Working Together In The World

[Read Ecclesiastes 3:16-4:16]

A common attack on Christianity and the Bible these days is to say that it’s “irrelevant. It just isn’t speaking to things going on today.” Actually, right here in Beaver Dam 44% of the people who don’t have a church said they don’t go to church because it’s not “relevant” to their life. Well, let me just say, they haven’t read the Bible. Everywhere I turn in the Bible, I find things that are extremely relevant to our current situation. 

Take a look at this morning’s passage. The author says, “And I saw something else under the sun: In the place of judgment—wickedness was there, in the place of justice—wickedness was there.” (Ecclesiastes 3:16, NIV). Hmmmm. Are there any conversations happening around our country about injustice? Is anyone talking about there being wickedness in places of righteousness? Doesn’t sound very relevant does it? 

Yet, you keep reading and the author says, “Again I looked and saw all the oppression that was taking place under the sun: I saw the tears of the oppressed— and they have no comforter; power was on the side of their oppressors— and they have no comforter. And I declared that the dead, who had already died, are happier than the living, who are still alive. But better than both is the one who has never been born, who has not seen the evil that is done under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes 4:1–3, NIV). Hmmm. Is anyone talking about people being oppressed lately? Are people talking about groups of people whose voices aren’t heard and have no comforter? Aren’t we seeing suicide rates rapidly increase because people believe that the dead are happier than the living? Have you ever heard someone say that they don’t want to have children “because they don’t want to bring a child into this evil world”—basically saying it is better to be unborn? Sounds pretty relevant to me.

The thing that amplifies all this is that it is happening “under the sun.” Remember, that when the author references “under the sun” he’s speaking of the worldview without God. That’s what amplifies the concern of these issues. 

How scary is it to recognize that there is corruption in the places of judgement when there is no God? As people begin to see that there is corruption in the court system and corruption in the police forces and corruption in the government—in the highest places of power—and there’s no God higher than them, things begin to look very bleak. 

How scary is it to recognize that there are people who have been oppressed but there is no God to hear their cries or comfort them? No one. They are the lowest of the low and no one cares and no one hears. And—without God in the picture—the only ones who can do anything about it—the places of justice and power—have been corrupted too. There’s no hope. That’s why they think it’s better to be dead or not to be born at all. 

This is what we’re seeing sweep across our nation right now. This EXACT worldview and its consequences. People are recognizing corruption in the places of judgement and power and feeling oppressed and without a voice. So, what do they do? They either melt into despair or rise up in rebellion. Someone has said that “rioting is the voice of the unheard.” There is no God…only power and force. So, they try to make things right on their own—in their own strength. George Floyd is murdered in Minneapolis and the city burns in response. Jacob Blake is shot in Kenosha and the city burns. Why? Because—in their mind—there is no God! 

Yet, that’s not reality. There is a God. That changes everything. The author says, “God will bring into judgment both the righteous and the wicked, for there will be a time for every activity, a time to judge every deed.” (Ecclesiastes 3:17, NIV). Since there is a God—who created everything, who rules and reigns over everything—we can be confident that he will bring judgment. He will judge BOTH the wicked and the righteous. Every single person that has ever lived will have to stand before him and receive a judgement. That means you and that means me. That means every politician, judge, police officer, and every single rioter in the streets will have to stand before the judgment seat of our God. Scripture says, “‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ and again, ‘The Lord will judge his people.’ It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” (Hebrews 10:30–31, NIV). Because there is a God, we don’t have to take things into our own hands, but can trust Him to bring about justice. 

The author also shows us what God is teaching us in the midst of our current chaos—in the midst of injustice, oppression, and rioting. He says, “I also said to myself, ‘As for humans, God tests them so that they may see that they are like the animals. Surely the fate of human beings is like that of the animals; the same fate awaits them both: As one dies, so dies the other. All have the same breath; humans have no advantage over animals. Everything is meaningless. All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return.’” (Ecclesiastes 3:18–20, NIV). What is God teaching us in the midst of our current chaos? He’s teaching us that we’re not God. We are finite beings who will die one day. Sure, God has placed us as the pinnacle of creation, but guess what, we’re going to die and our bodies are going to compose back into dirt. We are not finite creatures. We are not God.

That also means the politicians, the judges, the police officers, and the rioters are finite creatures—they are not God either. So, as we see unjust laws and policies coming from our politicians and judges, God is reminding us that they are NOT GOD and they cannot fix the problem. When we see unjust police shootings/killings, God is reminding us that they are NOT GOD and they cannot fix the problem. When we see people rioting in the streets, killing and injuring and burning down businesses of innocent people, God is reminding us that they are NOT GOD and they cannot fix the problem. He’s reminding us that WE are not God. It doesn’t matter whether we think we can remove God from his throne and take our seat in his place—We are not God and we cannot fix the problem. We are finite creatures—made from dust—who will one day die—and face the judgement of God—and our bodies will return to the dust. 

Someone may respond, “But, what if we work really hard? Then we’ll be able to fix everything, right?” No. The author says, “And I saw that all toil and all achievement spring from one person’s envy of another. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.” (Ecclesiastes 4:4, NIV). You can try to “work really hard” to fix things and make them right, but without God, it all ends up flowing from envy. We see this around us, right? We constantly see people trying to “one-up” the other. We constantly see people trying to climb the ladder of success—not caring who they leave in their wake. They don’t care because their motivations are based on envy. Envy is caring more about yourself than anyone else. You can’t rejoice in someone else’s success, because you don’t care about them. You only care about yourself and your success and that you’re better than them. 

The author gives us a picture of envious work: “Again I saw something meaningless under the sun: There was a man all alone; he had neither son nor brother. There was no end to his toil, yet his eyes were not content with his wealth. “For whom am I toiling,” he asked, “and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?” This too is meaningless— a miserable business!” (Ecclesiastes 4:7–8, NIV). He worked and worked and worked to climb the ladder and increase his wealth. He left everyone who got in his way or hindered him from his task—even his family. He worked hard and continuously. Yet, he never arrived. He was never satisfied. He was so busy chasing wealth, that he never stopped to ask, “What am I working for?” “Why am I neglecting my family for this job?” “Why am I making myself miserable in the pursuit of happiness?” 

Envious hard work IS the reason we see so much injustice and oppression and wickedness. So, that’s not going to solve the problem, it’ll only make it worse. 

Well, but what about having a good leader? I mean, someone who relates with the people, who can bring unity and common sense. Surely, that person can help turn things around, right? Wouldn’t it be even better if this leader came from an oppressed people and from injustice? That would solve all our problems! “Better a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to heed a warning. The youth may have come from prison to the kingship, or he may have been born in poverty within his kingdom. I saw that all who lived and walked under the sun followed the youth, the king’s successor. There was no end to all the people who were before them. But those who came later were not pleased with the successor. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.” (Ecclesiastes 4:13–16, NIV). Nope. This oppressed youth lived out the “Rags to Riches” story line. He came out of prison and became king. He gained TONS of influence. Everyone loved him. Everyone followed him. But guess what happened? He died and his body rotted in the ground. He was a finite creature. He was NOT GOD. Everyone forgot him and things went back to the way they were before. He didn’t fix it either. Without God—there is no hope for humanity and no hope for change and no hope for justice and no hope for reformation. God is the only one who can truly bring justice, and hope, and reformation. He is the only one who can change hearts. 

So, how should we live in the world? Should we just sit back and do nothing? Not at all. One of the most common themes in this book is the reminder of our need to work and work hard. He actually reminds us that “Fools fold their hands and ruin themselves.” (Ecclesiastes 4:5, NIV). Sitting back, doing nothing, in laziness will lead to your destruction and the destruction of others. That’s not the answer. 

The author tells us that, in a world full of injustice, oppression, and wickedness we need to learn how to work together. He says, “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” (Ecclesiastes 4:9–12, NIV). 

Here’s why this is important. Take a moment to think about everything we’ve talked about already in this message. We’ve talked about injustice, oppression, wickedness, envy, laziness. What’s the common thread running through each of these sins? Selfishness. Self-centeredness. Why is there injustice and oppression? Because people are more concerned about themselves than other people? Why are people envious or lazy? Because they are more concerned about themselves than other people. However, when we begin working together—when we begin to consider others more significant than ourselves—we are forced to consider other people. We were not designed to do this alone and when we try to do it alone, we end up running off the rails into injustice, wickedness, envy, laziness, etc. 

The author also tells us that we need to learn how to enjoy our work in this world—even though it’s full of injustice, wickedness, and oppression. He says, “So I saw that there is nothing better for a person than to enjoy their work, because that is their lot. For who can bring them to see what will happen after them?” (Ecclesiastes 3:22, NIV). Like I’ve mentioned before, enjoying our work—enjoying the task God has given you in this world—fights against sin. Enjoying our work fights against injustice, oppression, and wickedness. When we rightly enjoy our work, it accomplishes two things. First, when we enjoy our work, we enjoy what we’re doing and don’t try to use it to do something else. Think about it. When your work is motivated by envy, are you enjoying your work? Nope. When you’re being lazy, are you enjoying your work? Obviously not. When you enjoy your work, are you tempted to use that work to oppress other people? Nope. Second, when we rightly enjoy our work, we enjoy our work with the Lord in mind. We work as if He is our boss—because He is. That also keeps us from using our work for unrighteous purposes. 

All of this ends up pointing us to Christ. You cannot truly work with other people apart from Christ, because you cannot truly consider others more significant than yourself apart from Christ. You cannot enjoy your work apart from Christ, because you will always be striving, trying to measure up apart from Christ. In Christ, you no longer have to strive and measure up—you are freed to enjoy what you’re doing. 

When we look to Christ, we’re also reminded that we are not God. We’re reminded that we are sinners in need of a Savior. We need a Savior because every time we’ve tried to fix things on our own, we’ve messed them up further. Christ reminds us that we are fallen people and the government, the judicial system, the police force, and rioting will not fix things. Only Christ. One day everyone will stand before the judgment seat of Christ and be judged for what they did in this life. One day Christ will return and bring true justice and true righteousness to this earth. So, we continue to live each day, trusting Him and proclaiming Him as the only Savior in this broken world.