Ecclesiastes 3

TOIL UNDER THE SUN

* Work came BEFORE the fall (Genesis 2:15)
* The fall turned work into TOIL (Genesis 3:17-19)
* But there is a redeemer! Work can be redeemed!
* Work 'under the sun' is toil, work 'in the Son' is worship

Below I have observed 7 thoughts Solomon had regarding 'work under the sun'
And some principles for how we can turn 'work' into 'worship'

1. It can be frustrating and difficult (2:17, 23)
Option #1 Be LAZY (4:5)
Option #2 Be a Work-AHOLIC (4:6b)
Option #3 Be BALANCED (4:6a)
Keep a positive ATTITUDE (by having accurate beliefs)
See the VALUE in difficulty

2. It can feel meaningless (2:17b, 19b, 21b, 23b)
Earn money on purpose
Build relationships on purpose
Stay active on purpose

3. It’s hard to leave a lasting legacy (2:18-21)
Your godly INFLUENCE can live on (3:14a)
Your godly INVESTMENTS can live on (3:14a)
Your godly INTERACTIONS can live on (3:14a)

4. It doesn’t always feel rewarding (2:22, 3:18-21)
It does build CONSISTENCY
It does teach us to SUBMIT
It does get REWARDED

5. It seems so cyclical (3:1-9)
Appreciate the VARIETY (3:11a)
Realize history has a DIRECTION (3:11b)

6. It’s often seems unfair (4:1-3)
The injustice is temporary
Wrongs will, one day, be righted

7. It’s not ultimately fulfilling (4:7-8, 13-16)
Fulfillment is found in relationship (4:9-12)
It can be part of an abundant life