for a living dog is better than a dead lion (Ecclesiastes 9:4)
Life is better than dead titles
Let your garments be always white [with purity], and let your head not lack [the] oil [of gladness]. (Ecclesiastes 9:8)
Holiness and the anointing are interlinked.
Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going. (Ecclesiastes 9:10)
Whatever work you do, do it with all your heart, don't worry about the titles.
Theodore Rossevelt once said, “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are”
There was a little city with few men in it. And a great king came against it and besieged it and built great bulwarks against it. But there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city. Yet no man [seriously] remembered that poor man. (Ecclesiastes 9:14-15)
Can wisdom solve problems? The Bible teaches about a city that was in crisis. Enemy forces surrounded it and there was no hope for anyone. However, deliverance came to the city through a poor but wise man. Solutions for impossible situations come through wisdom.
However, Scripture boldly states that no one listens to poor people.
It also says the man was not remembered because he was poor.
but one sinner destroys much good. (Ecclesiastes 9:18)
One rotten apple can infect many good fruit.