May 20
Verse of the Day for May 20
Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.Ecclesiastes 9:10 KJV
The Key of Purpose · Day 20 of 31
Reflection · 3 min read
Purpose When Nobody Notices
The Preacher is not sentimental. His reason for doing your work with might is blunt. there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave. You will not get this day back.
Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.
Then he admits what we would rather not say aloud. the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong. Skilful people go unrewarded. Clever people stay poor. time and chance happeneth to them all.
That is a strange foundation for purpose, but an honest one. He is not promising that hard work will be noticed. He is saying do it anyway, with your might, because the work is your portion in this life, and because life will soon be over.
Verse nine makes it gentler. Enjoy the life you have with the people you love. The Preacher pairs hard work with quiet joy, not hard work with applause.
The tailor finishing hems late at night, the clerk who checks every figure though nobody reviews them, the father mending a broken chair at home. Nobody may notice. Do it with your might anyway, and then go and eat supper with the people you love.
Nobody may notice the work.Do it with your might anyway.
Life is too short for half hearted work, and too short for joyless work.
Fairness is not guaranteed under the sun, but faithfulness is still possible.
Carry this today
What work have you been doing half heartedly because no one notices it?
Pray
Read Ecclesiastes 9:9–11
9Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun. 10Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest. 11I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.
Keep praying
Reflection by Collins Asein, from the daily devotionals in the PrayerKey app. Bible text: King James Version.