Envy and Rivalry

Eccles. 4:4-6

4 Then I saw that all toil and all skill in work come from a man's envy of his neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.5 The fool folds his hands and eats his own flesh.6 Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of toil and a striving after wind.

• How many scientific advances were the off-shoot of the "space race" or "arms race"?
  - Why did it take a "race" to produce the everyday advances that were eventually `seen?
  - Why weren't the everyday advances motivation enough?
  
• Why is competition a powerful motivator in many people?
  - What are some positive outcomes of competition and rivalry?
  - What are some negative outcomes of competition and rivalry?
  - Why is rivalry and competition vanity and chasing the wind?
  
• How often are you motivated by rivalry?
  - How strong is your competitive nature?
  - Which would produce your best performance: a comparison with yourself or with someone else?
  
• What is Solomon's view of rest?
  - What does it mean when a fool folds his hands?
  - Why is one hand full of rest better than two fists full of labor?
  - How do you achieve the balance between rest and labor?
  - How does your motivation help guide the balance?