in the days of your youth, before the difficult
days come, and the years draw near when you say, "I have
no pleasure in them".
1Ti 6:6-8 Now godliness
with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into
this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And
having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.
In spite of the curse on man's work, God gives this to him as
a gift that can be enjoyed (Eccl 3:13). Rather than anxiously
striving for things that I cannot keep, and causing myself greater
stress (Eccl 2:23), I need to learn to find enjoyment and good
in what I have been given. This is the admonition of the Jesus
Christ and the apostles: rejoice!
Jn 15:11 "These
things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and
that your joy may be full."
The real lesson of life is learning to live by faith,
to be content with what we have. There is something to be gained
and to be grateful for in everything we experience.
Jn 16:24 "Until
now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive,
that your joy may be full."
Jn 17:13 "But now
I come to You, and these things I speak in the world,
that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves."
Php 4:4 Rejoice in the
Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
Jas 1:2-4 My brethren,
count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing
that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let
patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete,
lacking nothing.
1Jn 1:3-4 that which
we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have
fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father
and with His Son Jesus Christ. 4 And these things write we unto
you, that your joy may be full.
Ps 128:1-2 Blessed is every one who fears the LORD, who
walks in His ways. 2 When you eat the labor of your hands, you
shall be happy, and it shall be well with you.
Pr 14:23 In all labor
there is profit, but idle chatter leads only to poverty.