Ecclesiastes 2:21 Commentary and Bible Study

Another aspect of the vanity of this situation is that the normal law of sowing and reaping is completely turned on its head. The one who comes afterwards receives something which he has not worked for, does not deserve, and may totally fail to realise the value of. Hard work should result in gain, but in this case God frustrates the worker, for all his labour results in the gain of another and he gets nothing himself. What then is the point of wisdom and knowledge and skill since the exercise of them only serves to enrich those who lacked an appreciation of their worth. It appears that the world is managed along the worst of principles. What employer would treat his workers like this and fail to reward his honest, hardworking, employee, and reward instead only the lazy and careless? Yet this is how the world treats those who serve it. Does this regime encourage hard work and loyal service? No, it makes men despair of ever doing anything. Every road to gain is barred and every path to satisfaction is blocked off. Why is the world such an inequitable place? Is this how God governs? Far from it, but man has to see what his rebellion has turned the world into. This is the curse which God has put upon mankind to frustrate the desires of all those who would find satisfaction in the idol of this world.