In 3:22 the Preacher surmises that a man should find joy in
his own work since that is his portion, i.e., this is what he has opportunity
to do to fulfill his God-given responsibility to work. Of course, we know from
all of the Scripture that one is to do his work as unto the Lord and do it in
the strength of the Lord. Only then will one find true joy in his own work.
Then, in the same verse, he asks, “Who can bring him to see
what will be after him?” In one sense we know that no one can know the future.
No one can tell us what the future holds in this life. That is why Jesus said,
“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for
itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” (Matthew 6:34) Since we
can’t know the future, we should trust God’s provision (Matthew 6:25-33) while
we do our “own work” for his glory and by his strength.
But in another sense we have a perfect answer for the
question, “Who can bring him to see what will be after him?” Answer: God
through his Word. In this sense the future we are speaking of comes after
death. What will be after us when we die? God has told us what awaits us as
believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. All we have to do is read it and believe
it. Paul lets us know that to be absent from this body is to be present with
the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:1-10) We can know with certainty “what will be after
[us]” in an eternal sense because the Lord has revealed it to us in his Word.
Glory!
So, Preacher of Ecclesiastes, our eternal future is secure
in Christ. Above all else, the one thing that is not “vanity” is knowing Christ
and following him.
Prayer: Father, thank you for the certainty of eternity as
revealed in your Word. Thank you for the gospel that fills our mind and filters
our thoughts as we read the words of the Preacher of Ecclesiastes. Thank you
for giving us work in which to find fulfillment as we look forward to the day
when our work is done and we rest in you.
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