ACCEPT LIFE AS GOD'S GIFT AND ENJOY IT IN GOD'S WILL

Ecclesiastes 2:12-26 

ACCEPT LIFE AS GOD'S GIFT AND ENJOY IT IN GOD'S WILL

    

    It appears that Solomon hated life in this passage. First in verses 12 - 17, he mused that since both the wise man and the fool will die, then what is the value of wisdom? He further said that we can leave our wisdom and wealth for the guidance and use of the next generation, but how can we be sure they will value them? Second, after both the wise man and the fool die, they are forgotten (v. 16). In other words, he found out that one cannot keep this wealth (v. 18), cannot protect it (v. 19-20), and cannot enjoy it as he/she should (v. 21-23). He therefore concluded that he was disgusted with life, although he was not contemplating suicide. Of course, he would not have wanted to leave all the good life behind.

    The healthy Christian believer certainly would not hate life, no matter how difficult the situations might be. What gives him/her the ability to 'love life' and live it happily? 1 Peter 3:10, quoted from Psalm 34:12 ff, gives believers the secret of putting the most into life and getting the most out of it. Life becomes worthwhile when we live it to glorify God. First, we live to please Him by not hurting our fellow humans, and second, through living by the promises of God in faith, and expecting better things to come as we journey on in life, even in eternity. Knowing that our life is not lived in vain in the Lord (1 Corinthians 15:58) drives us on to live it to glorify God. We may not enjoy everything in life or be able to explain everything about life - that is not important. Accept life as God presents it to you and enjoy it, in obedience to His will.

PRAYER:    Lord, I thank You for the life You have given me. I shall live it for Your glory and honour till the end, in Jesus Name. Amen