Ecclesiastes 4
OPPRESSION From the beginning of Genesis right through the Bible, God warns us of believers accepting or assimilating the values of the world. Even though we live in the world and are not of the world, the world view can be attractive and quite subtle. It is often difficult to identify it for what it really is. There is in every one who is in fellowship with God, a sense of what is right and appropriate, but we find it hard to analyze what is wrong with the worldview when we are questioned. So we need to consider ourselves and our attitude to avoid succumbing to those unbiblical values. This chapter gives warnings: success makes a person an object of envy; idleness brings ruin on one’s self; Accumulation of possession brings care and disappointment.
Our life is designed for companionship. If we become obsessed with money and accomplishments to the neglecting of relationships, we will be miserable and life will be futile. The real purpose of life is to glorify God. Life is to be lived in a balanced way so that beside work and business, there is tranquility and quietness of spirit. In those times we mature and understand practical godliness. Christian thinking is far different than corporate thinking. The goals of the first last forever. The unfortunate results of corporate commitment are temporary here and valueless after death.
The focus of those who believe in God, know God and our Lord Jesus Christ personally by faith is: “What is God’s will? What pleases Him? How does what I do further the purposes of His everlasting kingdom?” The perspective of one who lives eternal life now with an eternal objective, is far higher and more satisfying in every way than life lived only for these few short years.
The Preacher raised the question as to why oppression is allowed. He raised skepticism about how moral order governed by God allows such cruelty. Oppressors often have so much power it is impossible to break free from the oppression, malice and heartlessness that is so hurtful. He wonders if it is not better to be dead rather than suffer the heavy hand of oppression. He considered that it would have been better to not have been born than to suffer oppression under which some people live. Those who live by faith are often concerned by the contrast of what we believe and what we see around us. So, we have to take time to consider the events of the past and the promises of the future, in the light of the present. The worldview of a believer is larger than the limits of our experience. That is one of the major differences between a Christian worldview and a secular worldview. God’s redemption is working in the context of the sinfulness around us, in contrast to the perfection of grace that shines in the darkness of human need. We actually become participants of grace when our need is acknowledged and our inability to change ourselves is unmistakable.
How is moral order and balance achieved and maintained? Rivalry in the workplace is a strong motivation to produce results. However, rivalry can soon bring injustice and oppression because of greed and envy. It is possible to be better than all rivals and gain over all competition, but at the end, what meaning is there to that? What gains and what loses? The contrast is those who won’t do anything. Fools refuse to work and end up with nothing – not even food to eat. We are to work hard, but with moderation so that we can enjoy meaningful work, and still be able to enjoy other things around us, and the friendships of other people. For believers we can be content when we are full and abound, or when we recognize our Gracious Father has allowed us to be abased. Quietness of spirit can be experienced when we realize whether we have much or little depends on God who gives or restrains from giving. The point is to enjoy the little or the great that He chooses to give, and be thankful. The Preacher sums up all that went before verse seven, and what comes after as meaningless – vanity.
For some reason this man is lonely with no relatives to share his life with. It is likely he was too busy doing his own thing to cultivate friendships and establish meaningful relationships. He doesn’t stop working like a man obsessed, and is not satisfied with what he has. That kind of person is not usually considerate of other people and isn’t inclined to share what he has with others. So, he ends up a joyless, miserable person people avoid. Relationships and friendships are important and needed to live a normal life. Cooperation with others has all kinds of advantages. When one is in trouble and can’t help himself, he has help available to him. When loneliness and despair threaten to overwhelm us, companions are there to lift our spirits and give us the comfort we need. If there are serious difficulties, we will need help from others. How much better is the “three-fold” cord that includes the Lord who gives unbreakable strength to keep people together and strong. Believers need each other – and we need God.
To gain power and popularity – even prestige, is only temporary at best. They have no lasting meaning as far as goals in life are concerned. A poor young man just out of prison can possibly go all the way to the top and replace an old king. It won’t be long and the people who followed the old king will quickly change and follow the young leader. An attitude of gratitude is not easy to find among a valueless population. All they want is what is best for themselves. How sad it is when one reaches the top without God. There is no place else to go, and no other reason for existing. It is all total vanity.