Benjamin Franklin is one of the most frequently quoted figures in American history—and quite possibly the only Founding Father who could also sell you a lightning rod, publish your almanac, and fix your printing press before lunch. His sayings are so familiar that people often mistake them for Scripture. I’ve even heard someone say, “You know, the Bible says, ‘Cleanliness is next to godliness,’” when, in fact, it was Brother Ben, not Brother Paul, who coined that phrase. Franklin had a knack for packaging common sense in catchy sound bites, most of which had a healthy dose of capitalism baked in. “Nothing but money is sweeter than honey.” “Beware of small expenses; a small leak will sink a great ship.” “A penny saved is a penny earned.” He was America’s first motivational poster. Alongside his passion for thrift, he also preached the gospel of hard work: “Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.” And while that advice may not guarantee sainthood, it probably explains why Franklin became such a successful businessman, inventor, and statesman.
When you open the book of Ecclesiastes, you meet another man with Franklin-like tendencies—Solomon, the original philosopher-king, who also had plenty to say about work, wealth, and wisdom. He introduces himself as “the preacher” or “the teacher,” and right from the start he asks a question that would have caught even Franklin off guard: “What does it profit a man for all the hard work he does under the sun?” (Ecclesiastes 1:3). Solomon revisits that question again and again, like a refrain in a melancholy song. The expected answer each time is simple: “Nothing.” All the sweat, struggle, and striving “under the sun” leads to no lasting gain. His conclusion? “Vanity of vanities,” or as we might say, “It’s all pointless.” But before you cancel your to-do list, notice that key phrase—“under the sun.” It’s unique to Ecclesiastes and crucial to understanding Solomon’s point.
According to the United Bible Societies’ Handbook for Translators, “under the sun” can also be rendered “in this life.” From that perspective, Solomon’s argument makes perfect sense—when life is viewed purely from an earthly vantage point, nothing we achieve truly lasts. Yet the Handbook also notes that Solomon eventually hints at something beyond “this life.” In other words, there is meaning—just not here, not “under the sun,” but “above” it. The Apostle Paul picks up this very theme when he writes about the resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15. After proving that our labor has eternal value, he concludes in verse 58 (New Living Translation), “So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.” Franklin might have said, “A penny saved is a penny earned,” but Solomon and Paul remind us that a life lived for God is an investment with eternal dividends.