Some people do a job. They clock in and clock out. Their work is such that they can leave it all behind when they hop into their car to drive home. Most of these people spend their workdays dreaming of a hobby, an evening with friends, or planning a big tailgate party before the game. There is nothing wrong with doing a job if we do it unto the Lord and work hard to honor him with our work. But, I believe, in today’s passage, Solomon is speaking of another type of worker. 

Ecclesiastes 2:22-23
What has a man from all the toil and striving of heart with which he toils beneath the sun? For all his days are full of sorrow, and his work is a vexation. Even in the night his heart does not rest. This also is vanity.

I believe Solomon addresses the life of a leader. A man who owns a business. A woman who runs a company. There are deadlines to meet—a payroll to make. Customers to please. And always there is a need for more profit margin. This leader does not have the option of quitting and going to another company. She is responsible for the livelihood of others. His neck is on the line every day. There is no clocking in and out. In some senses (I am not saying this is healthy), her mind is always thinking about heavy responsibilities. His days are filled with sorrow—people he has invested in resign, declaring that they have found another job where the culture is better. Her days are filled with exasperation. She hears herself saying often, “Doesn’t anyone else care that our team didn’t deliver on time?!” Many leaders can resonate with the nights of tossing and turning that Solomon describes as “even in the night his heart does not rest.” 

But remember, Solomon looks at work from an “under the sun” perspective. He reframes his worldview to God’s view at the end of the book. He tells us that work makes sense only when seen from an eternal perspective. Now to be sure godly leaders will still have frustrating and exasperating days and a few sleepless nights, but they are never alone. God allows them to see the challenges as a gift from him. Even with temporal frustrations, they maintain an eternal perspective. Christians are placed in positions to serve God and others with their work. An “over the sun” perspective allows life to make sense. 

Father, many strong Christian leaders reading this today may well be going through a challenging time. Doing work the right way doesn’t mean we are on an easy path. But doing work your way means we are right where you want us to be. And you are there with us, growing us today for a new assignment tomorrow. Thank you for your presence in our lives. In Jesus’ name. Amen.