I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and to do good in one’s lifetime; moreover, that every man who eats and drinks sees good in all his labor—it is the gift of God. Ecclesiastes 3:12-13
Called to rejoice and do good is to be our response to God’s gift of many opportunities to work, serve, and celebrate. To find joy in living and to contribute to society in positive, valuable ways evolves into treasuring contentment and sharing the fruits of our labor. The Chronological Study Bible reminds, “Do not let what you don’t know about the future destroy the joy God wants to give you today.” How often we focus on the uncertainty of the future and miss the moments of joy God offers in the present.
In studying Ecclesiastes these last weeks, the ladies in our Bible study have wrestled with uncertainty, injustice, and grief. We all would rather have easy answers to our hard questions, live in a society where fairness and justice is always the outcome, and know joy and peace and comfort without disease, disunity, and death. In our search for meaning and purpose in life, the world reaches out with shiny and shallow offerings, and we are enticed. The only thing that anchors us to God is trusting in His unchanging certainty and supreme authority. Blackaby tells us, “Food, drink, laughter, and earthly treasures are all temporary pleasures. But God created us for so much more… Abundant life begins when we submit to Him.” How often we dismiss the absolute Sovereignty of God and forget how necessary our complete dependence on Him must be.
In our personal pursuit of wisdom and meaning and purpose, our journey reveals an emptiness without God, without His provision, protection, and presence. We must accept that we will never understand all that God allows on this earth. Rather, in the middle of the chaos of this crazy world, we need to embrace the goodness of God and the goodness we have been gifted through Him. The Message Study Bible challenges us with this thought, “In the Jerusalem Talmud is a saying: Every man must render an account before God of all the good things he beheld in life and did not enjoy.” This confronts our carelessness. How I long to savor the joy and abundance and goodness God entrusts to me. -dho
