Does excellence cause envy?

Ecclesiastes 4:4 is one of those interesting verses that is rendered very differently in different translations. Look at the difference between ESV and NKJV:

Then I saw that all toil and all skill in work come from a man’s envy of his eighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind. (Ecclesiastes 4:4; ESV)

Again, I saw that for all toil and every skillful work a man is envied by his neighbor. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind. (Ecclesiastes 4:4; NKJV)

In the first sense of the verse, envy of one’s neighbor is the cause of one’s toil and skill. In the second sense of the verse, one’s skill and toil causes the neighbor to envy. Which translation is better? Which is right? Certainly toil and skill may spring from envy and it may also create envy. This is one of those verses where the 1611 KJV seems to make more sense:

Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.

In any case, this difference in meaning seems important in the light of Philippians 4:8 and Romans 14:13:

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Philippians 4:8; ESV)

Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. (Romans 14:13; ESV)

Do we cause our brothers to stumble through our devotion to skillful toil and excellence?

You can't take it with you

This week is Ecclesiastes 6 week. I'm behind on my commentary for Ecc 4-5 but I have found a lot of cool things there - I will get around to posting that soon. Ecclesiastes 6 is very brief...

There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, and it lies heavy on mankind: a man to whom God gives wealth, possessions, and honor, so that he lacks nothing of all that he desires, yet God does not give him power to enjoy them, but a stranger enjoys them. This is vanity; it is a grievous evil.

If a man fathers a hundred children and lives many years, so that the days of his years are many, but his soul is not satisfied with life's good things, and he also has no burial, I say that a stillborn child is better off than he.

For it comes in vanity and goes in darkness, and in darkness its name is covered. Moreover, it has not seen the sun or known anything, yet it finds rest rather than he.

Even though he should live a thousand years twice over, yet enjoy no good--do not all go to the one place?

All the toil of man is for his mouth, yet his appetite is not satisfied. For what advantage has the wise man over the fool? And what does the poor man have who knows how to conduct himself before the living? Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the appetite: this also is vanity and a striving after wind.

Whatever has come to be has already been named, and it is known what man is, and that he is not able to dispute with one stronger than he. The more words, the more vanity, and what is the advantage to man? For who knows what is good for man while he lives the few days of his vain life, which he passes like a shadow? For who can tell man what will be after him under the sun?

Defense for the Elderly

Ecclesiastes 4-5

Last week was Ecclesiastes 4 week:

Again I saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun. And behold, the tears of the oppressed, and they had no one to comfort them! On the side of their oppressors there was power, and there was no one to comfort them. And I thought the dead who are already dead more fortunate than the living who are still alive. But better than both is he who has not yet been and has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun.

Then I saw that all toil and all skill in work come from a man's envy of his neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind. The fool folds his hands and eats his own flesh. Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of toil and a striving after wind. Again, I saw vanity under the sun: one person who has no other, either son or brother, yet there is no end to all his toil, and his eyes are never satisfied with riches, so that he never asks, "For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?" This also is vanity and an unhappy business.

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him--a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

Better was a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who no longer knew how to take advice. For he went from prison to the throne, though in his own kingdom he had been born poor. I saw all the living who move about under the sun, along with that youth who was to stand in the king's place. There was no end of all the people, all of whom he led. Yet those who come later will not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a striving after wind.

And this week is Ecclesiastes 5 week:

Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. To draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they are doing evil. Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few. For a dream comes with much business, and a fool's voice with many words. When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it, for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you vow. It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay. Let not your mouth lead you into sin, and do not say before the messenger that it was a mistake. Why should God be angry at your voice and destroy the work of your hands? For when dreams increase and words grow many, there is vanity; but God is the one you must fear.

If you see in a province the oppression of the poor and the violation of justice and righteousness, do not be amazed at the matter, for the high official is watched by a higher, and there are yet higher ones over them. But this is gain for a land in every way: a king committed to cultivated fields. He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity. When goods increase, they increase who eat them, and what advantage has their owner but to see them with his eyes?

Sweet is the sleep of a laborer, whether he eats little or much, but the full stomach of the rich will not let him sleep. There is a grievous evil that I have seen under the sun: riches were kept by their owner to his hurt, and those riches were lost in a bad venture. And he is father of a son, but he has nothing in his hand. As he came from his mother's womb he shall go again, naked as he came, and shall take nothing for his toil that he may carry away in his hand. This also is a grievous evil: just as he came, so shall he go, and what gain is there to him who toils for the wind? Moreover, all his days he eats in darkness in much vexation and sickness and anger.

Behold, what I have seen to be good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life that God has given him, for this is his lot. Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil--this is the gift of God. For he will not much remember the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with joy in his heart.

Myrtle Emerson (Parker) Carter

Myrtle Emerson (Parker) Carter, 73 of Big Point passed away April 20, 2008 in Mobile, AL. She was born August 31, 1934 in George County, MS. She is preceded in death by her parents Ivey Emerson and Isabell (Bell) Parker Emerson; grandparents Willey Parker and Martha (McInnis) Parker of Agricola, MS who raised her from birth; her twin sister Margaret Emerson (Parker) Baxter. Also, an uncle Mack Parker of Kingsville, TX; an aunt Myrtle Emerson of Harleston, MS who lived with her for several years. She is survived by her husband William Manuel Carter of Big Point; two daughters Carol Carter (Allen) Elmore of Harleston, Cheryl Ann Carter (Cecil) Miller of Dallas, TX; a son William Levis (Rita) Carter of Agricola, MS; two half sisters Janice Mason of Harleston and Patsy Ruth (Bobby) Broadway of Mobile, AL; a half brother, Gilbert (Freda) Emerson of Escatawpa; six grandchildren Nicholas (Kristy ) Elmore, Susan Elmore( Bud) Stewart, Christie Elmore, Devin Blake Carter, Haley Danielle Carter and Austin William Miller, two step grandchildren, Darren and Sean Spears, two great grandchildren Cole Bryant Stewart and Kenley Paige Stewart; an uncle Claude (Wylene) Parker of McComb, MS; an aunt Mary Alice Parker Trehern of Escatawpa, "we were raised up as sisters." An aunt Agnes Parker of Kingsville, TX. She has been a faithful member of Big Point United Methodist Church for 50 years. She was treasurer of the church for 19 years. He is so faithful in his promises.

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She learned at an early age to "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths." Prov. 3:5-6. Casting all your cares upon Him for he careth for you. I Peter 5:7 "But my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Jesus Christ" Phil 4:19. She also sang in the choir. She loved music and singing God's messages praying it would touch others and their lives would be changed. Her life was changed by reading the words of a song "Have Thine Own Way Lord" and she gave her life over to God to do with it whatever His will was. She has held fast to this promises knowing that one day God would be calling her home to be with Him in heaven.

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Visitation will be Wednesday, April 23rd from 6:00 until 9:00 p.m. at Holder-Wells Funeral Home in Moss Point, MS. Funeral services are 10:00 a.m. Thursday, April 24th at Big Point United Methodist Church with Rev. Kevin Bradley, Dr. Bryce Evans and Dr. Charlotte Mansfield officiating. Friends may call one hour prior to service time. Interment will be at Agricola Cemetery. Arrangements by Holder-Wells Funeral Home, Moss Point, MS family owned and operated.

Adding to and taking from

One of the first things that jumped out at me about Ecclesiastes 3 was the apparent relationship between the following passages:

I perceived that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it. God has done it, so that people fear before him. (Ecclesiastes 3:14)

and...

I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. (Revelations 22:18-19)

and ...

For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:18-19)

So, in the light of Ecclesiastes 3:14, which certainly seems like an orthodox view of things, how could someone be allowed to add to or take away from the Word, which was established by God? Curious...

Ecclesiastes 3

This week is Ecclesiastes 3 week. The first part of this includes the famous lines:

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace. (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8; ESV)

Followed by a section of prose about work:

What gain has the worker from his toil? I have seen the business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil--this is God's gift to man. I perceived that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it. God has done it, so that people fear before him. That which is, already has been; that which is to be, already has been; and God seeks what has been driven away. (Ecclesiastes 3:9-15)

And a section about the common end of people and animals:

Moreover, I saw under the sun that in the place of justice, even there was wickedness, and in the place of righteousness, even there was wickedness. I said in my heart, God will judge the righteous and the wicked, for there is a time for every matter and for every work. I said in my heart with regard to the children of man that God is testing them that they may see that they themselves are but beasts. For what happens to the children of man and what happens to the beasts is the same; as one dies, so dies the other. They all have the same breath, and man has no advantage over the beasts, for all is vanity. All go to one place. All are from the dust, and to dust all return. Who knows whether the spirit of man goes upward and the spirit of the beast goes down into the earth? So I saw that there is nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his work, for that is his lot. Who can bring him to see what will be after him? (Ecclesiastes 3:16-22)

Joy in the face of frustration

Another thing that is wonderful about Ecclesiastes 2 is that it explicitly states that there is nothing in the world better than enjoying the fruits of your own labor. Eating things you’ve grown (as in Gen 3:17-19) in a home you’ve worked to pay to own with family that you support with your labor.

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Some folks have said that early Christianity was a proto-communism (perhaps the only working communism in history) because Jesus’ followers had nothing of their own and shared and collected their wealth in common and distributed it as needed (Acts 2:44f). But Ecclesiastes 2 is directly anti-communist, and this is reflected in the NT:

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Jesus on the road to Emmaus began in the beginning and expounded the scriptures, telling that all the scripture (including Ecclesiastes 2) is a story of Himself, Jesus as Messiah. Jesus’ followers could not have set up a form of church government based on the idea that wealth should be shared to the point that one cannot enjoy the work of his own hands. That enjoyment is a gift from God.

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(Also, there is the passage about muzzling the oxen when treading grain. Then again, there is the tradition of the tithe and the firstfruits – it was acceptable to give a mere 10% so long as you gave the first and best.)

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Ecclesiastes 2 says that work for the sake of accumulation of wealth is futile and frustrating, but that God gives us the ability to take joy in the work of our hands and to enjoy the fruits of our labors. In fact, it says there is nothing better in the world!

Ecclesiastes 2 week

This week is Ecclesiastes 2 week:

I said in my heart, "Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy yourself." But behold, this also was vanity. I said of laughter, "It is mad," and of pleasure, "What use is it?" I searched with my heart how to cheer my body with wine--my heart still guiding me with wisdom--and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was good for the children of man to do under heaven during the few days of their life. I made great works. I built houses and planted vineyards for myself. I made myself gardens and parks, and planted in them all kinds of fruit trees. I made myself pools from which to water the forest of growing trees. I bought male and female slaves, and had slaves who were born in my house. I had also great possessions of herds and flocks, more than any who had been before me in Jerusalem. I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I got singers, both men and women, and many concubines, the delight of the children of man. So I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me. And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my reward for all my toil.
Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun. So I turned to consider wisdom and madness and folly. Forwhat can the man do who comes after the king? Only what has already been done. Then I saw that there is more gain in wisdom than in folly, as there is more gain in light than in darkness. The wise person has his eyes in his head, but the fool walks in darkness. And yet I perceived that the same event happens to all of them. Then I said in my heart, "What happens to the fool will happen to me also. Why then have I been so very wise?" And I said in my heart that this also is vanity. Forof the wise as of the fool there is no enduring remembrance, seeing that in the days to come all will have been long forgotten. How the wise dies just like the fool! So I hated life, because what is done under the sun was grievous to me, for all is vanity and a striving after wind. I hated all my toil in which I toil under the sun, seeing that I must leave it to the man who will come after me, and who knows whether he will be wise or a fool? Yet he will be master of all for which I toiled and used my wisdom under the sun. This also is vanity. So I turned about and gave my heart up to despair over all the toil of my labors under the sun,because sometimes a person who has toiled with wisdom and knowledge and skill must leave everything to be enjoyed by someone who did not toil for it. This also is vanity and a great evil. What has a man from all the toil and striving of heart with which he toils beneath the sun? For all his days are full of sorrow, and his work is a vexation. Even in the night his heart does not rest. This also is vanity. There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God, for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment? For to the one who pleases him God has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner he has given the business of gathering and collecting, only to give to one who pleases God. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.