Nothing Better...Under the Sun (Ecclesiastes 2-3)

This week's Bible journal reading was from Ecclesiastes 1-6... and no, it wasn't meaningless! There is a time for that, just not now.

I have always said that Ecclesiastes shows us, King Solomon, as an ancient scientist writing in his "lab book" detailing the wearisome results of his experiments… trying to find out if there is meaning in life "under the sun" apart from a relationship with God. Here is a sampling of some of the verses that I read:

• 2:24-25 There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God, for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment?
• 3:12-13 I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God's gift to man.
• 3:22 So I saw that there is nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his work, for that is his lot. Who can bring him to see what will be after him?
• 8:15 And I commend joy, for man has nothing better under the sun but to eat and drink and be joyful, for this will go with him in his toil through the days of his life that God has given him under the sun.

As you can see in the verses above, as I read the first six chapters of Ecclesiastes, I noticed the repeated phrase, “there is nothing better.” On closer examination, I was surprised to see that all were basically the same idea (with some poetic variation). Nothing is better than for a person…

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• To "eat, drink, and find enjoyment in their toil.” This enjoyment is “from God.” (2:24)
• “To be joyful and do good as long as they live” in parallel with “eat drink, and take pleasure in your toil.” (3:12)
• “That a man should rejoice in your work.” Our work is the place that has been allotted to us. (3:22)
• “To eat, drink, and be joyful” (8:15)

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How often are we satisfied, and content, with only our food and drink and the work we do? Solomon makes it clear that our response should be more than mere satisfaction, but a lifelong joy! I think about how our consumeristic society has convinced us that more gear equals greater happiness. Solomon robustly tested that theory and busted that myth. In fact, Ecclesiastes is like binge-watching some philosophical or world-view version of the popular TV show MythBusters. As we know, Solomon was resourced like no other person in history with the intellectual, financial, political, and spiritual means to seek for meaning apart from God, and in the end, he busted that myth as well (Ecc. 12:13).  

This idea echoes loudly in the New Testament. Is this wisdom from Solomon so different from John the Baptist’s answer to the soldiers’ questions about repentance,

“Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages” (Luke 3:14)?

Or the conclusion of St. Paul in his letter to the Philippians?

“I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.  I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” (Phil. 4:11-14)

Consider also his surprising testimony to the Corinthians,

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Cor. 12:9-10)

The Tomb is Empty!

Moreover, the testimony of the early church was that they understood the wisdom of Solomon but without the fatalistic conclusions, he reached. What was different? They were witnesses of the resurrection of Jesus Christ! They knew that death “under the sun” was not the end and that in Christ there was no emptiness and no endless cycle of life and death. In Christ, there was a source of eternal life! They had been transformed by the love of Christ and lived with joy and gratitude even in the face of terrible oppression. As a result, not only were they glad for their provisions they shared what they had generously with each other!

And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. (Acts 2:45-47)

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” (John 6:35)

It should also come as no surprise that it doesn’t take the wealth of Solomon to buy that

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which satisfies us—Jesus paid the price for all that (1 Peter 1:18-19), and the Bible ends with an invitation from the Holy Spirit and the Church to share in this water of life,

The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price. (Rev. 22:17)

This fitting ending echoes and fulfills the prophetic poem in Isaiah 55:1-3,

“Come, everyone who thirsts,

    come to the waters;

and he who has no money,

    come, buy and eat!

Come, buy wine and milk

    without money and without price.

Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,

    and your labor for that which does not satisfy?

Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good,

    and delight yourselves in rich food.

Incline your ear, and come to me;

    hear, that your soul may live…

Good words from Solomon’s “laboratory” for those of us engaged in Christian ministry! The more we are grateful for what we have been given (both the simple and the profound) the more insulated we will be against the embers of burnout that wants to send us up in smoke and the more inoculated we will be against the trauma of chronic disappointment that would weigh us down till we no longer participate in the restorative mission of God.

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:4-7)

A note about this blog: The Cupbearer's Initiative arose out of a Doctor of Ministry thesis project that outlined a theologically affective and Trinitarian approach to ministry. One such application was to participate in the spreading goodness of God by partnering with and encouraging pastors (and others engaged in Christian mission) through the struggles and the joys of their lifework. 

Hopefully, these articles and devotional posts are helpful to you.