May 12, 2021 - Ecclesiastes 4:4-8
My Father was a hard-working man who was employed by two different companies most of my early life. He would get up in the morning and work in a feed mill until noon. Then he would come to prepare for his second job as caretaker in a mental health hospital from 3-11 pm. Besides these two full time jobs, he had a small farm which supplied fresh milk, meat and vegetables for the family.
I was often amazed at how much my father could accomplish in a days’ time. All the hours and time he spent working was impressive to me. I find Solomon’s statement to be true regarding toil and skillful work as being envied by others (v. 4). As I grew older, I also saw that my father missed out on some important aspects of parenting and raising of his children. The need and desire to have material matters caused the relational side of fatherhood to be weakened and as Solomon states, man can become a loner and isolated from other people. The need for toil and labor was such that it consumed most the waking portion of his life.
Helen Keller stated, “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” Working long days or being the king, both led to isolation and lack of companionship. This misfortune was seen and still attributes to what Solomon said was dissatisfaction and loneliness (v. 8).
Christ has made the promise to love us and never to forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). His work is never so great that He does not have time to hear us and to respond to the requests we bring to him. He is a friend that sticks closer than a brother (Prov. 18:24).