ECCLESIASTES 8.14-15

14. There is a vanity which occurs on earth, that there are just men to whom it happens according to the work of the wicked; again, there are wicked men to whom it happens according to the work of the righteous. I said that this also is vanity.

15. So I commended enjoyment, because a man has nothing better under the sun than to eat, drink, and be merry; for this will remain with him in his labor all the days of his life which God gives him under the sun.

The theme of realism continues, as God describes, through the pen of Solomon, a painful paradox – the fact that in this present age, at this present time, just men are sometimes allowed to suffer what the wicked deserve to suffer, whilst wicked men may enjoy great blessings that they do not deserve.

Although we may fret over such evils, we cannot change this world in any fundamental way, nor is our job to do so – which is why Solomon, like Paul, counsels us once again to quietly live our own lives, to serve God joyfully, and eat and drink and be merry – in other words, to enjoy the fruits of our labours.

However, the Christian life is not an easy one, and is described by Jesus himself as taking up a cross (Matthew 16:24), or burden, and following him. Lest we become discouraged too easily on that pilgrimage to glory, Peter reminds believers, Quote: “Dear friends, do not be surprise at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you” (1 Peter 4:12) – adding: “But rejoice that you are partakers of the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed”.

Earlier in the same epistle, Peter says, Quote: “If you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his footsteps” (1 Peter 2:20-21).