Chapter 2

It is a truly pathetic and sorrowful life that is not working for something to measure its success: fame, fortune, family, ministry . . . a legacy based upon one’s achievements. The desire to achieve causes us to push ourselves and each other into a different lifestyle - sometimes better, sometimes worse - determined by what we choose to pursue in our lives.

The most obvious choice is fame and fortune. Most people dream of becoming a famous actor or owning a prosperous business. They want it all: money, power and recognition. However, the most obvious answer is not always the best one. The Bible tells us:

Be thou not afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased; for when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him. Though while he lived he blessed his soul: and men will praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself. He shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see light.^{^[1]}

Our financial success is not eternal success unless we use it to further the spread of the gospel of Christ. Therefore, if we prosper financially, it is not a sin - unless we put that financial success before our spiritual success. To translate, if money is more important than accomplishing God’s will in our lives, we have missed true success and achievement.

The Bible is clear about what is important to God. He does want us to prosper; but He wants us to “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and He will give us the desires of our heart.” In the Book of Ecclesiastes, the Preacher (Solomon) addresses the outcome of temporal, earthly success. He writes:

Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity. What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun? One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever. The sun also riseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose. The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to his circuits. All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again. All things are full of labour; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing. The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us. There is no remembrance of former things; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those that shall come after. ^{^[2]}

We know that Solomon was the wisest and wealthiest man on the earth during his time. His wisdom was God-derived, not man-centered. If we read Ecclesiastes we can discover the true wisdom of God concerning pleasure, success, achievements and financial prosperity. Let’s examine Chapter 2:

I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity. I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it? I sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting mine heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was that good for the sons of men, which they should do under the heaven all the days of their life.^{^[3]}

Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me. And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun. This is also vanity. Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour which I took under the sun. For there is a man whose labour is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity; yet to a man that hath not laboured therein shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil. For what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the sun? For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity. There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God. For who can eat, or who else can hasten hereunto, more than I? For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.^{^[4]}

The Preacher acknowledged that the pleasure and privileges of wealth are enjoyable but not eternal. Wealth does not transcend death but rather stays behind for those who remain, whether they are worthy, wise or capable of handling it. The world’s success and achievements are therefore temporary - ending upon our death; however, spiritual success transcends death. It continues into our afterlife and increases the reward that awaits us:

Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath build thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.^{^[5]}

Furthermore, God not only recognizes our achievements in eternity but He also expects us to acknowledge His accomplishments. He continually encourages us to remind ourselves and others about the incredible things He has done:

I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old: which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done. For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them know to their children: that the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children: that they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments: and might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God.^{^[6]}

The Bible is full of the praises of God, acknowledging His achievements, power and strength. Psalms 86:8-10 reads:

Among the gods there is none like unto thee, O Lord; neither are there any works like unto thy works. All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord; and shall glorify thy name. For thou art great, and doest wonderous things: thou art God alone.

In addition, we read in Psalms 111:2-4: The works of the LORD are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein. His work is honourable and glorious: and his righteousness endureth for ever. He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: the LORD is gracious and full of compassion.

God’s Word also warns us that only through God can we really accomplish anything of lasting worth. We read in Psalms chapter 127, verse one: Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.

Furthermore, it also warns us that we cannot stop God from achieving His goals. First, in Ecclesiastes chapter one: I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit. That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.^{^[7]} Again in chapter 7, Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked?^{^[8]}

God expects His people to accomplish great and wonderful things with His assistance and guidance:

Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?^{^[9]}

As a child of God, we can understand that God expects us to accomplish His goals during our lifetimes. With prayer and Bible-study, we can know what God wants from us. With courage and faith, we can accomplish those goals. With patience, we can await our eternal and true reward:

For all this I considered in my heart even to declare all this, that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God: no man knoweth either love or hatred by all that is before them.^{^[10]}

^{^[1]}Psalms 49:16-19

^{^[2]}Ecclesiastes 1:2-11

^{^[3]}Ecclesiastes 2:1-3

^{^[4]}Ecclesiastes 2:18-23

^{^[5]}I Corinthians 3:13-15

^{^[6]}Psalms 78:2-8

^{^[7]}(Verses 14-1)

^{^[8]}(Verse 13)

^{^[9]}James 2:17-20

^{^[10]}Ecclesiastes 9:1