“And I see that there’s nothing good but for a person to enjoy their work; because, it is their slice of the whole. After all, who comes into this world able to see what will follow after they’re gone” (Ecclesiastes 3.22)?
The older I get, the more I find comfort and wisdom in the words of the Teacher of Ecclesiastes. In my youth, I found the outlook here to be sort of depressing. I mean, everything is nothing but hot air? That seems like a crummy way of looking at things. But, nowadays, I find this book full of joy and hope.
Before digging into this, let’s not narrowly define work here. I’ve been in several crummy jobs in my life; so, it’s important not to take the Teacher with this sort of literal idea that there’s nothing but to just enjoy your job, even if you hate it. Work is so much more than our jobs.
God wastes nothing. At the end of history when all is made new and death and hell have been destroyed, there will be no trash to take out. Unlike our human projects where there’s always a unnecessary screw or a bit from a too-long plank to tote off to the curb, God’s work uses every last piece available to complete the whole.
This means that everyone who shows up will have a task to perform. Strong, weak, tall, short, indoor, outdoor there’s something that anyone can be put to doing. This is the redemption of everything, after all.
In Jewish faith, this work is known as tikkun olam or the healing of the world. This is the work that the Teacher is talking to us about. These words aren’t about loving the job you’re in but about rejoicing in whatever task God has set before you today that will forward the healing of Creation.
Why is this perhaps one of the only things that matter? Because, this world can be discouraging.
As a whole, it can seem like humanity’s not that interested in seeing all things made new. Despite the good of so many actions, there’s always someone who’s resistant. Suggest that, perhaps, it might be good to lower emissions and reduce the amount of pollution we’re putting into the air and someone will argue how regressive and destructive that would be. Dare to put forward that people, all people, should be paid a fair wage for their work and there’ll be some group that explains to you how you’re going to cause the economy to collapse.
All this can take the joy out of any small thing we’re doing, and it can make what we do seem futile, useless.
This is why the Teacher tells us to rejoice in that work. Notice, we’re not told to rejoice in the results but in the work itself, the task at hand. No one, after all, knows what’s going to happen tomorrow or the next day. This means we have no way to know if what we’re doing has made a difference or not. We don’t have the long, eternal view of the Divine.
In the story of the workers in the vineyard, Jesus tells us that everyone ended up with work to do that day. Some did more, some did less. But, at sunset, no one had been left without some task to perform. Maybe the late-day workers didn’t make as big an impact, but they worked, they had something to do in the vineyard for that day.
Whatever you are called to do today is work that is a part of making all things new. You’re as essential to the project as any of us. Your hands are needed, and the work you do may have an impact far beyond what you will ever be able to see.
And there is nothing better than that.
Love Incarnate, help me to take joy in the work you have given me to help make all things new.