What does man gain from all his labor at which he toils under the sun? (Ecclesiastes 1:3)
Twenty-nine times Solomon uses the phrase “under the sun” in the book of Ecclesiastes. In chapter 1 verse 9 he wrote, What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.
Solomon concludes his advice, Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. (Ecclesiastes 12:13)
Solomon was given great wisdom by God, but the Bible tells us he made his share of serious mistakes as well. It is clear his verse 13 conclusion applies, but Solomon did not directly know of the new covenant brought to us by Christ and spelled out concerning our earthly toil in Colossians 3:23-24.
Whatever you do work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. We must remember Christ made the sun and is not under it or any other natural thing, and his promises to us are true! Therefore, we must work each day as working for the Lord, not men.
