Count the Cost

In Ecclesiastes 10:8-9 the Teacher mentions four dangerous occupations that could result in hurting the laborer, implying the labor involved in one’s occupation entails a certain amount of risk taking in order to accomplish the desired result. In other words, the hazards entailed in performing one’s labor could result in the loss of life or damage to one’s person in one way or another. Moreover, the context doesn’t suggest moral evil or wickedness. One would have to read that into the text in order to find it there. For example, to dig a pit for the purpose of capturing or slaying an animal involves the risk of oneself falling into the pit and getting hurt. Moreover, if a man were to tear down a decaying wall that was built for the protection of his fruit or livestock could result in disaster, if a serpent, hiding in one…