The Emptiness of Work
Open Your Bible
Ecclesiastes 2:1-26, Genesis 1:26-28, John 15:9-11
BY Ellen L. Taylor
I turned sixteen the summer before my junior year of high school. Along with the new excitement of being able to drive came the responsibility of having my first “real” job. I worked as a cashier at a neighborhood pharmacy and gift shop in a suburb of Birmingham, Alabama, taking phone calls for prescription refills and stocking the shelves with face lotion and hand soap. But the best part of this summer job was something we lovingly referred to as “Christmas in July”—receiving all of the seasonal products for Christmas at the pharmacy, pricing them accordingly, and keeping track of inventory until they put out the Christmas items in late fall.
I was constantly confused by the juxtaposition of the stifling Alabama summer heat with the Santa Claus figurines and snowflake ornaments. Even so, I loved that job. The fragile ornaments and figurines needed special care while unpacking, and even though it meant I left covered in glitter every day, I paid special attention to them, lifting them gingerly out of their boxes and placing them on the storage shelves where they would sit until they made their debut in the pharmacy. It might not have been the most important job, but I found purpose in it.
King Solomon had one of the most important jobs in the Old Testament. God called him to build the temple where God’s presence would dwell among the Israelites (1Chronicles 22:6–10). This was an incredible honor, one that God didn’t even entrust to King David, who was considered a “man after [God’s] own heart” (1Samuel 13:14).
Despite all this, Ecclesiastes 2 tells us that King Solomon struggled with the purpose of work. He writes, “I hated all my work that I labored at under the sun because I must leave it to the one who comes after me. And who knows whether he will be wise or a fool? Yet he will take over all my work that I labored at skillfully under the sun. This too is futile” (Ecclesiastes 2:18–19). To the author of Ecclesiastes, leaving his work behind after death made it meaningless, a pursuit of the wind. But he goes on to explain that while he felt as though his work was meaningless, there is “nothing better for a person than to eat, drink, and enjoy his work” (v.24).
In Genesis 1, after the creation of humankind, God instructed Adam and Eve to work, telling them, “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, and every creature that crawls on the earth” (Genesis 1:28). God’s design for humanity always included work—it preceded the fall! Our work is not meaningless; we are called to it. And when we do our work for the glory of the one who worked first to create us, it has eternal meaning and significance.
99 thoughts on "The Emptiness of Work"
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I am with several of you who said yesterday that they didn’t know what to do witn or what to write in the columns in the books. The first day, Churchmouse, you put in your comment something for each column but since then no one else has hit. I read the intro of the book but just didn’t quite undertsand it.
Now to the devotion, this devotion and especially this sentence “And when we do our work for the glory of the one who worked first to create us, it has eternal meaning and significance.” remind me of a frequent discussion I would have with my father when he was alive. I am an LPN, have been for over 40 years, I enjoy what I do. Yes there are days I get frustrated and upset and even think about quiting but it never lasts long. My father would frequently say to me, “You need to go back to school and get your RN. You can make more money and do more. You can get further in your career.” My response was always, “I don’t want to Dad.” Finally one day I said, “Dad you want me to be happy doing what I’m doing don’t you?” He said, “Yes.” I said, “I’m happy doing what I’m doing right now. I enjoy my work. If I become an RN I won’t get the hands-on, patient care work I’m doing right now.” He never mentioned it again. Ecclesiastes 2:24 “So I decided there is nothing better than to enjoy food and drink and to find satisfaction in work. Then I realized that these pleasures are from the hand of God.” speaks to my heart and my soul and my occupation. I guess I got into nursing because I love to help people. God bless all you my sisters. Still praying for you and your husband, Angie. -
Praising the Lord!!! Hallelujah!!! Angie, contuing to pray for a complete recovery with no residual effects.
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I was struck by this passage: “I hated all my work that I labored at under the sun because I must leave it to the one who comes after me. And who knows whether he will be wise or a fool? “….this is a very human reaction, however this is exactly what Christ did for us. He completed ALL the work of salvation, so that we didn’t have to, and we reap all the rewards that redemption offers. This is the difference between Life Under the Sun and Life In the Son.
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This reading today is a hard one for me – hard in the sense that it makes me question so much about my own work. I’m 32, work a ‘typical’ 9-5 job in marketing, and also offer freelance social media services on the side. For me, I find joy in the creativity of marketing and social media, but ultimately it’s to collect a paycheck so that I afford to live. I have student load debt, my husband and I want to buy our own home, we are trying to get pregnant. How I wish I could be my own boss, and rely solely on enjoying me freelance work, but financial reality doesn’t make that possible right now. This has been something I’ve really struggled with as I deepen my faith, and something I pray about often. I know God has blessed me with the skill to communicate, to write, to speak, etc. but how do I use that best to His glory? I ask for guidance often, and I place my hope in Him that he will unveil the way so that I can find more joy in the everyday and use my talents to glorify Him.
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God has given you gifts to use to work, you are providing a valuable service to those you work for. It’s OK to want a house as long as your identity is not tied up in it. God works and we work as an expression of bearing his image into the world.
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Hi Kelly. I would highly recommend reading “Garden City” by John Mark Comer. It talks a lot about what you just shared on. I just finished reading it for a second time and it is truly eye opening to all those questions we have :)
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For those praying for my husband and me…
Yesterday we are counting as his first fever-free day. His temperature stayed in the 98-99.0 range all day.
However, today he is in the 96-97 range which is his normal!!!!
Praise God, I think we/he is coming out of this! It is a slow process as some of the other symptoms linger but, we are on our way! Hallelujah!
I am believing I am okay…just a little battle worn.
God is good sisters, all the time.
Praise God!-
Hallelujah is the perfect word! When I woke up this morning I thought of you Angie.
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Praise! Thank you for the update ❤️
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Praise the Lord!
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The things Solomon talks about in Ecclesiastes 2 make me think of idols.
These idols are prominent even today.
Pleasure.
Possessions and Wealth.
Knowledge.
Successful work.
In a season, each may seem fulfilling, each may be the priority, and yet…
When we stop to take a breath, when we remove our rose colored glasses, when we “get real”, we know truth –
they are never enough. They leave a chasm that we cannot CROSS alone.
I think Solomon’s sharing is his “getting real” moments and, he was wise enough to know, they needed sharing.
In our culture the push seems to be NOT to say anything that might seem hard or difficult. Just be quiet and accept.
And, sometimes I agree.
Many times, I do not.
If you were getting ready to enjoy your favorite dessert, and I knew rat poison had inadvertently been put in. I would keep you from eating it, because I care about you. It is not a judgement, (you shouldn’t really eat that), it is truth (you will die if you eat it).
I know everything isn’t as easy as that example.
But, in Jesus Christ we have life.
If I know what you are doing leads to death (if I know from experience or direct declaration in His Word)…isn’t the greater love sharing the truth?
My love for you does not change…it was strong enough in the first place for me to love you enough to be honest.
You may get mad. I know this first hand in a deep way. But, my love will be deep enough to love you, no matter what. Love you enough to respect you with truth.
I think that is what Solomon is doing.
I feel like he would say, “Guys…I tried all this stuff, don’t waste your time. Here’s what I’ve figured out…Everything I’ve done centers around me…this “I” stuff consumes it does not renew. What is the answer? vs. 24-25 ‘There is nothing better for a person than to eat, drink, and enjoy his work. I have seen that even this is from God’s hand, because who can eat and who can enjoy life apart from him?’ Basically, it’s not about us…it is about God, so do what he calls you to every day and leave it to Him.”
I think that is our call also. Share, in love, what we know from the Word of God, from mistakes we have made in our lives that He has redeemed us out of, then just live each day as we are uniquely called.-
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Yes and amen!
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Yes!
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Amen! ❤️
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I really loved this one. I also gathered from this text about how when we are placing our worth in things of this world, we have anxiety. But when we place our worth and minds on that of Christ, it is in Him that we find peace, rest and joy.
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This is the work of God that you believe on Him whom He has sent. (John 6:29)
Labour not for the meat which perisheth , but for that meat which endure unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for Him hath God the Father sealed. ( John 6:27)
Love not the world , neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the list of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust there of: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever. ( 1John 2:15-17)
Man as a whole is caught up with work and his accomplishments in this life. I think , my opinion is to stay with what the preacher was making a point of , it’s all futile, it’s only vanity in view of eternal life. Enjoy this life while you’re here but it’s nothing in the end without knowing God. Nothing we have here or have accomplished here will make a difference in the end, only did I know Him.
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Yes. The good works that God has prepared for us.
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I think in the John passage the disciples are asking about what works will make them acceptable to God and Jesus is saying that you can’t work to justify yourself, only believing in God’s justification of you will make you acceptable. Good work is something we will be doing on into eternity as God restores creation and the creation mandate of Gen 1:26-28.
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