Ecclesiastes 3:22 “So I saw that there is nothing better for a person than to enjoy their work, because that is their lot. For who can bring them to see what will happen after them?”

Principle: Work is significant to a man but life after work needs to be considered.

The worldview of work agrees that work is significant. It is high on our to-do list. For one thing, we spend about 100,000 to 140,000 hours of our life at work. That’s a third of our adult waking hours. Everyone seems convinced that work gives meaning, purpose, and happiness to life. God agrees that work is important. He has a lot to say about it in the Bible. However, He points out the fact that true meaning, purpose and happiness has more to do with how you work than what you accomplish. What you accomplish is temporary. As the old saying goes – you can’t take it with you,

Several years ago, I went to a funeral of a man who spent his life in the tractor business. He had arrived near the top at his company, but his career was cut short by cancer. The president of the company, in memorial service comments, mentioned how Ron had enjoyed increasing market share for the company and had several other accomplishments in his hard driving career. It was true. Then the president stated a false assumption based on his own life perspective. He said, “The only thing that Ron regretted was that he could not have spent more time at work…” Knowing Ron, and seeing his family there, I doubted that.

We all agree there must be good feelings arriving at the top of a career. It takes energy, skill, and perseverance. Accomplishments are good and the benefits are usually enjoyable. I have heard that the view “from the top” is pleasing and, for at least a brief time, worth the effort.

Discussion:

 1. Are your present accomplishments worth the price you are paying? Have you counted the cost?

2. An eternal God reminds us that everything on earth is temporary except His Word and people. So study the Bible and pay attention to the “right” people. As Solomon suggests, they will bring you to see what happens after.