Setting – Solomon focuses on labor and money
Content – (v. 7a NLT), “Dreaming all the time instead of working is foolishness” Also, for those who are poor (v. 8 NLT) “being oppressed by the powerful and justice being miscarried throughout the land, don't be surprised! For every official is under orders from higher up, and matters of justice only get lost in red tape and bureaucracy.” Because (v. 9 NLT), “Even the king milks the land for his own profit!”
But (v. 10 NLT) “Those who love money will never have enough. How absurd to think that wealth brings true happiness!” Basically, (v. 11b NLT) “what is the advantage of wealth--except perhaps to watch it run through your fingers!” Why pursue money it is (v. 10 NLT) “absurd to think that wealth brings true happiness!” In fact, (v. 12 NLT) “People who work hard sleep well, whether they eat little or much. But the rich are always worrying and seldom get a good night's sleep” Those who do posses money live in worry. For the rich they (v. 16 NLT) “come into this world, so they depart. All their hard work is for nothing. They have been working for the wind, and everything will be swept away.”
But Solomon noticed (v. 18 NLT) “one thing, at least, that is good. It is good for people to eat well, drink a good glass of wine, and enjoy their work--whatever they do under the sun--for however long God lets them live.” And to further this thought (v. 19-20 NLT) “it is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it. To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life--that is indeed a gift from God. People who do this rarely look with sorrow on the past, for God has given them reasons for joy.”
Application – Pursuing money is worthless, but enjoying what wealth God has allotted to us is to be enjoyed. We exit the world as we came in, naked and empty handed. With that in mind, why forfeit our enjoyment by pursuing money which we can’t hold onto when we leave this earth? On the other hand, we are to enjoy what God has given to us and be satisfied with the fruits of our labor.
It’s a matter of perspective. We can work to enjoy the fruits of what it returns, food, an inheritance for our children, etc., or we can live in worry for the fear of loosing our wealth. Or as Solomon states, “enjoy your work and accept your lot in life--that is indeed a gift from God.”
Content – (v. 7a NLT), “Dreaming all the time instead of working is foolishness” Also, for those who are poor (v. 8 NLT) “being oppressed by the powerful and justice being miscarried throughout the land, don't be surprised! For every official is under orders from higher up, and matters of justice only get lost in red tape and bureaucracy.” Because (v. 9 NLT), “Even the king milks the land for his own profit!”
But (v. 10 NLT) “Those who love money will never have enough. How absurd to think that wealth brings true happiness!” Basically, (v. 11b NLT) “what is the advantage of wealth--except perhaps to watch it run through your fingers!” Why pursue money it is (v. 10 NLT) “absurd to think that wealth brings true happiness!” In fact, (v. 12 NLT) “People who work hard sleep well, whether they eat little or much. But the rich are always worrying and seldom get a good night's sleep” Those who do posses money live in worry. For the rich they (v. 16 NLT) “come into this world, so they depart. All their hard work is for nothing. They have been working for the wind, and everything will be swept away.”
But Solomon noticed (v. 18 NLT) “one thing, at least, that is good. It is good for people to eat well, drink a good glass of wine, and enjoy their work--whatever they do under the sun--for however long God lets them live.” And to further this thought (v. 19-20 NLT) “it is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it. To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life--that is indeed a gift from God. People who do this rarely look with sorrow on the past, for God has given them reasons for joy.”
Application – Pursuing money is worthless, but enjoying what wealth God has allotted to us is to be enjoyed. We exit the world as we came in, naked and empty handed. With that in mind, why forfeit our enjoyment by pursuing money which we can’t hold onto when we leave this earth? On the other hand, we are to enjoy what God has given to us and be satisfied with the fruits of our labor.
It’s a matter of perspective. We can work to enjoy the fruits of what it returns, food, an inheritance for our children, etc., or we can live in worry for the fear of loosing our wealth. Or as Solomon states, “enjoy your work and accept your lot in life--that is indeed a gift from God.”
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