Bible Studies for Life
By James Riley Strange, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of New Testament, Samford University
The Problem with Work
Ecclesiastes 2:18–23; 3:9–13
Today’s passages should be read in light of what we have read in Ecclesiastes so far. The teacher has been conducting experiments to learn what will bring satisfaction during his lifetime.
On one hand, will he find lasting pleasure if he behaves like King Solomon? No. The pleasure he feels is mere gratification of his desires.
On the other hand, will he prosper in this life if he becomes wise like Solomon? One Israelite theological idea says, “Yes, for God prospers the righteous while causing the wicked to suffer.”
But in the teacher’s experience both the wise person and the fool meet the same fate. The answer again is no.
So it is time for a third experiment: will work bring satisfaction?
Without God our work can feel futile. (2:18–23)
In Exodus 20:8–11 we learn a theology of work that says when Israelites labor six days and rest on the Sabbath they are behaving like God.
The teacher, by contrast, finds that he despises his toil. Work yields vexation and pain. He is even annoyed others who did not work with him will get to enjoy the results of his labor when he is dead.
His aggravation poisons his pleasure. It does not allow him to think of his good work as a legacy to leave for others.
In verses 22 and 23 the teacher is on the edge of concluding that nothing is to be gained from what he calls “toil and strain.”
If we read further in this passage to verses 24 through 26, however, we see he has learned that God Himself supplies the way to find satisfaction in work. “There is nothing better,” he discovered.
See your work as a gift from God. (3:9–13)
After the famous interlude of 3:1–8 the teacher fleshes out this idea it is God who gives enjoyment in the most basic of life’s activities.
Verse 9 returns to the question of work’s value (see also Eccles. 1:3 and 6:7).
Notice that the teacher calls people “workers” or “doers,” but in the verses that follow it is God who is acting. The subtle message is that people may work, but God is in control.
God makes true pleasure possible.
The original Hebrew language of verse 11 is difficult. Some translations say God has put “eternity” in the human heart, others say “the world,” and at least one “a sense of past and future.”
This is another source of vexation: unlike other creatures humans can comprehend something of eternity: time extends to both an unseen past and a hidden future. They can even learn God’s deeds endure forever.
But like all creatures humans can act only in the present. What then should they do?
As long as they live humans can do nothing better than to be joyful, to do good, to eat, to drink and to take pleasure in their work. But how, when they so keenly feel their limitations? To do so is a gift from God.
Indulging the appetites is pleasurable but limited. Wisdom is good, but also it opens our eyes to exasperating realities. And work? It brings no pleasure on its own.
What is required is God. If we are willing to receive it God grants the gift of enjoying food, drink and work during our limited days.
We should not let the importance of this lesson escape us. It seems trivial but the teacher tells us that it is a miracle. Our own strivings cannot bring what God offers in His grace. Do good? Yes. But rely on God for joy. Thanks be to God.
Share with others: