Ecclesiastes 2:18-23
Meaningless
Work
-
2:18
I hated all the things I had toiled for under the
sun, because I must leave them to the one who comes
after me.
19
And who knows whether he will be a wise man or a
fool?
Yet he will have control
over all the work into which I have poured my
effort and skill under the sun. This too is
meaningless.
20
So my heart began to despair over all my toilsome
labor under the sun.
21
For a man may do his work with wisdom, knowledge
and skill, and then he must leave all he owns to
someone who has not worked for it.
This too is meaningless
and a great misfortune.
22
What does a man get for all the toil and anxious
striving with which he labors under the sun?
23
All his days his work is pain and grief; even at
night his mind does not rest. This too is
meaningless.
This
is the Word of the Lord ... It is meant to change
the way that we think, and the way that we live.
Commentary
by Bob Pardue
Are You a
Workaholic?
I must tell you that this
passage really hits home for me!!
Solomon is telling us that
working for the sake of work is meaningless.
Working for power and
possessions alone is also meaningless because both
will be left at death to someone who may not
deserve what we have nor will take care of these
coveted possessions.
I've heard it said that, "All
my possessions and money will be left behind and
generations into the future may be inherited by a
drug addict who will spend it all on fixes!" So
true, huh?
Working to support ourselves
and to take care of our family is the right thing
to do and there is nothing wrong with accumulating
some wealth. But, just understand that possessions
are not the "end" result because they will all be
left behind.
What Jesus
Said
When approached by the rich
young man and asked how to have eternal life this
is what Jesus replied:
Mark 10:21 - Looking at
him, Jesus felt a love for him and said to him,
"One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess
and give to the poor, and you will have [Matt
6:20] treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me."
I do not believe that Solomon
is telling us to quit our jobs and move to an
island to retire or hurry and spend every cent we
ever worked for.
What he is saying is that
working just to make more money to buy more stuff
is meaningless. On the other hand, serving God has
real meaning and leads to everlasting
joy.
Why are you
working?
Love in Christ
- Bob
If you have never made the
commitment to receive the love and life-changing
experience of Jesus Christ, please take a moment to
go
here and take the
first
steps to salvation.
Verses are from Life Application Study
Bible: New International Version
Also, Read this Bible
Lesson
Ecclesiastes
2:12-16
- Meaningless
Wisdom and Folly
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