11.21.2007

Ecclesiastes 1:3

What advantage does man have in all his work Which he does under the sun?

wesley's Notes say this:

What profit - What real and abiding benefit? None at all. All is unprofitable as to the attainment of that happiness which all men are enquiring after. His labour - Heb. his toilsome labour, both of body and mind in the pursuit of riches, or pleasures, or other earthly things. Under the sun - In all worldly matters, which are usually transacted in the day time, or by the light of the sun. By this restriction he implies that the happiness which in vain is sought for in this lower world, is really to be found in heavenly places and things.
well thats it then. im going home.

but then in 2:14 it says:
There is nothing better for a man than to eat and drink and tell himself that his labor is good. This also I have seen that it is from the hand of God.

and in 5:8
Here is what I have seen to be good and fitting: to eat, to drink and enjoy oneself in all one's labor in which he toils under the sun during the few years of his life which God has given him; for this is his reward.

oh dang. i better stay.

(i think about these verses often.)

1 comment:

Sarah said...

Nice post. This a good reminder.

I did the Biblical Financial Study by Crown Financial Ministries a few years ago; and if I recall correctly, there was an entire chapter about work! I don't know that it's relevant, except that there were obviously several biblical purposes of employment to be written about. My two personal goals: To remember daily that my job IS a gift from God, and to find as much joy in the details as I possibly can!