How can Ecclesiastes 2:22 guide us in prioritizing spiritual over material goals? Opening Passage Ecclesiastes 2:22: “For what does a man get for all the toil and striving with which he labors under the sun?” Why This Verse Matters • Here is a sobering, literal question from God’s Word. • It probes the payoff of life lived merely “under the sun” — a phrase Solomon uses for a purely earthly, material outlook. • By taking the question at face value, we’re invited to weigh every plan, purchase, and promotion against eternal realities. Under the Sun vs. Under the Son • “Under the sun” focuses on what sight alone can measure: income, status, possessions. • “Under the Son” (John 3:16; Colossians 1:13-18) lifts our gaze to Christ, where purpose is anchored beyond time. • Solomon’s question exposes the emptiness of the first approach so we’ll embrace the second. The Futility of Material Obsession Solomon’s own inventory (Ecclesiastes 2:4-11) lists houses, vineyards, silver, singers—yet he calls it “vanity.” Other Scriptures echo the verdict: • Psalm 39:6 — “Surely every man goes about as a phantom; surely they hustle in vain; he heaps up wealth, not knowing who will carry it away.” • Matthew 6:19 — “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth…” • 1 Timothy 6:9-10 — the craving for riches “plunges people into ruin and destruction.” What We Actually Gain When We Chase Things Material-only goals yield: - Temporary pleasure - Ongoing anxiety (Ecclesiastes 2:23) - A legacy that may unravel after we’re gone (2:18-21) The verse’s rhetorical force—“What does a man get?”—implies the answer: “Nothing of lasting worth.” Shifting to Spiritual Priorities Because Scripture is perfectly reliable, its remedy is trustworthy: 1. Recognize the Limits • Admit that even our best earthly achievements cannot satisfy the soul God created for eternity (Ecclesiastes 3:11). 2. Reorient the Heart • “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things” (Colossians 3:2). • Measure success by likeness to Christ, not accumulation. 3. Redeploy Resources • Use money as a servant, not a master (Luke 16:9). • Invest in eternal dividends: gospel outreach, acts of mercy, discipleship (1 Timothy 6:17-19). 4. Rest in the Giver • Jesus offers rest from performance pressure: “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to Me will never hunger” (John 6:35). • Contentment grows when we trust Him to provide (Hebrews 13:5). Practical Take-Home Steps • Audit ambitions: List current goals; mark which ones have eternal significance. • Tithe time: Schedule regular moments for Scripture, prayer, fellowship before tackling work emails. • Simplify possessions: Give away surplus items; experience the freedom Solomon missed while hoarding. • Serve intentionally: Attach each skill or paycheck to a kingdom purpose—teaching, hospitality, missions support. Living the Answer Ecclesiastes 2:22 doesn’t dismiss honest labor; it redirects our expectations. Work hard, but don’t look to toil itself for meaning. Let every project drive you to the Lord who guarantees rewards “that will never perish, spoil, or fade” (1 Peter 1:4). In Him, spiritual goals outshine material ones, and the question “What does a man get?” finds a glorious, everlasting answer. |
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