How does Ecclesiastes 2:22 challenge our view of earthly labor's value? Scripture Focus “For what does a man get for all the toil and striving with which he labors under the sun?” (Ecclesiastes 2:22) The Heart of the Question Solomon’s blunt inquiry slices through our busy schedules and achievement lists. If endless effort “under the sun” yields no lasting gain, then earthly labor—viewed by itself—stands exposed as ultimately unprofitable. Labor “Under the Sun” Defined • Daily work pursued with a purely horizontal outlook • Energy expended for visible, temporal outcomes only • Effort detached from God’s eternal purposes Why Earthly Toil Comes Up Empty • The curse of Genesis 3:17-19 means work is now laced with frustration and sweat. • Possessions earned decay or are handed to another (Ecclesiastes 2:18-21). • Length of life is brief; death levels all accomplishments (Psalm 90:10). • Satisfaction fades the moment a new desire surfaces (Ecclesiastes 5:10). Scripture Echoes • “Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain” (Psalm 127:1-2). • “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth… but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven” (Matthew 6:19-20). • “Do not work for food that perishes, but for food that endures to eternal life” (John 6:27). • “Whatever you do, work at it… for the Lord… you will receive an inheritance from the Lord” (Colossians 3:23-24). • “Your labor in the Lord is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58). Redeeming Work Through Eternal Perspective • Shift the spotlight from self-advancement to God’s glory. • Treat each task—mundane or significant—as service rendered to Christ. • Invest effort in people, truth, and gospel ministry; these endure beyond time. • View compensation, titles, and success as tools for stewardship, not trophies. Practical Takeaways • Begin every workday by remembering Who ultimately signs the paycheck. • Evaluate goals: will this objective still matter one hundred years from now? • Embrace rest as a statement of trust that God, not toil, sustains life. • Celebrate fruit from labor, yet hold results loosely—God alone grants permanence. • Anchor worth in being a redeemed child of God, not in career metrics. |
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