The Futility of Hard Work (Ecc 2:18–26)

When King Solomon looks at life, it seems frustrating and futile. As he has examined things that promise fulfillment, he has found that education is too limited in scope (1:12–18), legitimate pleasures were unsatisfying (2:1–11), and that death comes to all men, regardless of their lives (2:12–17). Perhaps the answer is simply to grit one’s teeth, dig deep, work hard, and make the best of life.
What about hard work, or “labor” as the Preacher calls it (2:18)? The disappointment of hard work is that you can’t take it with you. When you die, someone else will inherit everything you have worked so hard to do. And who knows if that person will continue to keep it or not even appreciate it (2:19–23)?
The man who lived in our house before my wife and I moved in was a world-class gardener who spent his time puttering in the flower beds. He built a fish pond, put in brick walkways, and many different kinds of flowers and shrubs. After he died and his wife sold the house to us, we enjoyed all of his work. However, I am not a very good gardener and I don’t have the time to keep up the flower beds. Little by little, they have grown less manicured because we just don’t have time to keep them up. This is what Solomon is talking about: this man gave his life to his garden, and now, just a few years later, all his work is coming to nothing.
The King gives his first conclusion at the end of this chapter (2:24–26): Even though our work sometimes seems frustrating, it is a gift from God to be enjoyed. Many things in life seem very confusing and mysterious, but God has given us work and wisdom to fulfill our lives here on earth. Remember that in the perfect garden of Eden, God created man and gave him work to do. Of course, our work should never lose sight of eternity, but God created work for our benefit and enjoyment.