Katelyn Antuna

Cosmin Ritivoiu
English 102
March 18, 2014
Keys to a Happy i!e
"n Ecclesiastes chapter !our, the #reacher$s use o! irony
contrasts historical sym%ols o! success &ith true happiness an'
the reality that the same event happens to the righteous and
the wicked, to the good and the evil, (E)*, Ecc+ ,-2.+ /espite
position, talent, or age, anyone can !ail to live a meaning!ul
li!e0 an' s1ill, su%stance, &ealth, an' authority, all highly
'esira%le attri%utes to a 2e&ish man in the time o! the 1ings o!
"srael, are all in vain i! the possessor lac1s the simple 3oys
o! li!e li1e peace an' companionship+
4rom the start, to %e oppresse' is t&ice 'e!ine' as to
have no comforter (5K2*, Ecc+ 4-1., an' then in verse !our the
s1ille', har'&or1ing man is accuse' o! grasping for the wind,
(Ecc+ 4-4., %ecause he has poor relations &ith his neigh%or 6
7Again, I saw that for all toil and every skillful work a man is
envied by his neighbor. This also is vanity and grasping for the
wind, (Ecc+ 4-4.+ 8hese e9amples o! social poverty are 3u'ge'
'isa'vantageous an' oppressive, out&eighing even material gain+
Again, even poverty &ith peace is 'eeme' %etter than stress!ul
plenty+ As he says in verse si9,

Better a handful with uietness
than both hands full, together with toil and grasping for the
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wind, (Ecc+ 4-:.+Mo'erate su%stance %rings more satis!action
than plenty, contrary to sel!ish human assumptions that more or
%igger is %etter+
8he #reacher$s irony clima9es in an e9ample o! a man &ho
&or1s har' an' sacri!ices to %uil' up &ealth+ 8he !irst
'escription o! him is as %eing alone, &ithout a companion or
successor, There is one alone, without companion! "e has
neither son nor brother, (Ecc+ 4-8.+ 8he #reacher goes on to
e9plain that &ithout a successor there is no success+ 8he rich
man sacri!ices an' is never satis!ie' ; there is no end to all
his labors, nor is his eye satisfied with riches, (Ecc+ 4-8.+
<et he 'oes not &or1 to %ene!it others an' in the en' 'oes not
even %ene!it himsel! ; he never asks, #$or whom do I toil and
deprive myself of good%& (Ecc+ 4-8.+
4rom here the #reacher 3umps into his philosophy !or a
meaning!ul li!e+ He reveals the 1ey to the simple 3oys o! li!e+
He emphasi=es his i'eals o! true success %y placing them in the
center o! the chapter, 3u9tapose' %et&een the hollo& successes
o! the &orl'+ He says, Two are better than one, because they
have a good reward for their labor, (Ecc+ 4-,.+ 4inally there
is !ul!illment an' re&ar' !or e!!ort, an' the 1ey to it is
companionship+ Multiple reasons are given to support this
proposition, one will lift up his companion'they will keep
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warm'two can withstand (an attacker), (Ecc+ 4-10612. %ut he
states his thoughts plainly in verse ten- woe to him who
is alone. 8he ultimate i'eal is presente' at the en' o! this
upli!ting section, a threefold cord is not uickly broken,
(Ecc+ 4-12.+ 8&o 3oine' in li!ting each other up, &arming each
other &ith love an' !ello&ship, an' stan'ing up !or each other
&ill not %e alone+ 8he )pirit o! >o' that encourages these
actions o! Christian love &ill ma1e the union three!ol'+ 8his
three!ol' strength is even %etter than companionship %et&een t&o+
At the en' o! the chapter, the 8eacher ties together his
theme o! irony &ith an e9ample o! a &ise youth+ He says it is
%etter to %e, a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish
king who will be admonished no more, (Ecc+ 4-1?.+Culturally,
'uring the reign o! King )olomon, a 1ing a'vance' in age ha'
more respect an' in!luence than a poor youth+ Again, ho&ever,
the #reacher !lips the ta%les+ @ecause the 1ing will be
admonished no more, (Ecc+ 4-1?. the youth &ho is &ise (is)
made king, (Ecc+ 4-1:. an' all the living who walk under the
sun'(are) with the'youth who stands in (the king&s) place,
(Ecc+ 4-1A.+ 5ot even age an' position %ring happiness or glory0
these things are also in vain+
8hrough 3u9taposition an' irony, the #reacher e!!ectively
contrasts the 'isappointments o! perceive' success an' the
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simplicity o! li!e that %rings 3oy+ 8his contrast %ears
consi'eration to'ay %ecause the %asic 'esires an' aspirations o!
humanity are the same to'ay+ )imple companionship, Buietness,
an' unity are still the 1eys to a happy li!e+
Cor1s Cite'
DEcclesiastes, Chapter 4+D The "oly Bible! *+,- *ew +ing ,ames
-ersion+ #rint+
DEcclesiastes, Chapter ,+D The "oly Bible! ./- .nglish /tandard
-ersion+ #rint+
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