Thursday, February 23, 2017

Ecclesiastes 2:24 says, There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God.  Solomon decided after all his seeking for purpose that man should eat, drink, learn to enjoy his labor in his soul.  We are not created to live simply to chase material things, but we can still enjoy the things that we acquire, as long as we do it under God's leadership.  As long as we recognize that all things come from Him then they do not become an end unto themselves.  Solomon said he saw this enjoyment of things as they were intended to be used as being from the hand of God.  How much or how little we have is not what creates problems.  It is when we are not content with what God has blessed us with that we begin to have problems.  Verse twenty five says, For who can eat, or who else can hasten hereunto, more than I?  I think Solomon was saying that no one was going to be in a position to find happiness in the things of this world than he was, and after all his attempts to find happiness, he finally realized that it came from being content with his needs being met by God.  We as followers of Christ need to learn that lesson.  We are never going to find happiness in the things of this world outside the will of God.  Solomon with all his riches couldn't, so we should not be surprised if we cannot.  Verse twenty six says, For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.  I believe Solomon was saying that those who follow God have the wisdom to be content with what God provides and to use it for His glory.  The sinner, on the other hand, is ruled by acquiring or keeping the things of this world in an attempt to find happiness.  This pursuit of material things to find happiness and purpose outside the will of God only brings dissatisfaction to the soul.  We must put it all in God's hands if we are going to find peace and joy.

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