Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

[Illus] You’ve probably heard the story that leadership coach, Zig Ziglar, tells about the Washington monument.

Ol’ Zig’s group approached the monument excited to journey to the top and see the view.

As they approached though, Zig heard a tour guide announce, “There’s a two-hour wait to ride the elevator to the top of the monument.”

Then with a smirk, the tour guide said, “But there is not waiting to go to the top if your willing to take the stairs!”

Solomon felt as if had take the stairs to the top.

He had worked hard and had it all, but in our passage tonight, he is in distress because he realizes that all that he has will have to be left to someone else when he dies.

At the end of the previous passage, in v. 17, Solomon said, “So I hated life...”

He said this because, in his view, death was the final destination for the wise man and the mad fool alike, so what’s the point?

“…for all is vanity and a striving after wind,” ().

But in other places Solomon says that life is superior to death () and that it should be enjoyed (3:12-13; 9:9).

So, which is it?

Does Solomon hate life?

Or does he love it?

Solomon is speaking in absolute terms for the purpose of effect.

But there are times when we may feel like we hate life, but there are many days when we just dislike it a whole bunch.

And there are days when we like life but don’t love it, and other days that we do love it!

Nevertheless, Solomon uses the same sort of absolute speech when talking about work in this passage ().

He says, “I hated all my toil,” () and then later, “There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil.

This also, I saw, is from the hand of God...” ().

So, which is it?

Does he hate work?

Or does he love it?

If someone asked us that question, we might say, “Well, it depends on the day.”

But the truth is, it depends upon our perspective.

The right perspective helps us enjoy our work even when its sorrowful, vexing, and exhausting.

The wrong perspective causes us to lament our work even when there is real good in it.

The right perspective can be summed up in the phrase—with God.

The wrong perspective can be summed up in the phrase —apart from God.

[TS] Look first at v. 18...

Major Ideas

v. 18, Solomon seems to only love work because of what he can get (money, glory, etc.) and keep.

But of course we can’t keep it.

If thieves don’t break in and steal it, death will come and steal us way from it.

Thus, Solomon says, “I hate work because when I die, I can’t take it with me and must instead leave it to another.”

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ESV“Judge not, that you be not judged.

For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.

Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?

Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye?

You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.

Q: Why should we love work if not for the stuff we earn through work?

Why should we love work if not for the stuff we can earn and leave behind to someone else?

What other reasons are there for loving work?

work not apart of the curse, meant to work

work provides confidence, accomplishment, housing, and food!

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ESVTherefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.

v. 19, Solomon lamented that the one to come after him may be wise or foolish, but either way, he will get all that Solomon leaves behind; all that Solomon has worked for and used his wisdom to gain.

It seems Solomon’s identity is wrapped up in his work.

Q: Why is it so easy to center our identity on our work?

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ESVTherefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart.

Then each one will receive his commendation from God.

Q: Where does our identity truly come from?

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ESVDo not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door.

Q: Why is it dangerous to have our identity wrapped up in something good like work or family?

Solomon feels the comment of the early church father, Jerome, “one has the fruit of another’s labor, and the sweat of the dead is the ease of the one who lives” (alter labore alterius perfruatur et sudor mortui, deliciae sint viventis; see CChrSL, 72:271).

[Roland Murphy, Ecclesiastes, vol.

23A, Word Biblical Commentary (Dallas: Word, Incorporated, 1992), 26.]

Solomon also laments that the one who gets all Solomon’s stuff will not have worked for

[Illus] When President Kennedy was seeing the Democratic presidential nomination in 1960, he visited a coal mine in West Virginia where a coal miner asked him, “Is it true that you’re the son of one of our wealthiest men?” President Kennedy said it was so.

The coal miner then asked, “Is it true that you’ve never done a day’s work with your hands in your entire life?”

I’m sure President Kennedy said something about other types of work and helping those who did work their hands, but standing before the coal miner who worked hard with his hands everyday, President Kennedy had to nod.

He had not worked with his hands a day in his life.

The coal miner then said, “Well, let me tell you this, you haven’t missed and thing!”

That’s a humorous story, but the truth is we do miss out on a lot when we miss out on work.

Q: What values do you gain in earning what you have rather than it just being given to you?

delayed gratification

Roland Murphy, Ecclesiastes, vol.

23A, Word Biblical Commentary (Dallas: Word, Incorporated, 1992), 26.

budgeting

little by little

hard work

appreciation

maintenance

planning

vv.

20-21, Solomon turned to despair because he couldn’t take it all with him and had to leave it to someone else who didn’t earn it.

Q: Why is it ironic that Solomon, the son of King David, complained about leaving his wealth and accomplishments to someone else?

[Illus] Back in 2016 when President Trump was running for office, he was trying to present himself as a self-made man.

He talked building up his empire starting from nothing… other than a small one million dollar loan from his father!

That reminds me of Solomon in this passage.

He presents himself as someone who has earned it all on his own, when in fact his father, King David, gave him a boost in this direction.

Q: Solomon’s complaint in vv.

20-21 also reveals that Solomon has been working for the earthly side of eternity.

How does the NT challenge a mere earthly perspective of work?

treasure in Heaven

work to the glory of God

my job is a testimony and a mission field

vv.

22-23, Work under the cures is sorrowful, vexing, and restless.

Q: Do you agree with this description of work?

Has this ever been your experience?

Q: Why does say work will be frustrating?

Q: Based on this description, Solomon is expecting too much from work—joy, peace, and rest.

Why can’t work provide these things?

Where can we find these things in a way that lasts?

vv.

24-26, Verse 25 in the ESV, NASB, HCSB asks, “for apart from him (God) who can eat or who can have enjoyment?”

This question highlights the graciousness of God in giving us enjoyment in our toil.

Other versions, however, like the KJV and the NKJV ask, “for who can eat, or who can have enjoyment, more than I (Solomon)?”

This question is an appeal to Solomon’s expertise in pleasure.