Bible Reading: Ecclesiastes 2:1-26
“Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun” – Ecclesiastes 2:11(KJV)
There are so many professions and vocations in life. Some are into white collar job while some are into blue collar job. Many spend years to acquire a particular skill. Some even travel abroad to have additional skill with the belief that an internationally acquired skill will attract more patronage that would provide them with better pay. We know that the reason we toil in life is to have gain which would in turn enable us live a comfortable life.
God did work and He expects us also to work if we are going to access all that He has in store for us. Solomon was a great king in Israel and from this sage came all that we needed to run our lives as we have it delivered to us by God. The man Solomon decided to give his life to pleasure, but soon came to the realization of the futility in it. He therefore lamented saying, “I said in my heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold this also is vanity” – Ecclesiastes2:1(KJV).
Solomon gave us the brief catalogue of the works he did, namely: he built great houses and vineyards (verse 4). He made gardens and orchards, he planted trees of all kinds of fruits (verse 5). He constructed pools of water (verse 6). He had chains of maids and servants born in his house and had great and small cattle above all that were in Jerusalem (Verse 7). He gathered silver, gold and peculiar treasure from kings from different provinces (verse 8). He had singers and women singers. He had everything with him. He confessed that he was great and increased more than all that were in Jerusalem (verse 9). As this man ruminated over his life “…for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour” – Eccl. 2:10(KJV), it suddenly dawned on him of the futility and emptiness of his labour and life and he posited: “then I looked on all the works that my hand had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun” – Ecclesiastes 2:11(KJV).
From the scripture it is clear that we are to labour with the mind set of impacting our generation positively and never to use the proceeds for self-aggrandisement. Whatever treasure you rake in through your labour, transfer it to your account in heaven. Jesus said that we should lay up our treasure in heaven, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal” – Matthew 6:19-20(KJV). You need to re-evaluate the reason why you labour. Is it for pleasure, for personal profit only or for the purpose of making a lasting impact that would make heaven glad?
Prayer: Father, I receive from you grace for me to always remember the reason for my labour here on earth in Jesus name.
Rev. Julius Oluwole