the Third Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
Day by Day Devotional - Year 5 of 5
Ecclesiastes 2:12-26
"What profit hath a man of all his labour?" was the first question asked by the Preacher (Ecclesiastes 1:3). "No profit," was the answer in v. 11. Here he torments himself, his days are sorrow and his labour is grief; even in the night he does not rest (vv. 22, 23). As for the future he realises that nothing is certain.
What should the child of God do when faced with this hopeless picture? (v. 20). He is not forbidden to enjoy life and to see good days down here. But they will not be found by wandering all over the world seeking this illusory happiness. It is up to him to realise the right conditions: "let him refrain his tongue from evil . . . let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace" (1 Peter 3:10-11; when we are not happy, we are very ready to blame others!). On the other hand work is necessary, but it must be quiet, done unto the Lord and not to further our own ambitions (2 Thessalonians 3:12; Colossians 3:23-25). Dear friends, we should each ask ourselves: "What is my objective in work?" Things have a completely different aspect depending on whether they are looked at in the light of the sun or in the light of eternity. Only the latter will show us what is truly profitable.
