is it ok just to eat drink and be merry

Series - ‘How can I make sense of life?’

Today

‘Is it OK just to eat, drink and be merry?’

Ecclesiastes 2:17-26

Key to understanding Ecclesiastes

Viewpoint 1

‘Secular’ person

Earthbound (under the sun)

God not in view

Meaningless

Viewpoint 2

‘Spiritual’ person

Heaven bound

God included

Meaningful

Theme of the Book

‘Without God, everything is meaningless’

1. Life with God out of the picture Ecc 2:17-23 2. Life with God included Ecc 2:24-26

Hard work isn’t the key to a meaningful existence

So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me.

All of it is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

Ecc 2:17

“We have always had a sense that work is not only a necessity, it is a duty and

indeed a virtue … Work is not merely a way of receiving a pay packet, but a

means whereby everyone in the community benefits and society is enriched … we need to establish a

national purpose that has a real meaning”


1. Work is grievous (Heb ‘rah’)

2. Hates all he’s amassed because:-

a. Everything left to someone else - 2:18

b. Beneficiaries might be wise or foolish - 2:19

c. Everything left to those who haven’t worked for it - 2:21


What do people get for all the toil and anxious striving with which they labour

under the sun? All their days their work is grief and pain; even at night their minds

do not rest. This too is meaningless

Ecc 2:22-23

God ‘worked’ in creation

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth

Gen 1:1

By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the

seventh day he rested from all his work Gen 2:2

Work is a God-given Privilege

The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to

work it and take care of it

Gen 2:15

Work is a God-given Privilege

By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to

the ground

Gen 3:19a

Work has a Purpose

Satisfaction for the Creator

God saw all that he had made, and it was very good

Gen 1:31

Work has a Purpose

Satisfaction for us?

So my heart began to despair over all my toilsome labour under the sun.

Ecc 2:20

Work has a Purpose

Satisfaction for us?

A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their own toil. This too … is from the hand of God, for

without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?

Ecc 2:24-25

The people of Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand on the

seashore; they ate, they drank and they were happy

1 Kings 4:20

Solomon’s daily provisions were 30 cors of the finest flour and 60 cors of meal, 10

head of stall-fed cattle, 20 of pasture-fed cattle and 100 sheep and goats, as well as

deer, gazelles, roebucks and choice fowl

1 Kings 4:22-23

Work has a Purpose

Serving others

... serve one another in love

Gal 5:13

... whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God

1 Cor 10:31

Work often results in Pressure

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest

Matt 11:28

Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest

Mark 6:31b

Do you see the work you do as a privilege?

How can you find greater satisfaction in what you do?

Are you a pleasure to work with?

Are you obedient and dependable?

Do you treat others fairly?

What difference would it make if you worked for Jesus?

Are you where God wants you?

Do you pray daily about your work?

Do you feel guilty about taking time out?

Bring God into the Picture

for without Him, who can eat or find enjoyment? To the person who pleases

Him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner He gives the

task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God

Ecc 2:25-26a