Ecclesiastes 9:10
Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest. Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.
What the hand finds is the present duty within reach in the place assigned, including small, ordinary, nearby tasks, and it is to be done with full strength, earnestness, energy, thoroughness and cheerfulness, because the grave ends all activity, planning, thought and awareness. Death is an unconscious sleep without work, thought, knowledge or wisdom, not a passage into conscious bliss or torment, and the dead feel nothing and know nothing of earthly events until awakened at the resurrection. Whatever work comes to hand, whether service to God, religious duties, or ordinary labor such as farming, housework, skilled trades and care of the sick, is to be taken up whether pleasing or not and done carefully, exactly, promptly and faithfully as in the sight of God. Earthly work belongs to the present before going to the grave, opportunities for service end at death, and time is limited and precious, so the appointed duty is to be done now with full strength and without delay. Faithfulness in small, everyday, nearby opportunities develops talents, strength and skill for greater work and graver responsibilities, while humble daily duties done cheerfully and wholeheartedly are sacred as part of God's service and bring happiness and blessing.
Phrases and Setting
What the hand finds is the present duty within reach in the place assigned, and it is to be taken up where one is rather than left undone while waiting for something else. It includes small, ordinary, nearby tasks and not only large or preferred undertakings, so faithfulness is not excused because a greater work cannot be done. Neglect of these daily opportunities leaves a person fruitless, while doing what is at hand develops talents and ability and can prepare for greater service. No one should remain idle when work needs doing, but should give wholehearted, cheerful, grateful effort to whatever work comes to hand, including service to God.
To do it with might is to do it with full strength, earnestness, energy, thoroughness, promptness, carefulness and cheerfulness. It calls for mind and intellect as well as physical strength, with heart put into the task to plan well, use time well, and learn better, more efficient methods. Slowness and careless, bungling methods are defects to be corrected rather than excused as virtues, and workers can choose to reform habits and cultivate abilities for the best service. Faithful, skillful work in any necessary occupation is honorable, and the way a person works reveals motive and develops character rather than justifying avoidance of demanding tasks.
There is no work, device, knowledge or wisdom in the grave because the grave ends all activity, planning, thought and awareness. It is a place of silence and unconscious sleep, not a life of awareness elsewhere with immediate reward or punishment. The dead do no work and have no thought or knowledge, feel nothing, have no awareness of the passage of time, do not observe earthly events and do not praise God. Earthly work therefore belongs to the present life before going to the grave, while the grave itself belongs to the future after present earthly life, with hope lying beyond death in the resurrection when the righteous asleep shall be awakened to think again and receive immortality.
Death Without Consciousness
The grave holds no work, no planning, no thought, no knowledge, no wisdom and no activity, for death is a state without consciousness. It is an unconscious sleep and a place of silence, not immediate reward or punishment and not a life of awareness elsewhere. It is not a passage into conscious heavenly bliss or into conscious torment, for the dead feel nothing. They have no awareness of the passage of time, so that when they are awakened the whole interval will seem to them like a moment.
The dead do not observe what happens on earth and take no part in earthly events. They do not praise God, for hope and praise belong to the living. Their hope lies beyond death, in the resurrection, and the righteous do not go to heaven at death but await that awakening. The righteous remain asleep until God awakens them, when they begin to think again and receive immortality.
This unconsciousness in the grave contradicts the belief in natural immortality and consciousness after death. That belief helped give rise to the invocation of saints and the adoration of Mary. It also helped give rise to the teaching of eternal torment for the finally impenitent.
Wholehearted Diligent Labor
Whatsoever the hand finds to do is to be done with all strength, and this charge reaches every kind of labor, including service to God, religious duties, and ordinary work such as setting type, tending an engine, farming, clearing land, planting, harvesting, washing dishes, sweeping, and caring for the sick. Every task undertaken is to receive earnest, full effort, done carefully and exactly rather than carelessly or indolently, and done promptly because time is precious and service calls for diligence. Work itself is a blessing, and diligent labor guards against the dangers of idleness.
The duty that needs doing is to be taken up rather than avoided because it is difficult, unpleasant, or lowly, and is to be carried out whether pleasing or not. Christian labor follows duty and God's will rather than personal inclination, pleasure, self, ease, or ambition, and time for duty is limited and therefore to be redeemed through unselfish service. The way a person works reveals motive and develops character, so demanding tasks are to be done carefully and diligently rather than shunned.
Work is to be thorough, prompt, diligent, and careful, done as in the sight of God and the heavenly universe and not slighted or done carelessly. Business, farming, and skilled trades are to be carried out faithfully and as near perfection as possible, reflecting integrity and Christlike character. Slowness and careless, bungling methods are defects to be corrected rather than excused as virtues, and this includes bringing mind and intellect to plan well, learn, and find better, more efficient methods rather than relying on physical strength alone. Workers can choose to reform habits and cultivate abilities for the best service, since faithful, skillful work in any necessary occupation is honorable.
Faithfulness in small, everyday, nearby opportunities develops talents, strength, skill, and ability for greater work and graver responsibilities. Doing the small work within reach successfully prepares for larger work, training the soul to exert effort in proportion to the work required, to bear burdens, to overcome self and difficulties, and to become master of circumstances. This includes ordinary duties nearest to hand rather than neglected ambitions or preferred plans, for those duties can prepare for greater service. Neglecting daily opportunities and slighting little things, by contrast, leaves a person fruitless, withered, and unprepared.
Service in any place or task assigned is to be cheerful, grateful, and wholehearted, with no one remaining idle when work needs doing. Faithful, self-forgetting duty brings happiness and gladness in life. Religion is to be brought into every task and Christ into all that is done, and even humble daily duties are sacred as part of God's service, to be done cheerfully with praise and thanksgiving.
Faithfulness and integrity in small duties and acts of kindness matter to God, and when earthly work is finished each little duty performed faithfully will be treasured by Him.
Every person is to be a worker consecrating himself wholly to service as a steward accountable to God, with responsibility measured by entrusted gifts and clearness in understanding Scripture. Following the same great purpose that constrained Paul to press forward through hardship to win souls, each is to do his best, press forward in the face of hardship and difficulty, use each talent wisely to increase its usefulness and fulfill its appointed purpose, and learn through daily prayer how to do better work and bring the loving ministry of the Saviour into service. Putting truth into practice to bless others is part of working out salvation, as God works within to will and do what pleases Him, and through this work character required of heaven's heirs is cultivated, leading at last to the commendation of Well done.
Urgency of Present Opportunity
Earthly work belongs to the present life before going to the grave, for opportunities for work and service end at death. The duty appointed for the present is therefore to be done now with full strength, taking up the work within reach and carrying it out faithfully and diligently. This calls for bringing religion into every task and serving in a way that honors God, faithfully carrying out the ordinary duties nearest at hand rather than neglecting them for personal ambitions or preferred plans. Those nearby duties can prepare for greater service.
In God-appointed duties prompt and decisive action can bring success, while delay and neglect lead to failure and dishonor to God. Labor is urgent because the time for duty is limited and precious, and it is to be redeemed through unselfish service rather than spent on self, ease, or pleasure. This applies to every kind of labor, including farming, clearing land, planting, and harvesting, where faithful, interested work is to be done promptly, not carelessly or indolently, because time is precious and service to God calls for diligence. The Lord's coming is near and freedom to work may soon be restricted, so the work should be advanced wherever possible without delay.
While probation lingers people are to work while it is day, using the means and abilities entrusted in the Master's service to spread truth and sow beside all waters while keeping the soul in the love of God. Whatever duty comes next is to be done with might, with might expressed as cheerfulness and energy while there is opportunity. Any sacrifice required is to be made cheerfully.
Applications to Life Callings
Ministers who teach the way of life and labor to save souls are to work earnestly, zealously, untiringly and without weariness, putting all their strength into the task. Their earnest energy is to keep increasing as they use every ability in God's work. Listless preaching cannot move hearts, for truth must first have power in the minister's own heart and stir his own life before it can stir others.
Every church member should take up some form of labor for God rather than remain idle. Such labor includes encouraging people to read, speaking with them, praying with them, using personal ability in doing good to others, and putting truth into practice to bless others. By thus working out salvation as God works within to will and do His pleasure, believers cultivate the character required of heaven's heirs.
A woman who faithfully and cheerfully cares for her home, helps her husband and helps carry his burdens, and trains her children for God is willingly doing the important mission and work God has given her. This wholehearted attention to present home duties prepares her children for a higher life.
Those able to teach and serve in the Southern field should begin the work at once rather than wait for prominent leaders, carrying truth and seeking the salvation of both white and Black people without partiality and using every God-given talent now. Institutional obstacles are not to stop willing workers, and those in responsible positions should support rather than hinder them. Likewise volunteers should leave established centers such as Battle Creek to spread truth and help others, acting without slackness and with persevering energy and ability in useful work.
In practical labor, including farming, clearing land, planting, harvesting, business and skilled trades, whatever comes to hand is to be done promptly, faithfully and with interested diligence rather than carelessly, indolently or slightingly. Such work is done as in the sight of God and the heavenly universe, as nearly to perfection as possible, reflecting integrity and Christlike character. Even one without full education or training for the task required in the Lord's institutions can be trusted when serving Christ rather than self, for the Lord supplies needed strength, courage and ability, so that faithful work develops greater capability.
In schools and teaching, all work of hands and mind is to be done well, thoroughly and with earnest effort, faithfulness, order and diligence. Duties thus performed honor and glorify Christ the Redeemer who purchased His people with His blood, while negligence and carelessness cause spiritual loss. Teachers are to work in partnership with Christ, laying aside every hindrance and besetting sin to follow Him wholeheartedly.