THEOSISGregory of Nyssa
He expresses that such a notion is foreign to his spirit; as if the reward for the righteous and the indifferent is the same. The righteous, he notes, toils with wisdom, understanding, and bravery, while the indifferent is consumed with anxiety and the trials stemming from worldly affairs. Thus, he argues, to equate them is not merely folly but also deceit. He states, "And I turned my heart from all labor, by which I labored under the sun." There exists a man who works in wisdom, understanding, and courage; yet, another who has not strived for these will indeed share in the good outcomes, which he identifies as vanity and significant deception. How does a man navigate all his toil and the inclinations of his heart while laboring under the sun?
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Throughout his days of suffering and turmoil, he remains troubled, and at night, his heart finds no rest; this is vanity. He informs someone that he has detached his spirit from this world and is prepared to convey in a single statement what he has to say. He is maligned by those who detest rightful judgments, as if, recognizing the stark differences between the two contrasting lives, one pursuing righteousness untainted by earthly desires, and the other engrossed in the contrary, he can tolerate no virtuous endeavors, instead investing his time solely in physical pursuits. Why, when judgments about beauty are spoken before him, he dismisses the one who exceeds in wisdom, offering not just vanity but also false and unjust assessments. Ecclesiastes articulates it this way: "And I turned," he says, "and I turned my heart from all labor, and by it I labored under the sun." What exactly has he renounced? "For there is a man whose labor is in wisdom, and in understanding, and in courage," while the other has put forth no effort in such matters. Therefore, why would another man favor such an individual? Because, Ecclesiastes remarks, the one "who labored for him," meaning the one who lived a life of goodness, "will give him his portion"; this symbolizes that he will declare such a life as a worthy share. However, this, according to Ecclesiastes, is "vanity and great deceit." Is it not profound deceit to comprehend the levels of diligence and obstinacy in a person? Ecclesiastes conveys it in these words: "For he knows a man in all his labor, and in the will of his heart, by which he toils under the sun." What does he understand? "How all the days of his sickness and fury his care, and in the night his heart sleepeth not." Truly, the existence of those whose souls are restless in this trial is lamentable; their hearts are pained by unfulfilled desires. This greediness among the avaricious is tormenting, driven not by a joy in their possessions but by sorrow over what they lack; such individuals labor both day and night, dividing their time between toil and sleeplessness. For the worries of gain allow no rest. Hence, how can one who observes these matters overlook this thoughtlessness as vanity? Ecclesiastes reaffirms, "And this also is vanity."