Enjoyment of Toils from the Hand of God (Ecc 2:24-26)

ENJOYMENT OF TOILS FROM THE HAND OF GOD (Ecc 2:24-26):

There are always people around us who strive hard to acquire power, position, prosperity or pleasure through any means, it may be a righteous way or an unrighteous way. But the truth is that they don’t really have Joy with those things that were acquired. Some people find it interesting, but only for some time and become directionless in striving hard in pursuing it. The author of the book of Ecclesiastes sees that there is nothing better for a person to find enjoyment in his toil, than by eating and drinking. If we carefully look into why we work and why we integrate with one another, the basic thing that could be and will be is to satisfy our physical needs by having food and drink. Whatever the income or prosperity we long to have, the basic essentialities to pursue our life on the earth will be food and drink. The author looked at it, and also looked at certain other people who toil hard but doesn’t find satisfaction in their food and drink, because they indulge it in extravagance without realizing the importance of it. The author also realized that the enjoyment of satisfaction of the toils could be only from God for he alone gives a direction and purpose in the toils, helping to pursue a life of content.

There is none or nothing in the world that could gratify the inner urge of a person to find the purpose of the existence but only the creator can give it. God alone could fill the vacuum that exists within every human being. There is nothing that is hidden from the eyes of God and a person could be directionless and purposeless in all his experiences and exposures without knowing God in life. The author realizes and asks rhetorically that, for apart from Him who can eat or who can have enjoyment. The manufacturer alone could define the machine with manual for its usage, maintenance, and repair. Likewise, God, the creator alone could define how a man or His creation ought to be for a worthier and content life.

God, in His sovereignty and mightiness has every power, authority, and dominion over his creation. At the same time God, in His righteousness and wisdom acts very genuinely beyond the understanding of man that no one could blame him. According to the author, God gives Wisdom for discerning things, Knowledge about various things around, and Joy which is the ultimate goal of all, for those who please Him. God is considerate and proportionate, giving things according to His will. On the other side, the author says that God had given the business of gathering and collecting, to the sinner by all means for them not to enjoy it but to give to one who pleases Him. For they couldn’t find Joy in the wealth without really tasting God and finding meaning in their doing, which is also vanity and it’s like striving after wind.

Stimulations for Self-Reflection:

1.    Which is the better thing for a person to toil? Why?

2.    Where does the enjoyment come from? How?

3.  What do you mean by the author saying ‘for apart from Him who can eat or who can have enjoyment’?

4.    Why there couldn’t be any enjoyment, other than from God?

5.    What does God give to one who pleases Him? Why?

6.    What does God give to the sinner?

7.    Why the sinner has to strive in his toils to give to one who pleases God?

8.    Why does the author see the sinners toil as vanity and striving after wind?

9.    Why do you think that basically, everyone toil extensively?

10.    How we can really find direction, purpose, and worthiness in the toils?