One of the things the Book of Ecclesiastes is known for is a
dismal outlook on life, exemplified by the saying that is repeated throughout
of, “all is vanity and vexation of spirit” and “this also is vanity” and so on.
However, I recently realized that along with pointing out
stuff that was vanity and vexation, I noticed it also points out what is good.
The preacher of Ecclesiastes was anxious to discover the ideal, happy,
profitable life, one best optimized for the most happiness. And running under
all the observations about vanity and vexation are that fearing God and working
hard is the optimal state.
Concerning work, the preacher of Ecclesiastes is not
optimistic about the longevity of work results. He puzzles over how a wise king
might be followed by an awful king who cares nothing and knows nothing about
maintaining or adding to what was done before him. So the preacher falls back
on realizing that each person must work and enjoy that work and not worry about
what will happen once they leave life because the people who follow will have
their own work to do.
This gives me the impression that the way work changes us is
the most important result of work, when looked at from the eternal perspective.
Work serves us temporarily by providing us with things like shelter, food,
protection, education, comfort, but it serves us eternally by how it helps us
develop good character. So, in terms of what Ecclesiastes teaches about work,
it is very positive, and helps us keep from getting unhealthy notions about the
temporal results.
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