The book of Ecclesiastes is wisdom literature. Many commentaries simply regard it being about 'enjoying earthly pleasures', by which they mean, enjoying it in the Epicurean sense, rather than in the proper Biblical sense. Implicit in such commentaries and popular thought in the Church today on what Ecclesiastes means is a human-centred view of pleasure.
It is implicitly assumed that such gifts are for humanity to glorify itself, rather than God being enjoyed for what they in and of themselves, rather than being for the purpose of glorifying God, toiling for God. Ecclesiastes therefore is a commentary on the perversion of God-given gifts such as work, by which humanity turns them into things to find contentment in apart from God, without even giving Him thanks.
So, hence Solomon's narrative in Chapters 1 and 2 about the vanities of his pursuits of such things:
So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me.
And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour.
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 2:9-11).
It is not that he did not find joy in his labour. He clearly did as Ecclesiastes 2:10 says: "for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour." Work is indeed something from people can derive joy. However, such joy in the work itself, as opposed to being derived from God is not only a short-lived joy, but a false one.
Joy is indeed a paradox which even many mature Christians do not understand, particularly those from cultures which are so entrenched with the idea of having a comfortable life. God does indeed gifts to humanity to enjoy. However, such gifts are not to be enjoyed for one's own consumption. They can only be enjoyed, that is, to find true joy, by being used to serve God with sincere thankfulness of heart in being given what He has given. Therefore, it is only those who are truly serving God and loving God who can find true contentment which does not die, even with old age.
The purpose of such gifts is for God to either bless or curse people. By such gifts, God favours those who are good in His sight, and curses the sinner:
For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit (Ecclesiastes 2:26).
Thus, for the righteous, His gifts are good to them. For the wicked, His gifts are a curse to them, for by such gifts He curses them with vanity and vexation of spirit. Such gifts become vanity, counting for nothing, as it is not done to serve God, thereby increasing one's spiritual riches. However, since man was created to enjoy work to serve God, but sins against God in enjoy work for oneself, such a vexation of spirit comes because one's desire for joy cannot be satisfied by work, but yet the only way in which it can be satisfied owing to how God created man. One is cursed with not being able to find contentment, and work becomes a heavy burden, rather than joy.
God's bestowing of gifts is to teach people to be content. It is not those with all material things which are the most content, but those who in having such gifts, serve God with such gifts. God's purpose of giving gifts is not for one's own enjoyment, but for His own enjoyment.
To say it is for one's own enjoyment is to soften the doctrine of God' sovereignty, that all works are to be done for Him and Him alone:
What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth?
I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.
He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.
I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life.
And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.
I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.
That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.
And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there.
I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.
(Ecclesiastes 3:9-17).
Whenever the gifts of God are sought to be enjoyed for oneself, as opposed to be used to serve God, those gifts become vanity in themselves. It is not the God was wrong in making those gifts, but rather that they count for nothing to the person to whom it is bestowed.
All gifts that God gives are to be exercised for worshiping God. As long as such gifts, whether it be food or labour, are used to oneself for one's own enjoyment and self-contentment even to the slightest, that itself is the failure to worship God, and therefore idolatry.
Idolatry is not simply the elevation of anything else above God, although that is true. However, is only one truth. Idolatry is the failure to worship God. Failure to totally give up one's own self and to dedicate all that one has been given by God for His glory is itself the failure to worship Him.
To enjoy His gifts for oneself is itself to elevate gift about Giver, which is an abomination in and of itself. Any enjoyment of His gifts must be a manifestation of a fear of God, or else such gifts would be vanity in themselves.
There is utter lack of the fear of God in the modern Church. God is spoken of the modern Church as one who owes not so much the world anything, but rather, His people something. God does not owe anyone, including His people anything. Yet, it is simply assumed that He is obliged to give His children what they want or need, because of their worship of Him.
True worship of God fears God for who He is. It worships God no matter what the cost or reward. It regards God as worthy of being worship, and to be worshiped, even if it still meant that one is headed for Hell as a reward for serving God. To think that God is to be worshiped because of the blessings He gives oneself or rewards is the height of arrogance and pride, in seeking to serve God, only because of what one thinks one will gain in return.
The Bible repeatedly tells us to seek the Lord (2 Chronicles 14:4; Isaiah 55:6-7; Amos 5:4-6; Zephaniah 2:3; Matthew 6:33; Luke 12:31) not seek the blessings of the Lord.
Whenever the Bible does command people to seek gifts, it says that it is to be sought for the good of others. The example of this can be found in 1 Corinthians 14:1-4:
Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.
For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.
But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.
He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.
Any gift God gives is given to the recipient to give in return for the good of others, not for oneself. Such radical giving is part of the self-denial required as part of the true life in Christ:
Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me (Matthew 16:24).
This is because it is no longer one who lives, but Christ who lives:
For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
(Galatians 2:19-21).
It is implicitly assumed that such gifts are for humanity to glorify itself, rather than God being enjoyed for what they in and of themselves, rather than being for the purpose of glorifying God, toiling for God. Ecclesiastes therefore is a commentary on the perversion of God-given gifts such as work, by which humanity turns them into things to find contentment in apart from God, without even giving Him thanks.
So, hence Solomon's narrative in Chapters 1 and 2 about the vanities of his pursuits of such things:
So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me.
And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour.
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 2:9-11).
It is not that he did not find joy in his labour. He clearly did as Ecclesiastes 2:10 says: "for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour." Work is indeed something from people can derive joy. However, such joy in the work itself, as opposed to being derived from God is not only a short-lived joy, but a false one.
Joy is indeed a paradox which even many mature Christians do not understand, particularly those from cultures which are so entrenched with the idea of having a comfortable life. God does indeed gifts to humanity to enjoy. However, such gifts are not to be enjoyed for one's own consumption. They can only be enjoyed, that is, to find true joy, by being used to serve God with sincere thankfulness of heart in being given what He has given. Therefore, it is only those who are truly serving God and loving God who can find true contentment which does not die, even with old age.
The purpose of such gifts is for God to either bless or curse people. By such gifts, God favours those who are good in His sight, and curses the sinner:
For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit (Ecclesiastes 2:26).
Thus, for the righteous, His gifts are good to them. For the wicked, His gifts are a curse to them, for by such gifts He curses them with vanity and vexation of spirit. Such gifts become vanity, counting for nothing, as it is not done to serve God, thereby increasing one's spiritual riches. However, since man was created to enjoy work to serve God, but sins against God in enjoy work for oneself, such a vexation of spirit comes because one's desire for joy cannot be satisfied by work, but yet the only way in which it can be satisfied owing to how God created man. One is cursed with not being able to find contentment, and work becomes a heavy burden, rather than joy.
God's bestowing of gifts is to teach people to be content. It is not those with all material things which are the most content, but those who in having such gifts, serve God with such gifts. God's purpose of giving gifts is not for one's own enjoyment, but for His own enjoyment.
To say it is for one's own enjoyment is to soften the doctrine of God' sovereignty, that all works are to be done for Him and Him alone:
What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth?
I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.
He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.
I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life.
And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.
I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.
That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.
And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there.
I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.
(Ecclesiastes 3:9-17).
Whenever the gifts of God are sought to be enjoyed for oneself, as opposed to be used to serve God, those gifts become vanity in themselves. It is not the God was wrong in making those gifts, but rather that they count for nothing to the person to whom it is bestowed.
All gifts that God gives are to be exercised for worshiping God. As long as such gifts, whether it be food or labour, are used to oneself for one's own enjoyment and self-contentment even to the slightest, that itself is the failure to worship God, and therefore idolatry.
Idolatry is not simply the elevation of anything else above God, although that is true. However, is only one truth. Idolatry is the failure to worship God. Failure to totally give up one's own self and to dedicate all that one has been given by God for His glory is itself the failure to worship Him.
To enjoy His gifts for oneself is itself to elevate gift about Giver, which is an abomination in and of itself. Any enjoyment of His gifts must be a manifestation of a fear of God, or else such gifts would be vanity in themselves.
There is utter lack of the fear of God in the modern Church. God is spoken of the modern Church as one who owes not so much the world anything, but rather, His people something. God does not owe anyone, including His people anything. Yet, it is simply assumed that He is obliged to give His children what they want or need, because of their worship of Him.
True worship of God fears God for who He is. It worships God no matter what the cost or reward. It regards God as worthy of being worship, and to be worshiped, even if it still meant that one is headed for Hell as a reward for serving God. To think that God is to be worshiped because of the blessings He gives oneself or rewards is the height of arrogance and pride, in seeking to serve God, only because of what one thinks one will gain in return.
The Bible repeatedly tells us to seek the Lord (2 Chronicles 14:4; Isaiah 55:6-7; Amos 5:4-6; Zephaniah 2:3; Matthew 6:33; Luke 12:31) not seek the blessings of the Lord.
Whenever the Bible does command people to seek gifts, it says that it is to be sought for the good of others. The example of this can be found in 1 Corinthians 14:1-4:
Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.
For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.
But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.
He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.
Any gift God gives is given to the recipient to give in return for the good of others, not for oneself. Such radical giving is part of the self-denial required as part of the true life in Christ:
Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me (Matthew 16:24).
This is because it is no longer one who lives, but Christ who lives:
For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
(Galatians 2:19-21).
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