Context: It is believed that this book was written by Solomon near the end of his life. Looking back over all of his attempts to 'tame' the world and find meaning in earthly things, he shares the wisdom that life is meaningless without God.
Text:
15 Naked a man comes from his mother's womb,
and as he comes, so he departs.
He takes nothing from his labor
that he can carry in his hand.
16 This too is a grievous evil:
As a man comes, so he departs,
and what does he gain,
since he toils for the wind?
17 All his days he eats in darkness,
with great frustration, affliction and anger.
18 Then I realized that it is good and proper for a man to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in his toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given him—for this is his lot. 19 Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work—this is a gift of God. 20 He seldom reflects on the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart. (NIV)
taken from www.biblegateway.com
Do you ever see your job as a gift from God? Even if they like the work they do, most people see work as a burden, a chore, an additional stress on their lives. Unless you are born into a very wealthy family, you will most likely need to work in order to have a warm home and enough food to fill your stomach.
Because we see a direct correlation between the money we make from working and the amount of 'stuff' we can buy, it is easy to fall into the trap of believing that we are personally responsible for attaining our possessions and wealth. Nothing could be farther from the truth!
From the sixth day of creation, God has given each man and woman their jobs. Adam (with the help of Eve) was to "rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground." In addition, he was put "in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it."
In the same way, God has put you into a particular place in the world and he has given you work. That work may not be in a paying job at the moment, but he still has a job for you to do. And he will provide all that you need for life (just maybe not the life we covet...).
Today, take time to thank God for the jobs you have to do and for the possessions and provisions he has given you. Look for reasons to "enjoy them ... and be happy" in your work. This is another gift he hopes you will accept!
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