Ecclesiastes 4:2 – Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive.

 

Thought:  We must keep in mind that Solomon is experimenting with life.  He is looking for that which brings meaning and purpose to life.  So far all he has found is vanity.  Thus, he praises the dead more than the living.  The dead have ceased from their vain activities.  They are no longer aware of the “hopelessness” of life.  The living, on the other hand, are experiencing it.  Thus, Solomon concludes that it is better to be dead than alive.  Some reach this point today.  Their thinking gives way to suicide.

 

Job 3:17-19

 

Commentary:

 

A.     Solomon’s lens on life is often from the perspective of living a life without God.

 

B.      If death is really the ultimate end of man, then the dead have it better than the living.

1.       The living toil.

2.       The living often are subject to injustices.

3.       The living have to suffer oppressions.

 

C.     Looking at it from that perspective, Solomon praised the dead. 

1.       They had escaped all of the negatives of life.

2.       They have ceased all of their vain activities.

3.       They are no longer aware of the “hopelessness” of life.

4.       NOTE:  Solomon is looking at life with no thought of an afterlife.  Man simply dies.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ecclesiastes 4:3 – Yea, better is he than both they, which hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.

 

Thought:  Solomon compared the dead with the living in the previous verse.  He now compares the dead with those yet to be born.  His conclusion is the same.  It is better to be dead than to be one who has not yet been.  Those who are yet to be born must still come to earth and experience the vanity that is here.  It is not a matter of “if” they will experience it.  It is a matter of “when” they will experience it.  Because of this, Solomon concluded that being dead is better than being yet to be. 

 

Job 14:1

 

Commentary

 

A.     Solomon mentions “both they” in this verse.

1.       One group he has already discussed, the dead.   They are free from the oppressions of this world.

2.       There is a second group who is also free from these oppressions.

 

B.      He refers to the second group as those “which hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.”

1.       These are the unborn.

2.       This could refer to couples who have already conceived a child.

3.       This could refer to couples who are planning on having a child.

4.       It can also refer to any individual who will one day be conceived.

 

C.     Solomon’s contention is that it is “better” to never have experienced the evils of the world, or, to have experienced them, but be free from them due to death.

1.       Solomon’s view of the world is very pessimistic.

2.       To some extent, Solomon’s world was much different than ours.

a.   They did not have the technology that we do.

b.   They did not have the machinery that we do.

c.   They did not have the transportation that we do.

d.   They did not have many of the luxuries that we do.

            3.    We mention this because there are many today who do not have the same pessimistic view

                   of the world that Solomon did even though they do not have God in their lives.  They see

                   this world as “heaven on earth” even though there are some difficulties that must be

                   confronted here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ecclesiastes 4:4 – Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbor.  This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.

 

Thought:  As Solomon examined the works of men, he found that “right” works, that is, successful works caused others to envy the one who is successful.  Instead of his hard work bringing joy from others, it brought forth sin in their heart.  Envy is an extremely dangerous sin.  It is not only jealous, but it would remove from a person what he has honestly and diligently acquired.  When Solomon saw how common this reaction was he concluded:  “This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.”

 

Proverbs 27:4

 

Commentary:

 

A.     Solomon again turns his attention to work and labor. 

 

B.      His eyes are on “every right work.”

1.       Right

a.  Strong (3788):  success, advantage

b.  BDB:  success, skill, profit

2.       Right works are successful works, advantageous works, profitable works.

 

C.     When Solomon saw these works, he also saw that those who were involved with them were envied of their neighbors. 

1.       Envied

a.  Strong (7068):  jealous, envious

b.  BDB:  ardor, jealousy, jealous disposition

c.  NOTE:  The distinction between jealousy and envy involves behavior.

     1)  Jealousy:  resentment over another’s success, prosperity, popularity

     2)  Envy:  resentment coupled with the desire to have the person’s success, prosperity, or

           popularity removed from him

2.       Scriptures regarding envy:

a.  Proverbs 27:4

 

Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?

 

      b.  Romans 1:29

 

Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity, whisperers.

 

      c.  Philippians 1:15-16

 

Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will:  the one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds.

 

D.     If this is how others react to the “right work” of others, Solomon sees it as “vanity and vexation of spirit.”

1.       One labors diligently to make his enemies envious.

2.       One labors hard to make his friends envious.

3.       One labors with his might to make his family envious.

4.       One labors steadfastly to make his brother and sisters in Christ envious.

 

Ecclesiastes 4:5 – The fool folded his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.

 

Thought:  Even though Solomon has found that a man’s labor produces some difficulties, Solomon has also found that a fool is one who will not work.  He folds his hands together instead of exerting them in strenuous labor.  This man eats his own flesh.  This is a way of saying:  “He destroys himself.”  God never intended for man not to work.  Work has more benefits for man than not working.  Those who do not work live very unproductive, unsatisfying lives.  Solomon calls them fools.

 

Proverbs 24:33-34

 

Commentary:

 

A.     If a person works…

1.       Only to die and leave all behind.

2.       Only to die and leave his things with those who will not care about them or misuse them.

3.       Only to accumulate things and have others envy him.

4.       Isn’t it better NOT to work?

 

B.      Solomon answers that question.  A person is a fool who folds his hands together and refuses to work.

1.       We can picture someone lying on a couch with his hands folded on his stomach watching TV.

2.       We can picture someone sitting in his Lazyboy with his hands folded and sleeping.

 

C.     Solomon says:  “…and eateth his own flesh.”

1.       The picture when understood is quite grotesque.

a.  The slothful man will not work.

b.  When the harvest comes, he has no food.

c.  Thus, he eats his own flesh in order to survive, or, not having food enough, his body

     feeds on itself and wastes away.

2.       He brings about his own demise.

a.  Proverbs 6:10-11

 

Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:  so shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and they want as an armed man.

 

                  b.  Proverbs 20:4

 

The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.

 

D.     We live in a day and age that promotes less work and more laziness.

1.       Shorter work weeks.

2.       More time off

3.       Guaranteed income

4.       Welfare

5.       Cradle to the grave care by the government

6.       NOTE:  Even after pointing out all of the negatives associated with work, Solomon still calls the person who will not work a fool.

 

 

 

 

Ecclesiastes 4:6 – Better is a handful with quietness, than both hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.

 

Thought:  We live in a very materialistic society.  Want, want, and want some more are in the minds of many people.  Instead of things, we should desire peace and tranquility.  The blessing of peace is much more beneficial and satisfying than things.  Things often complicate our lives.  They have to be taken care of.  Others desire them and try to take them from us.  Truly, “better is a handful with quietness.”

 

Proverbs 15:16-17

 

Commentary:

 

A.     This statement can be taken in two ways.

1.       First, Solomon has just mentioned the fool who will not work.  This could be the fool’s argument for not working.

a.  It is better not to work and labor so much and have a handful with quietness.

b.  Those who are diligent often amass much riches, but with them come travail and

     vexation of spirit.

2.       Second, Solomon simply points out a timeless truth.

a.  It is better to have a little with quietness than much with travail and vexation of spirit.

b.  If the verse is applied in this manner, it is very applicable to a world that is consumed

     with materialism.

1)      Materialism is a deep desire for the material things of this world.

2)      Jesus teaches us that a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of things he possesses (Luke 12:15).

 

And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness:  for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of things which he possesseth.

 

3)      Four truths about material goods.

a)      They cannot bring happiness.

b)      They never bring contentment to one’s life.

c)       They never satisfy.  One continues to want and want and want.

d)     They often take one’s focus off spiritual things.

e)      They all will eventually be destroyed (2 Pet. 3:10).