But for the believer, things should be different. Every Christian must have a biblical theology of work. Work is a gift from God, so we should honor him in our endeavors. When we honor God with our efforts, we bring glory to him.
Daily Devotion
Ecclesiastes
Ecclesiastes: Work is a Gift
In this passage, Solomon proclaims what the rest of Scripture confirms: God is in complete control of all things. He is omnipotent; all-powerful. This means that whatever God desires to do, he will get it done. If he desires something straight, it will be straight and remain straight. If he wants something crooked, it will be crooked and remain crooked. Of course, God’s desires, decisions, and actions will always be perfect.
Ecclesiastes: Work Satisfaction
The world is desperate to see Christians find meaning and satisfaction in their work. We don’t worship our jobs; we worship the One who provided us the gift to find purpose in our daily efforts. It’s hard to argue against Solomon’s point: “there is nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his work.”
Ecclesiastes: Work His Way
Some people do a job. They clock in and clock out. Their work is such that they can leave it all behind when they hop into their car to drive home. Most of these people spend their workdays dreaming of a hobby, an evening with friends, or planning a big tailgate party before the game. There is nothing wrong with doing a job if we do it unto the Lord and work hard to honor him with our work.
Ecclesiastes: Work For the Lord
Solomon counted his hours, measured the family sacrifices, thought of all the sleepless nights worrying about an upcoming deadline, and concluded that it was all useless. There “was nothing to be gained under the sun.” Looking through humanistic eyes, he found that there was nothing to show at the end of the day for the physical and emotional toll caused by work.
Ecclesiastes: Work
What does a man gain by engaging in work? What benefits come from marketing, sales, owning a business, designing processes, and making products? Not much! That’s Solomon’s “under-the-sun” perspective. A generation works until they die, followed by the next generation that does the same thing.
Ecclesiastes: Time – Youth
Solomon experienced the energy and vigor of youth and wanted others to do the same. His counsel for young men was to enjoy life and pursue dreams and desires. But Solomon warns that enjoying life is not without boundaries and accountability. Everything a person does will one day be evaluated by the Judge (see also Eccl. 12:14).
Ecclesiastes: Time Everlasting
While we live and work in time, God works outside of it. He is the eternal God who does all things perfectly. Nothing can be added or taken away to make what he has done better. Everything he does lasts forever. God’s construction cannot be destroyed.
Ecclesiastes: Time and Eternal God
He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.
Ecclesiastes: Time – Seasons of Life
We often think of our lives in periods of time. There were elementary, middle school, and high school years. We think of our college years and when we first started our careers. We think of life in terms of places we have lived, before and after marriage, before and after kids. There are high times—the birth of children and grandchildren.
Ecclesiastes: Time Marches On
The cycle of life keeps us moving forward. Recently I saw a picture of our children when they ranged in age from two to preteen. I lived through that time. I experienced it in real life. But I can hardly remember what it was like. Life is elusive. Time keeps moving forward.
Ecclesiastes: Time and Weariness
“All things are full of weariness,” says Solomon. I heard one speaker describe this as the “same ole, same ole” disease. You get up every morning in the same ole bed next to your same ole husband or same ole wife, brush your same ole teeth, and put on the same ole clothes. You eat the same ole breakfast, get in the same ole car,