Ecclesiastes 8:14

There is something else meaningless that occurs on earth: the righteous who get what the wicked deserve, and the wicked who get what the righteous deserve. This too, I say, is meaningless. -Ecclesiastes 8:14, NIV The observation of the wicked prospering while the righteous are punished is not a new one. That is what this … Continue reading "Regarding Envy of Cheater Prosperity"…

There is something else meaningless that occurs on earth: the righteous who get what the wicked deserve, and the wicked who get what the righteous deserve. This too, I say, is meaningless. -Ecclesiastes 8:14, NIV The observation of the wicked prospering while the righteous are punished is not a new one. That is what this … Continue reading “On envying cheater prosperity”…

“He replied to the one speaking for the rest, ‘Friend, I haven’t been unfair. We agreed on the wage of a dollar, didn’t we? So take it and go. I decided to give to the one who came last the same as you. Can’t I do what I want with my own money? Are you … Continue reading “Is the thirst for justice and fairness misguided?”…

The first time you read Ecclesiastes, it seems very cynical. Its topics include death and the futility of human efforts. That’s not exactly an uplifting read. But if you read it a few more times, you may notice that Ecclesiastes shares the wisdom of acceptance. The book is a search for meaning, but before the author can find meaning, he has to rule out some options that might lure us away from life’s purpose. The wispy distractions are called “vanity” throughout the book. Each example of vanity…