Ecclesiastes 4:4

"And. have seen that every labor and every skill which is done is the result of rivalry between. man and his neighbor. This too is vanity and striving after wind."

"is done is the result of rivalry" -"that the basic motive for success is the driving force of envy and jealousy" (Tay).

Points To Note:

1 Unusual skill, talent and success seem only to expose. man to envy and ill will from his neighbor. Which naturally rob labor and talent of lasting enjoyment. 2. "First, the competitive urge….We may quibble if we will, and remind him (Solomon) of such people as solitary castaways or needy peasants, who toil simply to keep alive, or those artists who really love perfection for its own sake; but the fact remains that all too much of our hard work and high endeavor is mixed with the craving to outshine or not to be outshone. Even in friendly rivalry this may play. larger part than we think----for we can bear to be outclassed for some of the time and by some people, but not too regularly or too profoundly" (Kidner p. 45). 3.. believe that many of us have experienced the above. We buy. new car, home, etc…, only to find someone trying to find fault with our choice.. just seems that whenever we get something really nice, someone tries to shoot us down or find. flaw in our selection. 4. In addition, how many of us have inherently linked our personal worth with our economic worth?