THEOSISGregory of Nyssa
He expresses that such thinking is foreign to his spirit; it is as though the reward for the virtuous and the slothful is one and the same. The virtuous person, he explains, toils with wisdom, understanding, and bravery, while the latter succumbs to frustration and the burdens brought about by earthly concerns. Thus, to equate these two paths is not only futile but also deceptive. He articulates this sentiment: "And I turned my heart from all labor, by which I labored under the sun." Indeed, there exists a person who labors in wisdom, understanding, and courage, and yet another who does not strive for such virtues. Consequently, why would one extend preference to the one who lacks diligence?
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For, as Ecclesiastes points out, the one who has labored in righteousness shall receive his portion from the other; and this is described as "vanity and great deceit."
Is it not a significant deception to underestimate the effort and intent behind a man's work? Ecclesiastes clarifies this by stating: "for he knows a man in all his labor, and in the will of his heart, by which he toils under the sun." What exactly does he acknowledge? "How all the days of his sickness and fury his care, and in the night his heart does not sleep." Indeed, the existence of those whose souls are restless due to temptation is lamentable; their hearts are tormented by desires that burden them. This relentless yearning, which does not find joy in possession but is rather pained by absence, consumes such individuals day and night, leaving no respite. In fact, the pursuit of gain allows no room for rest. Therefore, how can one who observes these struggles fail to see this carelessness as vanity? Ecclesiastes reiterates this point: "And this also is vanity."