DO WHATEVER - Ecclesiastes is sometimes viewed as depressing - the author bemoans the futility of work because in the end we leave what we’ve worked for to someone else who hasn’t worked for it. The focus is on finding satisfaction in the work itself, not in the results or the benefits gained from it. But the culmination of this passage brings us back to God - without God as our center, life’s pleasures and sorrows lead only to disillusionment - In addition, we don’t know how the inheritor will use it — wisely or foolishly. It’s fascinating to read the author’s conclusion after his realization of the futility of working. He says to eat and drink and find satisfaction in our own toil. In a recent film, a self-proclaimed “genius” rants to the camera about the world’s “horror, corruption, ignorance, and poverty,” declaring life to be godless and absurd. While such thinking isn’t unusual in many modern film scripts, what’s interesting is where it leads. In the end, the lead character turns to the audience and implores us to do whatever it takes to find a little happiness. For him, this includes leaving traditional morality behind. But will “do whatever” work? Facing his own despair at life’s horrors, the Old Testament writer of Ecclesiastes gave it a try long ago, searching for happiness through pleasure, grand work projects, riches and philosophical inquiry. And his assessment? “All of it is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.”

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Do Whatever

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Ecclesiastes is sometimes viewed as depressing - the author bemoans the futility of work because in the end we leave what we’ve worked for to someone else who hasn’t worked for it. The focus is on finding satisfaction in the work itself, not in the results or the benefits gained from it. But the culmination of this passage brings us back to God - without God as our center, life’s pleasures and sorrows lead only to disillusionment

By Sheridan Voysey

Ecclesiastes 2:17–25 is a good example of why the book of Ecclesiastes is sometimes viewed as depressing.

The author bemoans the futility of work because in the end we leave what we’ve worked for to someone else who hasn’t worked for it.

In addition, we don’t know how the inheritor will use it — wisely or foolishly.

It’s fascinating to read the author’s conclusion after his realization of the futility of working.

He says to eat and drink and find satisfaction in our own toil (verse 24).

The focus is on finding satisfaction in the work itself, not in the results or the benefits gained from it.

But the culmination of this passage brings us back to God. Without Him, there can be no enjoyment in anything (verse 25).

In a recent film, a self-proclaimed “genius” rants to the camera about the world’s “horror, corruption, ignorance, and poverty,” declaring life to be godless and absurd.

While such thinking isn’t unusual in many modern film scripts, what’s interesting is where it leads.

In the end, the lead character turns to the audience and implores us to do whatever it takes to find a little happiness.

For him, this includes leaving traditional morality behind.

But will “do whatever” work?

Facing his own despair at life’s horrors, the Old Testament writer of Ecclesiastes gave it a try long ago, searching for happiness through

- pleasure (Ecclesiastes 2:1, 10),

- grand work projects (verses 4–6),

- riches (verses 7–9), and

- philosophical inquiry (verses 12–16).

And his assessment?

“All of it is meaningless, a chasing after the wind” (verse 17).

None of these things is immune to death, disaster, or injustice (Ecclesiastes 5:13–17).

Only one thing brings the writer of Ecclesiastes back from despair.

Despite life’s trials, we can find fulfillment when God is part of our living and working: “for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?” (Ecclesiastes 2:25).

Life will at times feel meaningless, but “remember your Creator” (Ecclesiastes 12:1).

Don’t exhaust yourself trying to figure life out, but “fear God and keep his commandments” (Ecclesiastes 12:13).

Without God as our center, life’s pleasures and sorrows lead only to disillusionment.

Reflect & Pray

How much do you seek happiness through things that won’t last?

Since the writer of Ecclesiastes didn’t know the hope of resurrection, how would you consider his search in light of Romans 8:11, 18–25?

God, today I place You anew at the center of my living, working, joys, and disappointments, for without You nothing will satisfy or make sense.

Sheridan Voysey is a writer, speaker and broadcaster based in Oxford, United Kingdom. He is the author of seven books, including The Making of Us: Who We Can Become When Life Doesn’t Go as Planned, Resurrection Year: Turning Broken Dreams into New Beginnings, and the Discovery House titles Resilient: Your Invitation to a Jesus-Shaped Life and the award-winning Unseen Footprints. Sheridan is a presenter of Pause for Thought on BBC Radio 2’s Breakfast Show (heard by 10 million people daily), is a regular guest on other broadcast networks across the United States, United Kingdom, Australia and beyond, and speaks at conferences and events around the world. Sheridan blogs and podcasts at sheridanvoysey.com, and invites you to find him on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

https://new.odb.org/devotionals/do-whatever/

Ecclesiastes 2:17-25 English Standard Version

¹⁷ So I hated life, because what is done under the sun was grievous to me, for all is vanity and a striving after wind.

The Vanity of Toil

¹⁸ I hated all my toil in which I toil under the sun, seeing that I must leave it to the man who will come after me, ¹⁹ and who knows whether he will be wise or a fool? Yet he will be master of all for which I toiled and used my wisdom under the sun. This also is vanity. ²⁰ So I turned about and gave my heart up to despair over all the toil of my labors under the sun, ²¹ because sometimes a person who has toiled with wisdom and knowledge and skill must leave everything to be enjoyed by someone who did not toil for it. This also is vanity and a great evil. ²² What has a man from all the toil and striving of heart with which he toils beneath the sun? ²³ For all his days are full of sorrow, and his work is a vexation. Even in the night his heart does not rest. This also is vanity.

²⁴ There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment ^[a] in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God, ²⁵ for apart from him ^[b] who can eat or who can have enjoyment?

Footnotes

a. Ecclesiastes 2:24 Or and make his soul see good

b. Ecclesiastes 2:25 Some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Syriac; most Hebrew manuscripts apart from me

Romans 8:11 English Standard Version

¹¹ If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus^[a] from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

Footnotes

a. Romans 8:11 Some manuscripts lack Jesus

Romans 8:18-25 English Standard Version

Future Glory

¹⁸ For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. ¹⁹ For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. ²⁰ For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope ²¹ that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. ²² For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. ²³ And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. ²⁴ For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? ²⁵ But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.