OceanSide church of Christ

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Ecclesiastes 2:22 – For what hath man of all his labor, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath labored under the sun?

 

Thought:  When a man takes years of study to accumulate knowledge, what does he really have at the end of the process?  When a man works and toils all of his life to accumulate things, what does he really have to show for his efforts at the end of the process.  Again, if life is just about effort, accumulation, then death, then life is just vanity and vexation of spirit.  The end is not much more meaningful than that beginning.

 

I Timothy 6:6-7

 

Commentary:

 

A.     There have been very few individuals who while laying on their deathbeds were concerned about all of the things they had labored for so diligently during their lives.

1.       They are not worried about the value of their house.

2.       They are not concerned about the stock market’s closing numbers.

3.       They are not concerned about booking a vacation.

4.       They are not concerned about paying next month’s bills.

 

B.      When death comes, “what hath man of all his labor”?

1.       He has a lot of things he will leave behind.

2.       He has a lot of things he will give to others.

3.       He has a lot of things others will care nothing for.

4.       He has a lot of things others will not use properly.

 

C.     NOTE:  It is difficult for us to truly grasp the significance of Solomon’s words while we are young, healthy, and attempting to accumulate our wealth and assets.

1.       At that time, our labors occupy the bulk of our time.

2.       At that time, there is some joy to our labors.

3.       At that time, death seems so far off.

 

D.     However, time passes rapidly. 

1.       The things that we have grow old, spoil, and wear out.  Those who come after us tear them down and rebuilt with newer things.

2.       We downsize, selling much of what we have for pennies on the dollar.

3.       We give things away.

4.       We die and leave them behind.

 

E.      Proverbs 23:5

 

Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not?  For riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ecclesiastes 2:23 – For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night.  This is also vanity.

 

Thought:  To make life meaningful in a secular sense takes a lot of time, money, and effort.  It also involves a lack of sleep, sorrow, and grief.  Becoming rich, obtaining knowledge, and building and empire comes at a cost.  As a person looks back upon the sacrifices that were made, he sometimes finds that they were not really worth it.  In fact, many would make the same assertion that Solomon made in the long ago:  “This is also vanity.”

 

Psalm 39:5-6

 

Commentary:

 

A.     A person’s job, although needful, is not always easy.

1.       “For all his days are sorrows.”

a.       Strong (4341):  anguish, (figuratively) affliction

b.      BDB:  pain, sorrow

2.       “…and his travail grief…”

a.       Travail

1)      Strong (6045):  ado, that is, (generally) employment

2)      BDB:  occupation, task, job

b.      Grief

1)      Strong (3708):  vexation

2)      BDB:  anger, vexation, provocation, grief, frustration

3.       Question:  Has your job ever brought you into a state of anger, frustration, pain, or sorrow?

a.       Almost everyone could answer the question in the affirmative.

b.      There are many things about our jobs that create hardships:

1)      Relationships

2)      Disagreements

3)      Time delays

4)      Communication problems

5)      Supply issues

6)      Mechanical failures

7)      Customers

 

B.      Solomon notes that these things can affect our sleep.  “…his heart taketh not rest in the night.”

1.       Many have not been able to sleep because of problems on the job.

2.       Many have had those nights wherein they tossed and turned.

 

C.     Solomon says:  “This also is vanity.” 

1.       It is the emptiness of good.

2.       It involves substantial misery.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ecclesiastes 2:24 – There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labor.  This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God.

 

Thought:  The one good thing that Solomon found in his labors is that he has the right to partake of them in this life.  He writes:  “…he should make his soul enjoy the good in his labor.”  All acknowledge this truth.  It is one of the reasons people work so hard.  We have come to accept that the brief time we have to enjoy our labors is worth the difficulty and struggle of the labors themselves.  This is the bright side of man’s work under the sun.  It is something that God has ordained.

 

II Timothy 2:6

 

Commentary:

 

A.     Solomon returns to a present perspective on labor in this verse.

 

B.      “There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labor.”  Why do people work?

1.       A few people work just because they like to work.  These individuals may work until the very day they die.

2.       Most work for the benefits their labors provide them.

a.       They are able to eat and drink and have the basic necessities of life because of their job.

b.      They are able to clothe themselves and have a nice home.

c.       They can enjoy some of the luxuries of life.

d.      They are able to travel to different locations.

e.       They are able to save enough to retire and enjoy the last years of their life without the burden of work.

 

C.     Solomon makes an interesting affirmation:  “This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God.”

1.       Some Scriptures that affirm that work is approved of God.

a.       When God created Adam, he put him in the Garden of Eden with responsibilities (Gen. 2:15).

 

And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.

 

b.      Work was commanded in the Old Testament (Exo. 20:9).

 

Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work.

 

c.       The New Testament also commands men to work (2 Thess. 3:10).

 

For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.

 

d.      When Jesus came to earth, He learned the occupation of a carpenter (Mark 6:3).

 

Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon?...

 

2.       LESSON:  Sadly, our society is moving toward the idea of less work, or, no work.

 

 

 

 

 

Ecclesiastes 2:25 - For who can eat, or who else can hasten hereunto, more than I?

 

Thought:  Solomon now tells us that he is one who can enjoy the fruit of his labors.  He has been blessed beyond measure.  When the Queen of Sheba saw Solomon’s greatness, she said:  “The half has not been told.”  Who could eat and who could enjoy his harvest more than Solomon.  The answer is simply:  “No one.”  But, does this one thing really bring true happiness?  Is that momentary pleasure what life is really all about?  Far too many people answer this question in the affirmative.

 

I Kings 4:22-23

 

Commentary:

 

A.     Solomon was the epitome of one being able to enjoy the fruit of his labors. 

 

B.      Anything his heart desired, he could have it obtained.  Difficulties and cost were not a factor with Solomon.

 

C.     The answer to Solomon’s question is:  “No one!”