I NSIGHTS INTO THE M EANING OF L IFE E CCLESIASTES 2:18-26 V ANITY OF L ABOR

I NTRODUCTION Solomon is now going to consider the subject of hard labor Work is a virtual necessity –Genesis 2:15 –2 Thessalonians 3:10 Can bring a sense of achievement and fulfillment to our lives Can it be the reason for one’s living ?

E CCLESIASTES 2:18 “Then I hated all my labor in which I had toiled under the sun, because I must leave it to the man who will come after me."

E CCLESIASTES 2:19 “ And who knows whether he will be wise or a fool? Yet he will rule over all my labor in which I toiled and in which I have shown myself wise under the sun. This also is vanity. "

E CCLESIASTES 2:20,21 “Therefore I turned my heart and despaired of all the labor in which I had toiled under the sun. For there is a man whose labor is with wisdom, knowledge, and skill; yet he must leave his heritage to a man who has not labored for it. This also is vanity and a great evil."

E CCLESIASTES 2:22,23 “ For what has man for all his labor, and for the striving of his heart with which he has toiled under the sun? For all his days are sorrowful, and his work burdensome; even in the night his heart takes no rest. This also is vanity! "

E CCLESIASTES 2:24,25 “ Nothing is better for a man than that he should eat and drink, and that his soul should enjoy good in his labor. This also, I saw, was from the hand of God. For who can eat, or who can have enjoyment, more than I? "

E CCLESIASTES 2:26 “ For God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy to a man who is good in His sight; but to the sinner He gives the work of gathering and collecting, that he may give to him who is good before God. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind. "

V ALUE OF H ARD L ABOR Why did he hate his labor ? He will it leave to another and what will they do with it? Appreciate it? Squander it? Parents work all their lives to leave their children an “ inheritance ” Do they appreciate it? Could they misuse it ? Surely leaving one’s child a “ spiritual inheritance ” has more lasting value! Many bury themselves in their work—only to find unhappiness and despair!

V ALUE OF H ARD L ABOR Will one leave it to a wise man or a fool ? Look at Solomon’s own case—Rehoboam –1 Kings 12:6-17 —took wrong advice! Sadly, many children squander all they are left— hurting instead of helping Not wrong to leave our children an inheritance –2 Corinthians 12:14 Can it be my MAIN objective in life? Must teach values and priorities of life!

V ALUE OF H ARD L ABOR Again Solomon is in despair “ What’s the use ?”—why strive this hard? Problem—striving for the wrong thing— need something with higher values ! Man has labored for wisdom, knowledge and skill but must leave it to man who has NOT labored in wisdom, knowledge and skill Where is the true worth of one’s labor in such cases?

V ALUE OF H ARD L ABOR When man makes work his chief goal in life, instead of happiness, security, and satisfaction he exchanges it for… –Sorrow –Work is grievous –Days and nights find no rest Ecclesiastes 5:12 Psalm 127:2 Proverbs 15:16; 16:8; 17:1 Luke 8:14

S OLOMON ’ S C ONCLUSION Man should be happy and enjoy his life Understanding that they are blessings “from the hand of God” God gave us these things to bless our lives Think about this : Solomon, with all his advantages and accomplishments, ended in despair—what about the average man? Pursuing the “ course of this world ” will end in utter despair and unhappiness –Matthew 6:19-21

S OLOMON ’ S C ONCLUSION Man should learn the lesson of true contentment –Philippians 4:6,7 God gives wisdom and joy to the one who is “ good ” in His sight! Sinners have more despair and sorrow because they don’t know what's good in life! Lasting happiness can ONLY be attained remembering God’s roles in these matters Turning it over to another without this knowledge—” grasping after wind !”

T HE V ANITY OF L IFE W ITHOUT G OD Wisdom is good (2:26) Life has enjoyment (2:25) Life has beauty (3:11) Life has gifts (3:13) Life has stability (3:14) Life has purpose (3:18) Life has joy despite hardships (3:22) God changes one’s perspective !

A TTRIBUTES OF W ISDOM Success in labor (prosperity) (2:21) Preserves life (7:12) It protects (7:23) It helps in judgments (7:23) It gives strength (7:19; 8:16) It gives joy (8:1) It helps others (9:15) It give real success (10:10 ) Knowledge here is experience.

C ONCLUSION Understand that this is considering things from the “ earthly view ” vantage point Hard work is not wrong Working as the chief goal is the problem Focusing on the physical over the spiritual Failing to give the credit to God Misusing the blessings of God What are you working hard for? Where are your priorities ?