Life in Unfair
Ecclesiastes 8:14-9:10
Wisdom, at times, comes in seeing what is obvious.
Photo by Sid Suratia on Unsplash
There is a vanity that takes place on earth, that there are righteous people who are treated according to the conduct of the wicked, and there are wicked people who are treated according to the conduct of the righteous. I said that this also is vanity. So I commend enjoyment, for there is nothing better for people under the sun than to eat, and drink, and enjoy themselves, for this will go with them in their toil through the days of life that God gives them under the sun. When I applied my mind to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done on earth, how one’s eyes see sleep neither day nor night, then I saw all the work of God, that no one can find out what is happening under the sun. However much they may toil in seeking, they will not find it out; even though those who are wise claim to know, they cannot find it out. All this I laid to heart, examining it all, how the righteous and the wise and their deeds are in the hand of God; whether it is love or hate one does not know. Everything that confronts them is vanity, since the same fate comes to all, to the righteous and the wicked, to the good and the evil, to the clean and the unclean, to those who sacrifice and those who do not sacrifice. As are the good, so are the sinners; those who swear are like those who shun an oath. This is an evil in all that happens under the sun, that the same fate comes to everyone. Moreover, the hearts of all are full of evil; madness is in their hearts while they live, and after that they go to the dead. But whoever is joined with all the living has hope, for a living dog is better than a dead lion. The living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing; they have no more reward, and even the memory of them is lost. Their love and their hate and their envy have already perished; never again will they have any share in all that happens under the sun. Go, eat your bread with enjoyment, and drink your wine with a merry heart; for God has long ago approved what you do. Let your garments always be white; do not let oil be lacking on your head. Enjoy life with the wife whom you love, all the days of your vain life that are given you under the sun, because that is your portion in life and in your toil at which you toil under the sun. Whatever your hand finds to do, do with your might; for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going. - Ecclesiastes 8:14-9:10
Whether you are good or evil, you will eventually die.
Obvious, right?
Whether you believe in God or not, you will die.
Also obvious.
We cannot change the outcome, but we can change the conditions on which we choose to live. We can accept that this life is unfair, or we can fight the obvious our whole lives, only to find out how futile that was.
Whatever it is that we are good at, we should do it earnestly. Put everything you have into what you do, and make it the best effort you can, for that is your lot in life.
In my travels this year, I got to see how a lot of people in different countries live.
I could not imagine living the way some lived, because I have what I would consider a better life.
Everywhere I went, there were some who worked hard to achieve whatever they could, while others had given up.
These are the two attitudes about life that today’s reading reminds us exist.
We may find it upsetting that people accept their lot in life and toil day and night to achieve so little, but what is the alternative?
Some believe there should be help in the form of payment, a salary funded by those who can afford to help others.
That sounds kind and generous, but would it help?
Would a base level of income solve anything, or would it just raise the level of want?
When I received my first paycheck as a teenager, I remember going to the Farmer’s Market with my dad and picking out a print for my wall. I had it framed and put it over my bed.
Was that a practical purchase?
I could have purchased anything else or saved that money, but I wanted a reminder of my achievement. I earned it with my own effort.
I made that purchase believing that I would make more money and be able to buy more things.
It represented confidence and hope, all rolled up into something I hung on my wall.
Was it a wise purchase?
That is a matter of opinion. But I didn’t need to pay for a place to live, or for meals on my table. I did have to buy gas and keep my car running so I could get to work.
Today’s reading sounds depressing because the author is saying this is our lot in life and we should accept it, but look more closely.
It is a matter of focus. It is how we view the world and our place in it.
We can devote ourselves fully to doing what we have the talent to do, in order to make it through this life, or we can give up.
Yet, there is something more. We can enjoy what we have.
That’s the key here. One can be poor and happy, or one can be wealthy and miserable.
Most of us are somewhere in between.
The choice is how we deal with our lot in life. We can strive to achieve greater heights. Whether we accomplish that or not, we can choose to be thankful for what we have.
We decide to be miserable or happy. Our attitude doesn’t come from how much we have, but how we value who and what we are.
In God’s eyes, we are special.
At some point in our lives, we will see that God was right all along.
More to come...