There was a man who worked 70 hours a week. Fortunately, he loved his job. He brought home a nice paycheck and provided good things for his family. He thought, One of these days I’ll slow down—but not today. One evening, he came home and his family wasn’t there.
The kids had grown up and moved out, his wife had found a career, and the house was empty. He had been newly appointed as CEO. But he had made it to the top—alone.
When Solomon was “people watching,” he observed a man who lamented at the end of the day, “Who am I working for? Why am I giving up so much pleasure now?” (Ecclesiastes 4:8).
To avoid following in the wrong footsteps, we need to make three specific choices:
1. Choose contentment over achievement (Ecclesiastes 4:4-6). Solomon painted two extremes here—the workaholic and the fool. Then, in verse 6, he helps us strike the correct balance. Bible teacher Keith Krell paraphrased it this way: “Rather than grasping for so much it is better to have less and enjoy it more.”
2. Choose relationships over riches (Ecclesiastes 4:7-12). If we’re sacrificing relationships at the altar of success, we’ve got our priorities mixed up. Relationships make our work meaningful, rewarding, and enjoyable.
3. Choose wisdom over popularity (Ecclesiastes 4:13-16). Power and popularity are transient. No one will remain at the top forever. So we should hold wisdom tightly and power lightly.
Let’s learn to experience our work as a gift from God, by enjoying it and accepting our lot.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: 2 Thessalonians 3:1-18
More:
Read 2 Thessalonians 3:10 and Colossians 3:22–4:1 for some insights into a good work ethic.
Next:
Are you spending too much time at work at the expense of your family, friends, and church? Why? How can you adjust your priorities to better reflect eternal goals?
dossk on December 10, 2012 at 1:19 am
Poh Fang, the Christian Leaders in INDIA, want to be achievers, doing it all alone and aiming for popularity. This plague is prevalent and dominant among our leaders. A divine healer in the 50s, got so famous that he longed for further popularity. Alas ! the LORD took away the very healing power. What a lesson to learn !
The work is a must, but one should learn to strike a balance.
columbia415 on December 10, 2012 at 7:22 am
Listen to the song “The Cat’s in the Cradle” by Harry Chapin. Life passed this man by due to a lack of balance in his life. I wonder if Harry was thinking of Ecclesiastes 4:6 when he wrote the song? Sure is an eye opener for everyone who listens to the true message in the song!
Lamont on December 10, 2012 at 11:08 am
“The Cat’s in the Cradle” is truly a sad song, as is the anecdote about the CEO. I started out in my career as a hardcharger. I never became as accomplished as I wanted but also never realized how blessed I was.
I learned to be content. It took a while. I remained with my company but I just opted out of the race. Colleagues looked down on me and ex-wife found fault with me not trying harder to mak more money or gain promotions. We live in a super-achieveing community. People wear their wordly accomplishments on their sleeves.
Our daughter is 17 and independent. It would hurt deeply if I had lived/worked like the man in the Harry Chapin song. I’m so glad God refocused me when she was born.
pohfangchia on December 10, 2012 at 8:35 pm
Thank you, Lamont, for your honest sharing. Indeed, we live in a super-achieving society and it takes conscious effort to keep our priorities right and not get caught up in the rat race.
May God help us to be excellent workers, while learning contentment and treasuring the people in our lives.
columbia415 on December 11, 2012 at 8:24 am
People in our lives…….true contentment, the true definition of wealth!
tom felten on December 12, 2012 at 10:37 am
Good thoughts, columbia415. As Paul said, “True godliness with contentment is itself great wealth” (1 Timothy 6:6).