- 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. -
These verses, yet again, should feel very similar. Why does Solomon continue to repeat himself in this chapter?
As I’ve mentioned before, this is not an insult or a lack of creativity on Solomon’s part; these are invitations to reconsider what he’s told us with the new arguments he’s presented.
With that in mind, go read the end of Chapter 2. We learn that there is nothing better for us on this earth than to eat, drink, and enjoy our work.
Remember our discussion about the ancient literary technique being used in that chapter? We are to read those verses as if a new debater has appeared on the scene.
Well, we have that same thought in verse thirteen. It’s almost word for word, actually.
The other new piece of information we’ve learned is the times God has given us in which to act out his will and desires.
These orchestrations are not to be ignored, and we are to bring our desires in concert with His own.
With all that in mind, let’s return to verse twelve.
We’ve heard this phrase (nothing better) before. We are now going to add to it.
Solomon adds both being joyful and doing good to our list. In verse thirteen, he actually seems to set these above the traits listed in 2:24.
What’s better than eating, drinking, and enjoying your work? Why it’s being joyful and doing good.
Strange, but don’t we already know that? Isn’t someone who is joyful bringing that spirit to every activity? Isn’t a good person one who doesn’t engage in gluttony?
The earlier verses focus on events while the latter focus on character.
Why is it better to focus on character rather than on events? Well, you’ll never know when the events are coming for starters.
You love the project you are working on? To bad. We need someone with your talents in our satellite office out of state.
You enjoy a good Holiday meal with family? Sorry to tell you, but your flight is cancelled.
Events are not guaranteed happiness. Are they good? Yes. Does God give us the power to enjoy them? Yes. Are they from Him? Absolutely.
But, you are not a being made to look only forward. You are made to be anxious for nothing, for tomorrow will worry about itself.
What is better is to be a man or woman who can stand in any time.
When it is time to weep, a joyful man can find peace in the sorrow whereas a man looking forward to feasting may twirl his thumbs or worse curse God.
When it is time to hate, a good man can find the dividing line whereas a man who loves his work may have never developed the morals to deal with the dilemma.
Solomon looks back to his debater and says, “You are right, but still, not good enough.”
The question now arresting us is this, how long can we hold onto this idea before Solomon, yet again, pulls the rug out underneath us.
Is this true?
That is our task as we continue throughout the book.