"Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might;
for there is no activity or planning or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol where you are going."
Ecclesiastes 9:10
Introduction:
Samuel Johnson, the famed poet, once wrote a poem that many can still relate to today.
Mr. Meant-to has a comrade
And his name is Didn’t do,
Have you ever chanced to meet them?
Did they ever call on you?
These two fellows live together
In the house of Never-win
And I’m told that it is haunted
By the ghost of might-have-been.1
Mr. Meant-to, Didn’t do, Never-win, and might-have-been are all characters that we are familiar with in our daily lives. In this verse, Solomon challenges us that in spite of these losers, God has given every man a work to do—and the time to do it is now! This is not only a challenge, but it is also a warning not to leave the duties of our calling undone.
Whether you believe this is or not won’t change the reality that this is a world of probation and preparation for eternity. We are here on business! And what is our business?
Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might; for there is no activity or planning or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol where you are going.
The single subject that Solomon highlights is that of work. What is your view of work? Not a particular kind of job or occupation, but work in general. Tell me what you believe about work, and I can tell you what kind of person you are. Whatever your understanding of work may be, make sure that it includes this: work was ordained before the Fall, and because this is true, it is a necessity of well-being for both our mental and physical state.
As Solomon writes these closing chapters, his theme could very well be, "Been there, done that…now what?" Without stuttering, he explains the "now what?" He has been the ultimate party animal. He has studied every science. He has attempted every endeavor that is supposed to bring a man satisfaction in life and has come up empty. What is his advice as a fellow traveler on the journey of life?
Solomon’s first word of advice is this: although God is sovereign and life is uncertain, there is one thing that you can count on: death is sure.
Ecclesiastes 9:1-3—"For I have taken all this to my heart and explain it that righteous men, wise men, and their deeds are in the hand of God. Man does not know whether it will be love or hatred: anything awaits him. It is the same for all. There is one fate for the righteous and for the wicked; for the good, for the clean and for the unclean; for the man who offers a sacrifice and for the one who does not sacrifice. As the good man is, so is the sinner; as the swearer is, so is the one who is afraid to swear. This is an evil in all that is done under the sun, that there is one fate for all men. Furthermore, the hearts of the sons of men are full of evil and insanity is in their hearts throughout their lives. Afterwards they go to the dead."
In light of all the technology that we have today, from iPhones to iPods, no one has been able to come up with an instrument to accurately and consistently predict the future. Life is a mystery from one moment to the next.
You may be reading this now, but you might be daydreaming in two minutes. You may be happy now, but you could be miserable an hour from now. You may be free from distractions at this moment, but a minute from now you could be under fiery and hidden temptation. Life is uncertain from one moment to the next, Solomon says, but death is certain.
Death is like an elephant in the living room; we can decorate around it, but it’s impossible to ignore. The book of Hebrews says that everyone has an appointment with death which cannot be cancelled (Heb.9:27). This is true regardless of one’s moral condition or religious background. In the first three verses, Solomon contrasts five pairs of people to show that regardless of your moral state or religious proclivities, one thing is sure: death will get you. He mentions the righteous/unrighteous, the clean/unclean, the sacrificer/non-sacrificer, the good/sinner and the swearer/non-swearer. Regardless of who we are and where we’re from, death is sure and certain!
I remember when I was first confronted with the reality of death when I was twelve. One of my childhood acquaintances drowned at Elkire Park. Edwin was his first name, and we called him Eddie. His face is forever etched in my mind. We were not really close, but I knew him well enough to be touched by his passing. I don’t know how I heard about the funeral, or if I was even invited, but it was two blocks from my grandmother’s house on a Saturday. I went alone and slid into the back of the sanctuary, which was jam-packed.
Mona Akers, a young lady who attended a rival school, sang an old Negro spiritual that I will never forget as long as a live. Her voice was of the quality of a young Sandy Patti, but with down home earthy soul. As the swamp coolers buzzed, the piano slipped in with no accompanying instruments. No drums, no organ, just the sound of those ivory keys. As I leaned over to see who was singing, there stood little Mona, front and center, and the way she began the song grabbed me right away. She began by singing a question,
If you want to know... where I’m going... where I’m going…soon!
If anybody ask you... where I’m going... where I’m going…soon!
It was as if she had come right into the pew, and sat next to me, and spoke those words into my heart. I’m sure at that moment that everyone was wondering like I was: where do you go when you die? Where do the dead go? Where did Eddie go?
Then she hit a note that rang like a bell across the rafters in the little church. But it was not just the note I remember; it was the authority, the assurance, the affection that came from her soul. She sang,
Oh, I’m going up yonder... I’m going up yonder... I’m going up yonder…to be with My Lord!
I don’t remember much after that. I believe I left because I was shaken and scared. But the reality of death did not dawn on me again until my brother Paul’s death when I was 16.
Solomon’s reason for reminding us of this sure reality was not to move us into contemplating death. Rather, his aim was to teach us something that we are all prone to misconstrue: the outward circumstances of life are no criterion of God’s favor of disfavor. What the ancient king is seeking to tell us is: don’t be like Job’s friends who decided that a man is a great sinner because of the calamity that comes upon him. Yet, on the other hand, we are not to think that outward prosperity is some indicator of God’s favor or a righteous life.
The bottom line is that death is certain, but his point is actually made in the next three verses.
Verse 4—"For whoever is joined with all the living, there is hope; surely a live dog is better than a dead lion."
A dog in Palestine was not a pet or companion like we think of them today. Dogs were regarded as filthy, loathsome and despicable creatures who often carried around diseases (1 Sam.17:43; 2 Sam.3:8). On the other hand, lions were considered to be the noblest of beasts and the monarch of the forest. The lion is a type of power and greatness. But here Solomon says that the vilest and most despicable creature who possesses life is better than the highest and mightiest that has succumbed to death.
Why? Because the living have hope. Life may be miserable, difficult, or confusing for you right now, but if you are alive, you can entertain the hope that things might get better, clear up, or at least change. The lesson here is that pain and difficulty are inevitable in life, but misery is optional. As long as you are alive, you can have HOPE! But instead of thinking like Jesse Jackson who coined the phrase "keep hope alive," you can know that hope actually keeps you alive and tells you that you have life! So stop looking for life to be easy and start looking for things to thank God for and to hope in.
I just discovered that Orlando Hudson, the golden glove shortstop for the Arizona Diamondbacks, is from the state of South Carolina, which he calls the original "USC." While watching a profile about his upbringing and rise to Major League Baseball, I realized that he is a living testimony of the motto of the State of South Carolina. Their motto is, Dum Spiro Spero, which in English means, "While I breathe, I hope."
Now why is hope so important for us to get a hold of in cultivating a life of excellence? The reason is because behind all hope is motivation for living! Do you know what motivates you? Whatever it is, that’s where your hope lies.
Let us take a lesson from the most industrious creature in all the world, the bee. In the kingdom of bees, there are only three kinds: the queen; the drones, which are sort of like nobility who do nothing but hang around the queen and look busy; and the workers, who diligently work to make the queen happy by keeping the hive clean and making sure that it is supplied with sweet golden honey. But most people don’t know that the reason bees work so hard in the spring and summer is that when the winter comes, there are no flowers for them to get nectar from. Without this nectar, the bees could not produce a supply of honey to live on through the winter. In other words, the thing that drives the bee to be so industrious is hope—the hope of survival during the winter.
Are you struggling with motivation? Are you battling with direction? Life may be uncertain, but death is sure—and hope is important.
The second word of advice that Solomon gives us is this: as long as there is life, there is hope for meaning and for change.
Verses 5-6—"For the living know they will die; but the dead do not know anything, nor have they any longer a reward, for their memory is forgotten. Indeed their love, their hate and their zeal have already perished, and they will no longer have a share in all that is done under the sun."
When we die, our memory is eventually forgotten, regardless of what we have done. However, there is a great distinction between submitting to existence and choosing to live. Pay close attention to a principle that might change your life: life is not what is happening to us while we are waiting to die; true living is a choice. You must choose to live while you have life! This is the principle taught to us in Deuteronomy 30:19-20.
Jim Elliot once said, "Wherever you are, be all there. Live to the hilt every situation you believe to the will of God.2" Jim is simply echoing what Solomon taught long ago.
Review: What is Solomon’s advice as a fellow traveler on the journey of life?
- His first word of advice is although God is sovereign and life is uncertain, there is one thing that you can count on: death is sure.
- The second word of advice that Solomon gives us is this: as long as there is life, there is hope for meaning and for change.
Here is the third word of sage advice that Solomon gives us: if we are to cultivate a life of excellence, the primary relationships of life are to be celebrated, not taken for granted.
This is what he means in verses 7-10:
Verse 7—"Go then, eat your bread in happiness and drink your wine with a cheerful heart; for God has already approved your works."
Here Solomon directs us to enjoy the basic provisions of life. This is not a call to indulgence in eating and drinking, but in that day, bread and wine were regarded as the basic staples of life, basic provisions if you will. What Solomon says to us in essence is, it is okay to enjoy the temporal blessings of life—when you sit down over a meal with friends and family, look at the bright side of things. You may have it tough, but at least you have some bread and juice! Cultivate a life of excellence by enjoying the basic provisions of life; don’t take them for granted.
Then in verse 8 he tell us something else:
Let your clothes be white all the time, and let not oil be lacking on your head.
What does he mean by this? White clothes were symbols of joy and purity in the East. The singers in Solomon’s temple were arrayed in white linen (2 Chron.5:12). The angels are seen at the tomb of Jesus decked in white robes (Mark 16:5), and the glorified saints are clothed in heaven with white robes (Rev.3:4, 5, 18). White clothes are a sign of joy and purity. Oil in the Bible is frequently a symbol of the Holy Spirit or gladness.
The old ancient king is directing us to live clean lives empowered by the Holy Spirit so that we might enjoy the special occasions of life. Every day is to be a day of thanksgiving, and if we live in purity, then every day is like one of life’s special occasions that are to be celebrated.
So, Solomon tells us to enjoy the basic provisions of life and to enjoy the special occasions of life. Now he tells us something more in verse 9:
Enjoy life with the woman whom you love all the days of your fleeting life which He has given to you under the sun; for this is your reward in life and in your toil in which you have labored under the sun.
It is interesting that Solomon, who had a harem full of concubines, speaks of enjoying "the woman" you love. I believe deep in his heart he knew that God’s plan was one man, for one woman, for life. But his pursuit of lustful pleasure destroyed that one earthly relationship that could have been most satisfying to him. This is why he wrote in the prime of his life,
Proverbs 5:18-19—"Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth. As a loving hind and graceful doe, let her breasts satisfy you at all times; be exhilarated always with her love."
The primary relationships of life are to be celebrated and are to be a source of deep pleasure and satisfaction. Enjoy the basic provisions of life! Enjoy the special occasions of life and enjoy the special relationships of life.
In verse 10, he tells us to enjoy the special opportunities of life.
Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might; for there is no activity or planning or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol [the grave] where you are going.
Melanchthon, the assistant and fellow reformer of Martin Luther, once said, "Let others take riches—give me the work."3 This reformer desired a reflection of a deep-seated conviction and wonderful character trait known as excellence. He knew the value that is found in a hard day’s work.
What is the key to enjoying the work that you do? Paul tells us in Colossians 3:23-24:
Whatever you do, do you work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.
The key to finding joy in your work is to do every bit of it so that you can put a tag on it that says, "Inspected by God." If we work with this in view, and present our work to God as an offering, then we will find joy in every special opportunity in life.
What duties does Solomon have in mind? The duties that come under providence or that come in obedience to the Word of God. The duties of providence include those opportunities to glorify God that we encounter daily such as:
- Evangelism
- Discipleship
- Fellowship
- Encouragement
Under the providence and common grace of God, every one of us has been given certain opportunities and certain abilities to fulfill the calling that God has placed upon us. We must work while it is day, Jesus said, or while we have the opportunity (John 9:4, 12:35; Gal.6:10).
We must work while we have the strength in our hands, the wisdom in our heads, and the life in our bodies (Ecc.12:1ff). When death comes, there is no more room for improving and working, so if we are to be rewarded then, we must labor now.
- Here is a call to work vigorously (Titus 3:8, 14).
- Here is a call to work industriously (2 Thess.3:8).
- Here is a call to work instantly (Rom.12:11).
- Here is a call to work diligently (Phil.2:12; 2 Pet.1:10-11).
Application:
Do you enjoy your work? Do you enjoy your service to the Lord? What has impaired your ability to enjoy whatever you are doing? In the first century church, the Apostle Paul identified three joy stealers:
- The first joy stealer that can hinder you from cultivating a life of excellence is perfectionism. In the church of Galatia, this deadly joy thief is the belief that your actions dictate God’s acceptance (Gal.3:1-3).
- The second joy thief is legalism. Do you try to please God by following a list of do’s and don’ts? We are called to obey God out of a grateful heart of love. This does not mean it will be easy, but saying "yes" to Jesus means that He will place in your heart the desire to say "no" (Titus 2:12), to the things that do not please Him. As you obey God out of love, you are more and more inclined to say no to those things which enslave you (Gal.4:8-9).
- The third joy stealer is conformity. This is the mistake of striving to conform to someone else’s standard of righteousness, and not the truth (Gal.5:7).
When I first began to preach, I watched my pastor Richard Jackson like a hawk and sought to emulate everything he did. After awhile, I got discouraged because I did not have his ability for speaking and thinking. Then I got a hold of the puritans and Spurgeon and began to talk in old English and flowery tones. I thought if I could just know Jesus like these men and love Jesus like them, I would be used of God. But the joy thief of conformity robbed me and left me frustrated. Then I realized by God’s grace that loving Jesus more was not the answer, but realizing how much He loves me—for my love for Him will always be a responsive love (1 John 4:19). This is when the chains of perfectionism, legalism, and conformity fell off, and I began to enjoy my wife, my ministry, my friends, my work and my Lord!
Little did I know that what was said by Robert Murray M'Cheyne so long ago was still true, "It isn’t great talent that God blesses, as much as great likeness to Jesus."
Oswald Chambers said it best I think when he put it this way:
The surest sign that God has done a work of grace in my heart,
Is that I love Jesus Christ best; not weakly and faintly,
Not intellectually but passionately, personally and devotedly,
Overwhelming every other love of my life."4
1 William Bennett, Book of Virtues, p. 493
2 Ibid., p. 493
3 Charles Bridges, Ecclesiastes, p. 224
4 Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest, p. 129