Title: Vanity, vanity, vanity, but wow (4)
In vain, in vain, in vain, but wow (4)
Text/ Ecclesiastes 1:2-3, 12:8
1. Introduction
The evangelist said that all the work that people do while living under the sun - no matter how great the work that moves mountains and upturns the earth, it is Havel - Vanity - vain - useless. In fact, when each person looks back on their own hard work and achievements (history), they will have no choice but to agree. It seemed great at the time, but now it's not a big deal. Therefore, the evangelist says that each person's salvation - eternal life - the fullness of existence - the peace of existence - the freedom of existence - the eternal now - the eternal life - the empty fullness of each person's toil - effort - achievements - It does not come from effort, but “from the fear of God (3:14, 5:7, 7:18, 8:12-13, 12:13)”.
And shortly thereafter, the evangelist said, “But wow-waw” Nevertheless, human labor is noble-meaningful-necessary. Why? This is because if a person does not work, he cannot eat, drink, and enjoy in this world. When people do not eat, drink and enjoy themselves, they die. It cannot exist. This is because if you do not exist, you cannot attain salvation (salvation) - the joy of being - - the fullness of being. In other words, all the toil-strife-achievements of man under the sun are in vain. “But-wow-waw” It means that human labor is necessary for human existence (Ecclesiastes 2:24, 3:13, 5:18, 8:15, 9:7-10). It is a paradox and contradiction, but it is the truth. Truth transcends contradictions!
2. Man's toil is in vain "But-wow-waw" Man's toil is sublime
The passage where the evangelist said, “It is a gift from God that a person eats, drinks, and lives joyfully through hard work, and the portion God has given to you is the portion,” Ecclesiastes 2:24, 3:13, 5:18, 8:15, 9:7- 10 Let's meditate deeply.
Here, the evangelist is not saying, “All the toils of men under the sun are in vain. Therefore, enjoy life - Enjoy life.” He said, “It is vain, but enjoy life-Enjoy Life.” In other words, it is not “a life in vain, so let’s eat and drink and enjoy”, but “a life in vain, but let’s eat, drink, and live happily and healthy so that we may fulfill the fullness of our existence through the fear of God.”
“Therefore” and “but” are different. “I have no academic background, appearance, beauty, wealth, etc., therefore, I am living this way” and “I have no academic background, background, beauty, wealth, etc., but I am living this way” are completely different.
3. What does the evangelist tell us to do “work that is in vain but never in vain”?
first. There are five places in Ecclesiastes that say, “Eat, drink, and live joyfully (Ecclesiastes 2:24, 3:13, 5:18, 8:15, 9:7-10)”. However, all of these verses all tell us to eat, drink, and rejoice with “what you have obtained through your labor.” It is a statement that stands completely on biblical tradition.
* You shall toil all the days of your life to eat of its produce (Genesis 3:16-19) * You will eat according to the toil of your hands, and you will be blessed and prosperous (Psalm 128:2) * Go and work in the vineyard today (Matthew 21:28) (Ephesians 4:28) Brethren, we do not eat bread free of charge, but toil and labor day and night, so that we may not be a burden to any of you... If anyone does not want to work, let him not eat... Work quietly in the Lord Jesus Christ Eat your own food (2 Thessalonians 3:6-12).
second. The evangelist says, “There is nothing better for a man than to enjoy his work” (Ecclesiastes 3:22). What an amazing word! Modern psychologists say that “one has to do things that one’s aptitude, talents, and liking are to have a high probability of success and a high sense of happiness,” but the evangelist revealed this point thousands of years ago. Confucius also said, “The person who has knowledge of something is not as good as the person who likes it, but who loves it. People are not as good as those who delight in knowing it” (Reference: Fountain of the Word, Vol. 8, No. 476, Find the work that suits you, pp. 74-75).
third. The evangelist says, “Work with all your might whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might” (Ecclesiastes 9:10).
* The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this (Isa 9:7) * For 20 years, I endured the heat during the day, the cold at night, and no time to close my eyes (Genesis 31:40). * He worked with one hand and held a weapon with the other, and he did not take off his clothes when he was sleeping, nor did he take off his clothes when he went to draw water (Nehemiah 4:15-23) * When Jesus entered the house, the crowd gathered again, (Mark 3:20; Mark 6:30-31) * What you need to ask of those in charge is loyalty (1 Corinthians 4:2) * Do your best in all these things, and make your progress visible to all (1 Timothy). 4:15)
The word “do it with all your might” means to work at the level of sincerity - sincerity - wholeheartedness - customer satisfaction - customer satisfaction - in modern terms (Note: Spring Water, Vol. 8, No. 477, How Do I Work? pp. 78-79).