- As he came from his mother’s womb he shall go again, naked as he came, and shall take nothing for his toil that he may carry away in his hand. This also is a grievous evil: just as he came, so shall he go, and what gain is there to him who toils for the wind? -
At first, we may think this verse refers to the son referenced in our previous post. He has come into the world with nothing and now the misdeeds of his father have set him up to receive nothing.
That interpretation works up to a point. At the end of 16, we can clearly see the person we are discussing is the father.
Why? Because he toils. The previous verses have been all about his failures when it came to obsessing over his work.
Yes, his son will not have an inheritance, but that is another loss for the father. He can provide no future for his children since all his profit is lost in a bad venture.
What is this verse discussing? It’s talking about a curse; one brought on by working for gain exclusively – greedy labor.
What is the curse? You came naked and you’ll leave naked. Your headed to streets of gold with empty pockets and hands, if you believe.
Solomon says this curse is a grievous evil. We’ve heard this language before when referring to the same man who kept riches to his own hurt.
Strange. In Solomon’s far-reaching search for meaning the two grievous evils he has found are keeping riches to an owner’s hurt and leaving this world with no possessions.
First world problems, am I right?
Listen, this is the time to really think. When you believe you can casually dismiss the Bible, it’s a call to put your historical era and prejudices aside.
What is the best thing we have to hope for? That’s right: enjoying our labor, feasting, and drinking.
A man who toils for gain gets all of these. He gets his food, and it makes him sick. He gets his labor, but all the gain is lost.
What’s the thought here? He is so close to having the best parts of life, yet it’s his own actions that remove their enjoyment from him.
Now, one part of this curse should be standing out to us. Isn’t this the experience of every man who dies?
No matter how many toys you get, none of them come with you. You can’t stuff them in your coffin.
I remember learning in my anthropology class in college how many cultures would kill servants and virgins to go with their kings into the afterlife.
The desire to take it with you is an ancient one that has born much sin and cruelty, even when it doesn’t make people greedy and spiteful.
So, did Solomon forget? Should we think that he has forgotten that everyone leaves their possessions behind?
Perhaps they don’t leave with nothing.
Perhaps they leave with a heart full of praise for a King who gave them a life that managed to have purpose despite its suffering.
Perhaps they leave with the true joy and peace that come from making the world closer to the kingdom of heaven.
Perhaps their happy to have the travail of finances left behind.
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