Considering Travail and Right Works - Ecclesiastes 4:4

In the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon said, “I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive. Yes, better is he than both they, which has not yet been, who has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun”, and in chapter four and verse four of his book Solomon said, “I considered all travail, and every right work”, where we read,

Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbor. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.

The verse reads, “Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbor.” Solomon began with the words, “again, I considered all travail” or “another time, I, Solomon, looked at, inspected and observed each, every and the whole toil, trouble and labor”, “and every right work” which means “and each, all and the whole successful, profitable and skilled deed, act and thing done”, “that for this” or “that on behalf of this, the right work” “a man is envied” which means “a person whether male or female exists as filled with desire and jealousy” “of his neighbor” or “by his, the man who does right work’s, friend, companion or fellow-citizen”. Solomon shared how he observed every toil and profitable labor which causes a person to be motivated by jealousy over their fellow-citizen.  

The verse goes on to say, “This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.” Daniel continued with the words, “this is also vanity” or “this, envy and jealousy over a successful fellow-citizen, exists even so and indeed as vapor, breath and transitory dissatisfaction” “and vexation” which means “and longing, striving and grasping” “of spirit” or “pertaining to the wind or breath of air”. Solomon concluded that being motivated by “envy and jealousy” over a “neighbor’s, success exists as transitory dissatisfaction and grasping for the wind. 

When we think through the words in this verse, we learn how Solomon observed the toil and trouble people experience in labor and the profitable deeds they perform, and he noted how jealousy motivates their fellow-citizens to work as well. He concluded this was not satisfying and grasping for the wind or soap bubbles. God wants to give us a responsibility in His Kingdom that will not only be fulfilling in this life, but also in Heaven to come. We obtain this work when we yield to His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind and was raised from the dead after three days. As we put our faith and trust in Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and give us His Holy Spirit who will guide us into all truth and equip us for the “work” God has for us in His Kingdom which is pleasing to Him.

Next time Solomon says, “the fool folds his hands together”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".