Finding Enjoyment in Toil- A Gift of God (Ecc 5: 18-20)

FINDING ENJOYMENT IN TOIL- A GIFT OF GOD (Ecc 5: 18-20):

The author looks at the vanity of the things and meaninglessness that makes a person discontent in everything he strives. Then the author looks at something that is good and pleasing, which is to eat, drink and find enjoyment in the toils under the sun in the few days of life that God has given a person in his lot. Everyone works ultimately for the food and the drink, in spite of their work being of higher or lower cadre as per the human standards and discriminations. The toils can be determined by each of the individuals based on various factors depending upon their own exposure, experience, and expertise. But there is something more than the food and drink that everyone needs to get from the toils which the author states that are finding enjoyment in the toils that a person strives in the years they exist on earth. Though people could earn a lot of wealth or increase their abundance, if they don’t find satisfaction and joy in it, it is worthless. No one could take even a handful of the benefits of toils while their destiny arrives.

The enjoyment in the toils could not be found by everyone very easily because every toil has its own challenges and limitations. Even those who were given wealth, possessions, and power to enjoy them by God, may not be able to find enjoyment in the toils. Finding enjoyment in the work is the gift of God which could be acquired by everyone by accepting their lot that God has given. Enjoyment in the toils is very much necessary in life as it could be got only through purposeful and meaningful actions and thoughts that are valuable and worthy, without just earning a lot of money for selfishness. Only God who is the creator of everything and who knows everything, even the thoughts before it arises could state and give the joy in the toils based on whether the toils are really worthy with right values and intentions. 

The person to whom God gives the enjoyment in his toils will not much remember the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with the joy of his heart. The person who finds enjoyment in his toil will not be worried about the past or future but concentrate on the present, for he has the inspiration for his works of present through which he is content and joyful because it is valuable and worthy based on the higher values of life. Also, God who looks at the person who is faithful and valuable, and keeps the person with the joy overflowing in his heart in spite of all the struggles and situations as that of every other human being. 

Stimulations for Self-Reflection:

1.    What does the author see to be good and fitting?

2.    How a person could find enjoyment in the toils?

3.    What God has given for everyone? Why?

4.    How rejoicing in the toil could be a gift of God?

5.    Why the person who rejoices in toil will not remember the days of his life?

6.    How God keeps a person rejoicing in his toil with the joy of his heart?

7.    What we could do to be better in the toils in the few days of our life?

8.    How we can be worthy to get the gift of enjoyment in toils from God?