7. The Fulfilled Life

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Hymns: 297 Jesus Saves 542 Saved By Grace 125 Jesus Is the Joy of Living

 

Study of the Book of Ecclesiastes

(Remember Now Thy Creator)

– The Fulfilled Life

Ecclesiastes 2:24-26

 

24 There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God. 25 For who can eat, or who else can hasten hereunto, more than I? 26 For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.

 

OUTLINE

  • Enjoy the Fruit of Honest Labour (v24-25)
  • Enjoy the Fruit of Heavenly Blessings (v26)

 

INTRODUCTION

In his quest to find fulfilment or satisfaction in life, Solomon in his old age conceded that there is no true happiness without God in the arithmetic of life. He tells us the…

  • Emptiness of Worldly Pleasures (v1-3)
  • Emptiness of Worldly Possessions (v4-11)
  • Emptiness of Worldly Entertainment (v8b-11)
  • Nothing New (v12-13)
  • Inevitable Death (v14-17)
  • Futility of Accumulating (v18-21a)
  • And Leaving It Behind (v21b-23)

Solomon continues to challenge us to consider and weigh and see in perspective the value system wherein we are building our lives. If God is not there in your building plan, it will be a sore disappointment for you at the end of your life. He is challenging us to take a time out to review what is a truly fulfilling life.

And this Book of Ecclesiastes shows THAT SEARCH FOR THE MEANING OF LIFE. This search led Solomon farther and farther from his Creator. Then one day, he wakes up and sees that it is all so empty.

Solomon sees no purpose in such a life. How sad Solomon became! He pursued worldly wisdom to its limit and finds it wanting, disappointing, crooked and empty.

Solomon shaken by his experience has to accede to his readers that man has to go back to his Creator to find a true perspective to a fulfilled. And he gave us two biblical ideas to a fulfilled life on earth.

  • Enjoy the Fruit of Honest Labour (v24-25)
  • Enjoy the Fruit of Heavenly Blessings (v26)

 

(1) Enjoy the Fruit of Honest Labour

24 There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God.

Solomon brings us back to the fall of man in the Garden of Eden. The Bible tells us in Genesis 3:19 the purpose of human labour — “in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread”. Human labour is that which is ordained of God whereby man feeds or sustains himself physically till the day he dies.

The Bible teaches that man can enjoy the fruit of his labour, such fruit is given to him by God who has enabled him to work (Deuteronomy 8:18).

Deuteronomy 8:18 But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.

And “there is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This … was from the hand of God” (Ecclesiastes 2:24). “And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God” (Ecclesiastes 3:13; 5:19).

The first principle that we want to understand is the truth that God ordained work. This is a consequence of the fall of man recorded in Genesis 3:19. Man is to work in order to sustain his physical life. So human labour is that which is ordained of God to feed or sustain physically man till the day he dies. From his labours, man shall receive the fruit of his labour to feed and sustain his physical life. This is grace to man as it keeps him away from indulging in further sin as a consequence of idleness.

 

(a) Honest Hard Work is God Honouring

– In the sweat of thy face…

This came in the wake of man’s fall. God said to Adam:

 Genesis 3:17-18 …Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; 18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;

God sent the thorns and thistles as a result of the curse that God pronounced upon the ground that will manifest itself in the thorns and thistles that would impede the growth of the herb of the field so that Adam has to spend time to weeding to have a good harvest.

In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul wrote a similar thought applying Genesis 3:19:

2 Thessalonians 3:12 Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.

It is the will of God, the command and exhortation of our Lord Jesus Christ that we are to work and enjoy the fruit of our labour.

2 Thessalonians 3:10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.

– with their own hands, at their proper callings, and so support themselves, provide for their families, and have something to give to them that are in need; by which means they will live peaceable and quiet lives, in godliness and honesty, and not disturb the peace of neighbourhoods, churches, and families.

– and eat their own bread; got by their own labour, and bought with their money, and not the bread of others, or that of idleness. [Gill]

Be Not Slothful

Proverbs 21:25 The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour.

Proverbs 21:26   He coveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous giveth and spareth not.

 Instead of working, the sluggard daydreams. He is full of desire, full of craving for delight. Instead of working all day, he craves for more. He is never satisfied. People talk of dying from overwork, but there is a death that comes from not working enough. Instead of merely craving, they do something useful so that they may have something to share with those in need (Eph. 4:28).

Ephesians 4:28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

The sluggard is like the Dead Sea, where nothing can live. He is constantly taking in as he craves for more and more. Like the Sea of Galilee, full of life, the righteous gives without sparing.

More than that, we are to do so to the honour and glory of God:

Colossians 3:23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;

1 Corinthians 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

We encourage our young men and women to develop a healthy attitude toward work. Honest productive work is the backbone of strong families and blessed nations. God put His heart into His work. He doesn’t finish things just to get them over with. When He made the frog, He painted a frog’s eyes gold. God adds distinct and beautiful touches to each thing He makes. His energy and creativity are without measure. They overflow into everything He does. Drudgery and bare minimums have not part in His work. Some things He makes are very simple. Yet even their simplicity is a work of art. [Bob Schultz, Created for Work]

 

(b) Honest Hard Work Brings Wages – Biblical Concept of Honest Money

– shalt thou eat bread…

Money is so much part of our daily life. The Bible tells us that the love of money is the root of all evil (1Timothy 6:10). Money itself is not evil. But the love of money is a grievous sin. The Apostle Paul warns, “…which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” (1Timothy 6:10) The snare of a materialistic lifestyle that enslaves God’s people.

Have you ever wondered how money should be defined? This is a pertinent question to help us understand this money-abusing world that we are living in today. The Bible tells us from Genesis 3:19 the purpose of human labour – “in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread”.

Human labour is that which is ordained of God whereby man feeds or sustains himself physically till the day he dies. Money has been used to quantify this labour. It is a unit measure of a man’s labour whereby he could use to feed himself till the day he dies. Savings is the accumulated or stored value of human labour whereas debt is the obligation to serve human labour. This is the biblical concept of honest money.

The Bible’s teaching is that man can enjoy the fruit of his labour. It is given to him by God who has enabled him to work (Deut. 8:18). And there is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This is from the hand of God. (Eccl. 2:24) And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God. (Eccl. 3:13; 5:19)

Vincent Van Gogh, The Potato Eaters, 1885 – Van Gogh said he wanted to depict peasants as they really were. He deliberately chose coarse and ugly models, thinking that they would be natural and unspoiled in his finished work: “You see, I really have wanted to make it so that people get the idea that these folk, who are eating their potatoes by the light of their little lamp, have tilled the earth themselves with these hands they are putting in the dish, and so it speaks of manual labor and — that they have thus honestly earned their food. I wanted it to give the idea of a wholly different way of life from ours — civilized people. So I certainly don’t want everyone just to admire it or approve of it without knowing why.”[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Potato_Eaters – cite_note-1#cite_note-1

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In order to facilitate a store for man’s labour, money is introduced. We received wages or remuneration for labour rendered in the form of wages.

Bridges observed well, “This pleasure of eating and drinking is totally distinct from animal appetite. It recognises the Christian principle – “Whether ye eat or drink – do all to the glory of God.”[2]

The man who knows God is contented and thankful for the blessings of divine goodness that flows from the love of God to him for the portion he receives in this life.

1 Timothy 6:17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;

Psalm 40:4 Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.

Psalm 62:8 Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.

God gives a legitimate cause for taking a part of your wages to “pamper” yourself having worked hard to earn your keep. Matthew Poole said similarly, “That he should make his soul enjoy good; that he should thankfully take, and freely and cheerfully enjoy, the comforts which God gives him. That it was from the hand of God; that this also is a singular gift of God, and not to be procured by a man’s own wisdom or diligence.”

As the Christian enjoys the good of his labour, he gratefully remembers his good God in making this possible. John Baillie (1741-1806) said well, “A true Christian is a man who never for a moment forgets what God has done for him in Christ, and whose whole comportment and whole activity have their root in the sentiment of gratitude.”[3] This included his recreation and leisure.

But there is a Christian decorum in his recreation. It is not the wantonness of the past –

1 Peter 4:3 For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:

We need to know what is healthful and right and what is hurtful and wrong. What every Christian may do and what a sinner ought not to do. We need to discern the healthful and innocent enjoyment. God need not create us to be wretched but gave us possibilities of enjoyment and ten thousand good things to enjoy.

He gave us a taste for pleasant food and fruit to taste. A taste for refreshing fruits and juices and not for destructive alcoholic drink!

He gave to us Christian recreation that is proper, commendable and beneficial but sinful pleasures that are dangerous to the body and damning to the soul.

 God’s Word does not forbid rightful enjoyment that is God honouring.[4]

Cuyler observed, “Biographies of the most healthful Christians as unbending to an innocent sportiveness. Their grave faces sometimes relax into what the old Puritan used to call “The Christian liberty of laughing”. Their over-active brains were regaled with a healthy holiday. When at work they work like men and Christians. When at play, they unbend and sport like little children.”[5]

 

25 For who can eat, or who else can hasten hereunto, more than I.

Solomon conceded that God has endowed him with all the good things of his life to enjoy. In the sober state of his life, he acknowledged God and enjoyed the good that he received out of the good hand of God.

 

(2) Enjoy the Fruit of Heavenly Blessings (v26)

26 For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.

 Solomon acknowledges the spiritual blessings that God gives to him through His Word and the joy and peace that comes from obeying it.

For the sinner who refuses God, there is but a fearful awaiting of judgment.

Matthew 7:13-14 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

There is only one entrance that leads to life and it is through the strait gate. As we have mentioned, this narrow and restrictive gate is the gate of salvation, of conversion and of regeneration. All who would enter must be Born Again! The change must come from within, old things are passed away and all things become new. The old man is put off and the new man put on. There is a new heart and a new spirit.

The gate is strait because it also expresses the difficulty in finding it. Why is it difficult to find? Because only Jesus saves! There is no other gate to salvation except in Jesus. The Bible tells us in Acts 4:12, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Jesus Himself says in John 10:9, “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.” In John 11:25-26, Jesus says, “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?” Truly, the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness but unto us who are saved it is the power of God. The message that only Jesus saves is a message that we have the great privilege to proclaim. Be warned that it is offensive to the world. Many will stumble at it and perish.

 Jesus says in a parallel passage in Luke 13:24, “Strive (agonise, it speaks of a conflict, a struggle) to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.”

Why is this so? Because it will cost us our pride. Jesus tells us at the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount, “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3).

We need to have a poverty of spirit as opposed to a proud spirit to enter this gate. This is the struggle against the “I”, “me”, “mine”, the self in us which is self-seeking, selfish and self- righteous.

We have to surrender our fallen self that it may be crucified with Christ on the cross. All who stand tall and proud cannot enter. We need to be lowly bent in humbleness of heart to enter this narrow gate.

The wisdom of God’s Word leads us to Christ wherein we find salvation and eternal life. This is the ultimate fulfilment for life, having eternal life in this physical life.

 

CONCLUSION

(1) Enjoy the Fruit of Honest Labour (v24-25)

(2) Enjoy the Fruit of Heavenly Blessings (v26)

 

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Potato_Eaters

[2] Charles Bridges, Ecclesiastes, The Banner of Truth Trust, 1992, 45.

[3] Draper’s Book of Quotations for the Christian World.

[4] Cuyler, Theodore Ledyard, Sermon on Christian recreation and unchristian amusement, 1858, 5-7.

[5] Ibid.