There Is No Profit Under the Sun

The Preacher investigated everything under the sun and discovered that there was no advantage with regard to earthly things. He tried all the riches and all other glory, but there was no advantage to any of them. This is a fact. If there is an advantage to it in one way, there is a disadvantage to it in another way, and so it comes out even.

If you have much money, you feel more secure on the one hand, but on the other hand you become more anxious and insecure because you might lose it. Likewise you have more of an opportunity to avoid troubles, whereas on the other hand you are bothered with more taxes, envy, hatred, and a lot of people who want to borrow and have you as a guarantor for loans. Delicious food has the advantage that it tastes nice, but its disadvantage is that one is apt to eat too much of it and thus more easily ruin one’s stomach. A beautiful wife has the advantage that she is more pleasant to look at, but the disadvantage is that others become more easily enamored of her. A luxurious house is certainly more comfortable, but it makes for a lot more toil and anxiety. An older, capable maid has the advantage that the housework is done more efficiently, but the disadvantage is that it is more difficult for her to be subordinate. Having outside help in the house has the advantage that it is easier on you, but it has the disadvantage that it costs more and that it is more difficult to do things the way you like them. Living in the country has the advantage that it is healthier, but it has the disadvantage that there is less variety of people and things. Having a long way to go to work gets you more fresh air, but it takes more time. Living on the first floor has the advantage of not having to climb stairs and leaving the house more easily in case of fire, but living on a higher floor has the advantage that the rooms are brighter and the view is better and there is less traffic past the doors. You can get to a place faster with an automobile, but it is more practical to travel by train. A piece of flat ground has the advantage that it keeps moisture better during a drought, but it has the disadvantage of becoming too wet when there is much rain.

A piece of ground on a hill has the advantage of not getting too saturated even if it rains unusually hard, but its disadvantage is its dryness when there is a lack of rain. Being able to hear well is an advantage when there is something useful to listen to, but it is a disadvantage when you are required to be among talkative, empty people. Having bad hearing has the disadvantage of missing out on hearing much that is good, but it has the advantage that you have a partial prayer closet everywhere.

There is one single advantage under the sun, and that is to fear God and keep His commandments—to do God’s will—because it is perfect!

However, God’s will in outward things—in earthly things—is different for different people; but it is perfect for each single person and in each single circumstance! Glory be to God!