Does Hard Work Bring Happiness?

(Ecclesiastes 2:4-11)
What are you working hard for? The plans you made for yourself and your desires to be
fulfilled?
What have you gained from your hard works? Do you now have your own house and lot?
How about your dream car? Or maybe things that cannot be bought with money like happiness
and recognition.
What are you working hard for and what have you gained from your hard works that fully
satisfy your whole being?
One thing I realized is that hard work brings expectation for rewards; and rewards bring
happiness but never satisfaction.
Have you seen yourself lately? People keep on asking you of how you are doing. People will tell
you how you look weary. People will tell you what to do and not to do. It is because you don’t
know what’s going on; the reality you face. You are too busy looking at the things need to be
done. And every time you look at the mirror, it was all vanity. Don’t tell your reflection that
you’re okay; it can imitate the smile you make but it cannot fake what the heart feels.
Have you heard yourself lately? There are twenty six letters in English alphabet yet you’re only
into “I”. You can be speaking about “U” that refers to others but you’re too focused on “I” for
yourself. Notice how you make your statement, you’ll start with “I” and end with “for myself.”
This is how you do it, “I began doing great things and now I have anything that I want, I can buy
everything I want for myself.” Where do these words lead you? The answer is clearly to you; and
it is heartbreaking to live only for oneself.
Is this what hard work has done in you? I that only matters and setting aside the rest; all works
for oneself and ignoring others, this is terrifying!
Time soon will come and you’ll tell yourself, “But then I looked at everything I had done and
wealth I had gained. I decided it was all useless! It was like trying to catch the wind. There is
nothing to gain from anything we do in this life.” (Ecclesiastes 2:11)
Jesus did not do his will but the Will of his Father. Jesus did not think about himself when he
looks at you; you are the one in his thoughts. Jesus did not give special importance to “I” and
“for me” while he’s living because he sees you more important than he was. Jesus worked not to
have everything and gain anything he wants but to have you and give you what you want, the
peace, freedom, love and joy.
Work not for rewards and happiness; don’t you remember that you already got the reward when
Jesus died on the cross for you? He even suffered just to bring you the happiness that the world
cannot give.
Tell yourself, “No longer I, but Christ lives in me.” (Galatians 2:20)
Not for myself but for His glory.