Observation: As Solomon explores the very nature of life, he arrives at the idea that work itself is pointless because, in the end, whatever someone does will then be turned over to someone else when they die. One of the summaries of this thinking is found here, which is that work itself is "sorrowful" because not only is it never really complete and likely to be undone by someone else, but it even becomes a burden upon your mind ... worry and stress and ideas about work occupy your thoughts when you aren't working, and the work itself brings no fulfillment when you are working.
Application: In about one hour from now, I begin a new job. One of the things I like about working with governments is that the outcome of their work does actually support people and tries to improve the lives of people ... their mission isn't about making money. However, I also recognize what Solomon is saying. At the end of the day, what I do is finite, to be obsolete in the future, with no truly lasting outcome. And as I begin this new job, I know that in the time to come I will have days of stress, times of worry about performance and failure, and ideas that wake me in the middle of the night. In general, this work will occupy a large part of my life, without positive benefit for me physically, mentally, morally, or spiritually.
I hope I remember this lesson of Solomon, which is that - while I should want to do well in my work to honor the Lord - the work is actually meaningless, and what really matters are the people I will interact with, the way I can live my life with my wife and family, and how I can show up with the Lord's love every day to be a light to others.
Prayer: Lord, I thank you so very much for the work I am about to begin. You have been far more faithful than I deserve, and I thank you, honor you, and worship you. May I find what you would have me do in this new place, with new people, and may I bring honor to you daily. Amen.
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