JAN 18 

Ecclesiastes 2:18-19
Memorise 1 Corinthians 10:31
"Do all for the glory of God"

DO YOU HAVE THE RIGHT PERSPECTIVES OF LABOUR (I)?

Solomon was a thinker. The more he experimented and pondered over the meaning of life, the more he came to his senses. He was slowly coming to realize the truth, that anything done under the sun is but vanity and vexation of the spirit, and that there can be no true fulfilment apart from a life in God. It was a slow but painful process, but one in which God was guiding him to the light. This is why he would later also conclude that sorrow is far better than mirth (Ecclesiastes 7:4), for in the midst of his grief, he would also reflect, re-examine his life, and turn to God.

The reason for his sorrow and his hatred for his labour was this: for all the labour that he had done, the whole kingdom that he had built up, the houses, vineyards, orchards, irrigation systems, and all the wealth and riches that he had collected, it will all end with his death. And after his death, he will have to leave the results of his labour to someone else. Solomon would then have no control whatsoever on how he uses or abuses these things. As he came to this realisation, he was in utter despair, for suddenly he realized the futility of all his labour, and the emptiness of it all.

This is especially so in reference to the prophecy that was given to him concerning the succession of his kingdom. In 1 Kings 11, after he had gone after other gods, God told Solomon that after his death, his kingdom will be rent in two, and only one tribe will be given to his son, and the rest to Jeroboam his servant. That was the word of the Lord himself, and Solomon knew that to be a certainty. Thus he was grieved, for he knew that his kingdom, with all its wealth, authority, accomplishments and advancements will be left to underserving people who had not laboured for it. This is in direct contrast to his father David who saved up and prepared just so that he could give all that he had to Solomon for the construction of the temple. David’s focus was on the glory of God, and the desire to serve Him. That is why he could happily leave behind the huge treasures that he had amassed for his son to build God’s house. For Solomon, he could only look at the vain works of his hands, and feel hatred, for the focus of his labour was on self, and what benefit he himself could gain from it.

Thought: Who am I labouring for?
Prayer: Lord, help me to have a right vision of Your glory, and may all my labours be directed for that sake.