Ecclesiastes 9:10

Ecclesiastes 9:10

(with Colossians 3:23 )

Today I would speak of our daily business; and I have chosen two texts because in them we see, compared and contrasted, the teachings on this subject, first, of the philosophy which, for the moment at any rate, is confined to this life, and, next, of the Gospel of Him who holds the keys of this world and of the next. How infinite is the contrast between the cheerful and hopeful spirit of the second text and the earnest sadness of the book of Ecclesiastes.

I. The business of life is not regarded as that which our hand simply "finds to do" by chance or by choice. It is that in which we "serve the Lord" that which He has set us to do, and for which He will give us the reward. St. Paul elsewhere speaks of men as being "fellow-workers with God" in carrying out the eternal law of that dispensation which He has been pleased to ordain in relation to His creatures. All of us, whether we know it or not, in some sense whether we will or not, "serve the Lord."

II. When we speak of the Lord here, we evidently mean the Lord Jesus Christ, not merely God, but God made man, Himself at once the Lord of lords and the chief of servants. The Lord whom we serve is not One who says simply, "Believe in Me and obey Me," but One who says, "Follow Me." There is a peculiar instructiveness and beauty in the very fact that for many years of His earthly life, in humble preparation for His higher ministry, our Lord Himself was pleased to have an occupation or business, and help, we must suppose, to win the bread of the carpenter's home in Nazareth.

III. Christianity neither forbids nor discourages business. But what it must do is to give to it greater purity, greater energy, greater peace, greater harmony with the growth in us of a true humanity.

Bishop Barry, Sermons at Westminster Abbey, p. 35.

I. "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do." The warning is not addressed to utter idlers, to that "sluggard" who is so often the object of the wise king's almost contemptuous admonition. It assumes that men have found something to do, some real interest. It urges them to carry out this in good earnest, to throw themselves into it, to put their heart into it.

II. The temptation for us all, young or old, is not to throw our heart into our work, not to do it "with our might." (1) There is the temptation to think that it does not after all very much matter; that, do what we will, all will be much the same as it has hitherto continued. Solomon felt these benumbing influences with a force which a smaller nature could not have felt, and yet he could deliberately urge as the result of his experience, "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might." (2) We think that we are not well fitted for that work which our hand has been compelled to find to do. All that God requires is that we should do our best. He does not need our works; but He does need let us reverently say it that we should do our best in every work with which our hands are busied. (3) If we ask ourselves why it is that we are in general so little in earnest in our work, conscience at once replies that it is because we allow some trifle to distract our thoughts.

III. Think what would be the case if we did with our might whatever our hand found to do. The might of the weakest is so marvellously strong. It is the sustained, hearty effort which leads to great results.

IV. The maxim of Solomon is based upon a melancholy motive. The Christian has a happier motive for exertion; but from one motive or another, exertion, sustained and hearty, must be forthcoming. (1) With thy might, because the time is short, because the night cometh, when no man can work. (2) With thy might, because the Lord Jesus is looking on, and smiling approval on, every earnest, humble effort. (3) With thy might, because the harvest is infinite, and the labourers are miserably few. (4) With thy might, because the Lord of the harvest condescends to expect much even from thee.

H. M. Butler, Harrow Sermons, p. 398.

The substance of these texts is the duty of earnest and hearty working, the duty of doing with all our might and with all our heart whatever work God lays to our hand. It has to do with:

I. School-work. There is no way of being a scholar but by working for it. It is harder for some than for others, but in every case it is work. In the case of young people it is peculiarly the work which "their hand findeth to do" the work which God gives them, as His work as well as theirs. Regarding this school-work, the command is, "Do it with thy might."

II. Home-work. This runs alongside of the other. The home-work is an important part of the training for after-life. Here, too, the right-hearted will recognise the duty, "Do it heartily, as unto the Lord."

III. Business-work. When school-days are over, we are in the habit of speaking of "beginning to work." Whatever is worth doing is worth doing well; and however humble the work is, it is each one's duty to do it as well as it can be done. It is often when people are busy at their work that the Lord comes to them in the way of blessing.

IV. Soul-work. This is rather a work to be wrought for us than by us. But then we must be in earnest about it. Here again the Lord says, "Do it with thy might."

V. Christian work. What is required of us is just that we should do what we can. The question whether that be little or much need not concern us.

J. H. Wilson, The Gospel and its Fruits, p. 289.

References: Ecclesiastes 9:10 . Plain Sermons by Contributors to "Tracts for the Times" vol. i., p. 62, and vol. v., p. 1; Spurgeon, Sermons, vol. v., No. 259, and vol. xix., No. 1119; Ibid., Morning by Morning, p. 331; J. H. Newman, Parochial and Plain Sermons, vol. vii., p. 1; H. Thompson, Concionalia: Outlines of Sermons for Parochial Use, 2nd series, p. 192; H. W. Beecher, Christian World Pulpit, vol. xi., p. 5, and vol. xxiii., p. 4; J. Kelly, Ibid., vol. xviii., p. 6; J. B. Heard, Ibid., vol. xix., p. 120; Canon Barry, Ibid., vol. xx., p. 216.