Ecclesiastes 2: 18-26….Why Work?

I hated all my toil in which I toil under the sun, seeing that I must leave it to the man who will come after me, and who knows whether he will be wise or a fool? Yet he will be master of all for which I toiled and used my wisdom under the sun. This also is vanity. So I turned about and gave my heart up to despair over all the toil of my labors under the sun, because sometimes a person who has toiled with wisdom and knowledge and skill must leave everything to be enjoyed by someone who did not toil for it. This also is vanity and a great evil. What has a man from all the toil and striving of heart with which he toils beneath the sun? For all his days are full of sorrow, and his work is a vexation. Even in the night his heart does not rest. This also is vanity. There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God, for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment? For to the one who pleases him God has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner he has given the business of gathering and collecting, only to give to one who pleases God. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.

Comment: Thus far in Ecclesiastes God, by name, isn’t mentioned. There is a lot said about death and leaving everything behind but God Himself, isn’t mentioned. Jewish people in Solomon’s day would have all been well taught about God and His dealings with them. People responded to that knowledge in different ways, as we do today.

Solomon uses strong words, stronger than one would expect. I think that as an author he wants us to think deeply. There is satisfaction in a job well done; in having enough, whether as a primary producer or an employee and for you and your family to live ‘comfortably’. Why did Solomon’s toil lead him to despair? i) His hard earned wealth would fall into another’s hands, and who knows how they will spend it! ii) Possessed by work one is facing sorrow and anxiety (vexation) even to the point of being unable to sleep properly! What a waste of time he says – ‘Be satisfied with enough to eat, drink, enjoy life without being the slave to your job! Then Solomon mentions God and His centrality in the ‘affairs of men’.

Prayer: Help me to live a balanced life, giving thanks to You in everything, Amen.