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8If you see in a province the oppression of the poor and the violation of justice and righteousness, do not be amazed at the matter, for the high official is watched by a higher, and there are yet higher ones over them. 9But this is gain for a land in every way: a king committed to cultivated fields.
10He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity. 11When goods increase, they increase who eat them, and what advantage has their owner but to see them with his eyes? 12Sweet is the sleep of a laborer, whether he eats little or much, but the full stomach of the rich will not let him sleep.
13There is a grievous evil that I have seen under the sun: riches were kept by their owner to his hurt, 14and those riches were lost in a bad venture. And he is father of a son, but he has nothing in his hand. 15As he came from his mother’s womb he shall go again, naked as he came, and shall take nothing for his toil that he may carry away in his hand. 16This also is a grievous evil: just as he came, so shall he go, and what gain is there to him who toils for the wind?
17Moreover, all his days he eats in darkness in much vexation and sickness and anger.
18Behold, what I have seen to be good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life that God has given him, for this is his lot. 19Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil—this is the gift of God. 20For he will not much remember the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with joy in his heart.
The bottom line of this passage recommends joy. People cannot earn their happiness through work, not even good works. God has to give it, and he can take it away. Like Job, who found that all his good deeds could not save him from the dunghill, Qoheleth realizes that there is no guarantee for anything in life. One must simply have faith that God, who gives songs in the night, will make happiness possible. He will give joy even in circumstances that we would not consider a blessing from God. Happiness and joy not contingent on whether or not things come our way? This would be a joy that finds its center not only outside of ourselves, but also outside of this world. It would have to be a joy centered in God, one that comes with the hope and awareness that this treasure cannot be stolen from us, it won't get lost in a bad venture, and even death cannot touch it. The apostle spoke of it: "The kingdom of God is not food and drink, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit" (Rom. 14:17).
Lasting joy rests in God, and it is informed by the affirmation that I have Christ. Nothing else truly matters, nothing compares. Yes, we have heard this before, and maybe this is why it can sound like a platitude. But we will all one day put away our fork, and then it will be seen whether we found joy only in the things of this world or in God. If the former is true, death is the end of all ambitions and hope. If the latter is true, death is the gateway to the fullness of joy, because we go to the Father.
Once again, this joy is a gift and must be received as such from him who has given us the "right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God" (John 1:12). Unlike temporary blessings, the gift of eternal life will not be given apart from the ability to enjoy it. The joy is part and parcel of the gift of life because in it God does not simply give us good things. He imparts himself to us in Jesus Christ. "The Father will come to you and make his dwelling with you."
Joy of salvation is a gift, but we must also seek it. If we do, we will surely find it. "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" (Matt. 7:7-11).
The author of these devotionals, the Rev. Martin Emmrich, is an ordained OPC minister (Westminster OPC, Corvallis, Oregon) as well as the author of Pneumatological Concepts in the Epistle to the Hebrews, a book on the teaching of Hebrews on the Holy Spirit. We are happy to make these devotionals on Ecclesiastes and other passages of Scripture available to you.
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