[Ecc 3:9-11 KJV] 9 What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth?
What does man have to show from the hard work just to survive in this life?
10 I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.
God knew man would need work to give him purpose. Even in the garden of Eden, Adam had work to do and that is when life was perfect.
11 He hath made every [thing] beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.
God grants us beautiful moments along the way to bless us and give us the chance to be grateful. God also grants to us the desire for eternity with Him. But God is the only one who knows the entire story of what He has done...from eternity prior to creation to eternity beyond a new heaven and a new earth...that is beyond what man can comprehend.
[Ecc 3:1-8 KJV] 1 To every [thing there is] a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up [that which is] planted;
3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
6 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
This is a section of scripture that is familiar to many people, even if they don't attend church. It is often used as a reading at funerals. Sometimes life is blessed and full but sometimes it feels cursed and empty. But God desires that we experience the life He has bestowed; both the good and the bad because thru these experiences we learn the lessons He intends. Only then will we have an abundant life.
[Ecc 2:22-26 KJV] 22 For what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the sun?
My thinking is it depends on the attitude.
23 For all his days [are] sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity.
There will be times when our concerns keep us up at night but that is life.
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 labour. This also I saw, that it [was] from the hand of God.
Absolutely celebrate the good times...they are blessings from the Father.
25 For who can eat, or who else can hasten [hereunto], more than I?
I read something yesterday from a devotion that said the bad wouldn't exist without the good. Let's face it, the more the Lord blesses you, the responsibility and care goes along with those blessings.
26 For [God] giveth to a man that [is] good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to [him that is] good before God. This also [is] vanity and vexation of spirit.
This is the reaping and sowing principle of life. Not always fun but a terrific teacher.
[Ecc 2:18-21 KJV] 18 Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me.
I think Solomon is a little upset that what he accomplishes will be left to who follows him on the throne.
19 And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise [man] or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun. This [is] also vanity.
Perhaps he is right to be worried because we know that the kingdom was divided after him.
20 Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour which I took under the sun.
Not sure despair is the right emotion because he was king and he oversaw the work but didn't do all the manual labor. Besides shouldn't we all labor to leave the world in a better place than we found it?
21 For there is a man whose labour [is] in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity; yet to a man that hath not laboured therein shall he leave it [for] his portion. This also [is] vanity and a great evil.
Or in other words, leave a foundation that others can build on. But of course, there are those who don't value what they have been given because it didn't "cost" them anything.
[Ecc 2:12-17 KJV] 12 And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly: for what [can] the man [do] that cometh after the king? [even] that which hath been already done.
We can always learn from history because mankind tends to do what has already been done.
13 Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness.
Wise living is always better than foolish living. Even more so when you are a king, I would think.
14 The wise man's eyes [are] in his head; but the fool walketh in darkness: and I myself perceived also that one event happeneth to them all.
A wise men observes but a fool refuses to see. The king knows that death comes to all.
15 Then said I in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool, so it happeneth even to me; and why was I then more wise? Then I said in my heart, that this also [is] vanity.
In the end, the result is the same.
16 For [there is] no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool for ever; seeing that which now [is] in the days to come shall all be forgotten. And how dieth the wise [man]? as the fool.
No one is remembered except by God.
17 Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun [is] grievous unto me: for all [is] vanity and vexation of spirit.
So the king is dismayed and wondering what is even the point? I can think of one...
