Life's Mysteries - Wrestling with Work - Ecclesiastes 2:18-26 and 5:18-20 - January 31, 2009

Bible Study – Life’s Mysteries –Wrestling with Work – January 31, 2010

This is our final study in our series entitled “Life’s Mysteries.”

Our scripture is Ecclesiastes 2:18-26 and 5:18-20.

This has been an interesting study on the “Mysteries of Life.” We wrap up our series of study by focusing on “Wrestling with Work.” Why do we have to work? It all began in the Garden of Eden. When Adam and Eve yielded to temptation and ate the forbidden fruit, death and decay entered earth.

Genesis 3:17-19:

17 And He said to Adam, “Because you listened to your wife’s voice and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘Do not eat from it’: The ground is cursed because of you. You will eat from it by means of painful labor[13] Lit it through pain all the days of your life. 18 It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field.[14] Gn 2:5 19 You will eat bread[15] Or food by the sweat of your brow until you return to the ground, since you were taken from it. For you are dust, and you will return to dust.”

Sin still robs all humans. Salvation restores. Solomon saw some people do evil and seemed to live a charmed life but the bottom line was they would die. They would be judged by GOD. There will be a reversal of fortune. Those who are obedient to GOD and obediently serve HIM will be rewarded. “Pay-day-someday” was one of the conclusions of Solomon as he “observed life under the sun.” When Solomon used the phrase “under the sun”, he was speaking of normal activity of humans who had no thought of GOD being their helper.

Let’s read Ecclesiastes 2:18-23:

The Emptiness of Work

18 I hated all my work at which I labored under the sun because I must leave it to the man who comes after me. 19 And who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will take over all my work that I labored at skillfully under the sun. This too is futile. 20 So I began to give myself over[6] Lit And I turned to cause my heart to despair concerning all my work I had labored at under the sun. 21 For there is a man whose work was done with wisdom, knowledge, and skill, but he must give his portion to a man who has not worked for it. This too is futile and a great wrong. 22 For what does a man get with all his work and all his efforts that he labors with under the sun? 23 For all his days are filled with grief, and his occupation is sorrowful; even at night, his mind does not rest. This too is futile.

Solomon was dealing with an emotional issue. He exclaimed that he hated all the work he had done because he was going to die someday and leave it all behind for someone else to manage. He was building a barrier between him and his work because it was a painful thought to think that the person who would succeed him might be a fool instead of a wise person. The understanding of wise is coupled with a person who acknowledged GOD in his/her life. A fool was considered to be a person who denied the existence of GOD or simply did not acknowledge GOD.

Solomon considered himself as both wise and foolish. He began his rule as wise but he allowed his wives to lure him away from GOD to worship the false gods of his wives. He came face to face with the reality of what he had done. He had accumulated vast wealth but had missed the most important purpose in life, serving GOD. He was keenly aware of the difference between serving the flesh by building a life based upon his selfish desires versus allowing GOD to build and direct his life.

At the same time it was clear that Solomon was pleased with the work he had done. He realized that at his death, someone who had not worked for what he had accumulated would get it all. This was a flesh reaction whereas if he had built as GOD had directed him, he would have been the right role model for the person to succeed him. Then he would know that the work he was leaving behind was not his but GOD’S. GOD would likely continue HIS work though his successor.

Being king, he likely knew that his son Rehoboam would succeed him. And as Solomon feared, Rehoboam did succeed him and destroyed much that his father had built. Rehoboam was a poor king which resulted in the nation of Israel dividing into the Northern and Southern Kingdom.

When Solomon realized the consequences of leaving GOD out of his life, he began to despair. The word “myself” in verse 20 translates in Hebrew as “my heart.” Solomon was grieved to the very core of his being.

Verse 21 reveals that Solomon was pleased with what he had built. He used the words “wisdom” which comes from GOD, “knowledge” which is related to acknowledging GOD in your life and “skill” which relates to technical and organizing ability to get the job done. These are attributes of GOD and when a person seeks the fullness of GOD in his/her life, these attributes become a part of his/her life.

Solomon saw that GOD had been a part of his life at one time but then he had abandoned GOD during the process of building. Now, he was in full realization that he had not set the example of obeying and serving GOD and all his work was meaningless. True meaning to life comes from obediently serving GOD.

When a person follows his/her own desires, the result is grief (mental pain), sorrowful (anger) and sleepless nights. Worry is meaningless. Worry will not correct a lifetime of error and selfishness. When life is over, only what we have done for GOD will last.

Where are your priorities? Seek to obediently serve GOD with the rest of your life. It is never too late to begin to build a personal relationship with HIM through CHRIST. This is a relationship beyond salvation which is based upon trust and confidence because you and CHRIST are best friends. Just as with our best friend when a problem arises, we do not sweep it under the rug, so-to-speak, but deal with it. That is how we grow and get to know HIM in truth.

Let’s read Ecclesiastes 2:24-26:

24 There is nothing better for man than to eat, drink, and to enjoy[7] Syr, Tg; MT reads There is no good in man who eats and drinks and enjoys [8] Lit and his soul sees good his work. I have seen that even this is from God’s hand. 25 For who can eat and who can enjoy life[9] LXX, Theod, Syr read can drink apart from Him?[10] Other Hb mss, LXX, Syr read me 26 For to the man who is pleasing in His sight, He gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy, but to the sinner He gives the task of gathering and accumulating in order to give to the one who is pleasing in God’s sight. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.

Solomon connected the dots. Food and drink are important in each person’s life because they provide the energy for him/her to do work. A person can truly enjoy the fruit of his/her labor when he/she acknowledges and knows that GOD has provided what he/she has. Those who have a personal relationship with GOD reap the physical and spiritual bounty as they serve HIM. Those who do not have a personal relationship with HIM work and accumulate to satisfy themselves during their earthly life. But there will be “payday-someday” when GOD judges every person. Those who do not have a personal relationship with GOD will be the losers and those who are obedient to GOD wild reap the rewards.

When a person realizes that work is from GOD, then work becomes enjoyable. GOD is the only ONE WHO can give wisdom, knowledge and joy. Happiness depends upon circumstances, whereas joy comes from within. Joy comes from knowing GOD and that HE is involved in every aspect of the lives of believers, especially when they seek to obediently serve HIM.

Most believers want instant spiritual growth and maturity but it is through day to day living, studying GOD’S Word, yielding their lives to GOD and obediently serving HIM that they find the richness and joy of life.

Life outside of GOD’S will is futile and as elusive as trying to capture the wind.

Let’s read Ecclesiastes 5:18-20:

18 Here is what I have seen to be good: it is appropriate to eat, drink, and experience good in all the labor one does under the sun during the few days of his life God has given him, because that is his reward. 19 God has also given riches and wealth to every man, and He has allowed him to enjoy them, take his reward, and rejoice in his labor. This is a gift of God, 20 for he does not often consider the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with the joy of his heart.

We began our study with Solomon’s observation regarding work with his words “I hate all my work ----.” Now, we see that Solomon has come to a conclusion that life and work are both gifts from GOD and are to be enjoyed. Work was viewed as GOD’S reward for the short time a person was on earth to get the portion of GOD’S work intended for him/her completed. JESUS had this same sense of urgency at the age of twelve (12) years old as revealed in Luke 2:41-50:

The Boy Jesus Amazes the Scholars

41 His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. 42 And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast. 43 When they had finished the days, as they returned, the Boy Jesus lingered behind in Jerusalem. And Joseph and His mother did not know it; 44 but supposing Him to have been in the company, they went a day's journey, and sought Him among their relatives and acquaintances. 45 So when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him. 46 Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers. 48 So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, "Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously." 49 And He said to them, "Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father's business?" 50 But they did not understand the statement which He spoke to them. (NKJV)

JESUS was anxious to get started but maybe HE needed to learn to wait upon GOD, HIS FATHER. We see the willingness of HIS heart to serve. HE knew life was short and HE needed to hit the road running but as HIS FATHER directed.

In verse 18, Solomon used the word “good” which means pleasant or agreeable. In the context of “agreeable”, Solomon was tying what he had observed to be agreeable with GOD’S plan for the lives of believers.

GOD intends for those who serve HIM to enjoy the fruit of their labor. Those who have a personal relationship with GOD and obediently serve HIM find the true joy of living. It is “appropriate” which means “to be fair” or “beautiful.” GOD’S earthly “reward” means to receive a share, lot or portion of life for those obediently serving HIM.

GOD has given riches and wealth to each person. When I read that, I thought “Well where is mine?” Solomon had a different take on this matter. In the context of GOD guiding a person’s life, HE has equipped each obedient person with sufficient wealth, spiritual and material to accomplish what HE had intended for him/her to accomplish.

As the result of obedience to GOD, GOD allows that person to “enjoy” the riches and wealth. GOD gives the power to enjoy or “to eat” the fruit of their labor. This goes beyond the physical enjoyment of being obedient to GOD. It incorporates the spiritual joy and satisfaction that can only come from being completely obedient to GOD. JESUS gives us a glimpse of this all consuming joy in John 4:28-34: (JESUS’ disciples had gone to get food for them. JESUS was alone next to a well in Samaria. Along came a woman to draw water from the well. JESUS talked to her and she finally saw HIM as the promised Messiah. HIS disciples returned and the woman left to tell others about this man she met.)

28 Then the woman left her water jar, went into town, and told the men, 29 “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did! Could this be the Messiah?” 30 They left the town and made their way to Him. 31 In the meantime the disciples kept urging Him, “• Rabbi, eat something.” 32 But He said, “I have food to eat that you don’t know about.” 33 The disciples said to one another, “Could someone have brought Him something to eat?” 34 “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to finish His work,” Jesus told them.

Such joy is a gift from GOD and it includes both the joy of physical and spiritual work.
Some of us live long and others live shorter lives but regardless of the length of time we have upon earth those who obediently serve GOD are too busy to allow despair to come into their lives. They have the joy of knowing that their labor is what GOD wants them to do. The old saying is, “Times flies when you are having fun.” This concept is captured in verse 20.

We will end as we began our first study with Solomon’s final conclusion revealed in
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14:

13 When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is: • fear God[6] Ec 3:14; 5:7; 7:18; 8:12–13 and keep His commands, because this [is for]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. all humanity. 14 For God will bring every act to judgment,[7] Ec 3:17; 11:9 including every hidden thing, whether good or evil.
Blessings to all and May all experience the joy of the LORD as you labor “Under the SON.”