The word “work” has a bit of a bad reputation.  Sometimes it is difficult.  Sometimes it causes problems in or lives.  But for most of us, we need it.  We need the money that “work’ supplies so we can purchase the basic necessities of life, as well as some un-necessities.  Our food, clothing and shelter needs are continual, so it isn’t like we can just stop working and not worry about those needs, usually until retirement.

We look forward to weekends and dread Mondays, for those of us who have a standard Monday to Friday work week.  But does it really have to be like this?  Should it be like this?  Personally, I have a good job.  I enjoy most of my work, but not all of it.  It can be a very stressful job at times, but in general I enjoy it.  And I am incredibly thankful for it.  But what does God have to say about work?

Almost 3,000 years ago, Solomon, the third king of Israel, wrote the book of Ecclesiastes, and one the first things that he dealt with was work, or toil.  Solomon was referring to more than just what we would call work today, like your job.  When he referred to work or toil, he was referring to all the work/toil we do.  This would include your job, but also yardwork, laundry, cooking and a variety of other things that we do not necessarily think of as pure enjoyment.  What was his assessment?

Work is Bad?

Solomon came to the less than promising conclusion that the work is grievous(Eccl. 2:17).  He want to far as to say that he hated life because of how grievous work was(Eccl. 2:17).  Hopefully most people don’t hate their jobs that much, but he clearly illustrates, at least to a certain extent, just how bad work/toil can be.  However, that was not the end of his assessment of work.

Work is Good?

After all that bad, Solomon makes the surprising statement that a person can do nothing better than eat and drink(pretty basic necessities) and find satisfaction in their work(Eccl. 2:24).  Really? There’s nothing better than enjoying the fruits of your labor(i.e. eating and drinking)?  This might seem like an odd conclusion to reach after saying that work was so difficult that you hated life, but he tells you why.  He says that: (a) this(work) is from God; and (b) without God, who can find enjoyment in eating and drinking? 

Work Comes From God

Solomon’s understanding, Solomon’s wisdom is vitally important to the conclusion hat he reaches.  First, he says that work comes from God.  This goes all the way back to the Garden of Eden.  After God created everything else, He created people and placed them in the Garden to work it and to take care of it(Gen. 2:15).  So work, at its most basic level, comes from God.  For some people, this might make them think less of God: “Thanks for giving us work!”  But when we remember that every good and perfect gift comes from God(Jam. 2:17), we start to have a better appreciation about work, which is exactly what Solomon did.  He was the wisest person ever, and he used to wisdom to remind himself that work comes from God. 

The Impossibility of Enjoyment Apart From God

This then led to the second part of his conclusion: how can anyone enjoy anything apart from God?  God is the one who created us(Gen. 1:27).  He knows what is best for us.  And He created work for us to do.  Therefore, since God loves us and only ever wants what is best for us, AND work is from God, then it must be good for us.  In addition, how could we enjoy anything, even the most basic things like something to eat or something to drink, without God? 

Solomon is effectively saying that EVERY aspect of our lives should include God.  That includes work/toil.  So when we experience work, especially the work that is less than enjoyable, we remember it is from God and that He loves us.  And without Him, we would not be able to enjoy ANYTHING!!!  Remembering these two important things will help us to get through the day, even the tough days.  Go out there and enjoy the day.