The God-Given Task

 Ecclesiastic 3:9-15

 

The God-Given Task

What gain has the worker from his toil?  I have seen the business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with.   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.   I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; also, that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God's gift to man.

I perceived that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it. God has done it so that people fear before him.   That which is already has been; that which is to be already has been, and God seeks what has been driven away.

Solomon begins with this question; What gain has the worker from his toil?  Solomon then shares that God has put a void or vacuum in everyone that only He can fill.  What Solomon does not tell us is that only Jesus Christ can fill that empty space, that mankind tries to fill will work, pleasure, stuff, travel, accomplishment, but as my friend, Johnny Anderson told me many years ago.  I just knew that once I got the title of Mr. Texas that void would be filled, and I would find the peace I was looking for.  But just days later, I was back seeking just one more title, and so I won Mr. Southern USA, but it also did not fill that hole, and then I found Jesus and I’m at peace with God and myself.

 

Our world has no peace, they are as a whole not joyful and most do not have the mindset of doing good.  Why should that surprise anyone, do you recall these words from Jesus; “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

 

Look with me at the end of verse 13, “also, that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God's gift to man.”  I cannot imagine a person retiring from work and having nothing to do, that would be a small hell.

 

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice