Read Ecclesiastes 4:1-6
Are you feeling oppressed today? Oppression is defined by Oxford Languages as “prolonged cruel or unjust treatment or control.” Solomon was observing such behaviors in his day, too. As king, you would think he could have some control over how his subjects were being treated. The powers of evil were clearly at work then, as well as now.
It’s not pleasant to endure hardship, whether it’s oppression or otherwise. To believe we’d be better off dead is a bit “dark” don’t you think? It helps to remember that Solomon had drifted away from God and was relying on the gods of his many wives late in life. For those living on their own, hardship and oppression must be unbearable.
There is no hope to cling to for non-believers. There is no joy from knowing Christ and experiencing God’s mercy and grace. It’s sometimes hard for me to imagine what it must be like to not have the assurance of salvation and knowledge that God is in control.
The book of Ecclesiastes reveals to us observations made by a very wise king. While some of what we see in this book makes a lot of sense, most of it will sadden us. Rather, we should be energized to make sure that the non-believers we know get back on track. This book is giving us a glimpse into what it feels like to be lost, alone, unsure, and totally disillusioned about living a life of faith in God.
Solomon was on to something when he talks about motivation. Many of us are competitive by nature. What came to mind for me when I read his words about success were, “keeping up with the Joneses.” Why is it we are always looking at our neighbor’s success? One of God’s ten commandments clearly tells us not to covet. Remember that coveting is wanting what belongs to someone else. That yearning gets us into trouble.
Did verses 5 and 6 make you feel like you were reading from Proverbs? Solomon wrote that book, too, earlier in his life. Did you make sense of those two verses? Was Solomon making excuses or having a hard time accepting people who were either slugs doing nothing or over-achievers working all the time forgetting to enjoy life?
I think what Solomon was alluding to here was to find balance between work and rest. Myself, I tend to be more of the “workaholic” finding it hard to rest or sit still. When I got sick a couple of months ago, that really rocked my world. I have become a much better “rester” and am embracing the work/rest balance in my life for the first time.
The challenge is to enjoy all that we do (work and play) and not be so obsessed with achieving success in this life. God provides for us according to what he knows is best. We can trust that. Paul tells us in Philippians 4:19, “And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.” The key is Jesus. Our hope lies in Jesus along with all the riches that matter.
Let’s pray. Father God, thank you for sending Jesus to be my redeemer and friend. I am so grateful for the peace and joy that comes from a relationship with you. Help me do a better job of balancing work and rest. Protect those who are being oppressed for their faith in you. May I have no fear in sharing my faith knowing you are there beside me. Open up opportunities for me to share about your truth and nurturing others in their faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
