Ecclesiastes 6 Minus Joy
A life minus joy is no life at all. Even if you have everything a man could ask for; if there is no joy, then it is a miserable existence. Contentment is a gift of God too.
Solomon points to the most desirable things in life, according to man. Wealth, possessions, honor, MANY children, and long life. The fourth one may not apply as well in our society today as it did in Solomon’s day. In Old Testament times, the more sons you had the more blessed you were believed to be. Even today though, fathers desire sons to carry on their name. It might be something that God put in His ‘recipe’ when He created man.
Yet, having ALL these things still leaves some empty. The last time we talked, we went over how man can chase after money or use it as a tool. The same applies here. Chasing after things, including power, leaves one empty. Just one more ‘toy’. One more deal. One more rung on the ladder of success.
The key is to learn to be content with what you have. If God gives you more, praise Him and use it for His Kingdom. If He doesn’t, enjoy what He has given you.
I don’t think man can be content apart from God. Our eyes are always looking; searching to see what else there is. Even as a child of God, I find myself doing this. I just ordered 5 shirts that I really don’t NEED, but they were cute and I wanted them (3 for me and 2 for my husband). We both have more shirts than we actually wear. My husband sees coins on the internet and wants them. I can just have ordered him one when he calls me to come see another that he wants. But these things are not where we find our joy.
We find our joy in our relationship with God. He sustains us at all times, good or bad. We can bring all our joys, hurts, needs, and dreams to Him. He ALWAYS listens. He gives us peace when the world is trying to rob us of it.
God does NOT tell us to sit back our whole life, sipping on cider, and expect the world to deliver joy to you. He calls us to work. Paul says to the church; those who don’t work don’t eat. But neither are we to be so busy working that we don’t enjoy the fruits of that labor. Also, find joy in your work, or at least in who you are serving with your work.
Solomon spoke last time of enjoying the toil God has given to each of us. When we find contentment and joy in what we are doing, time passes very quickly and the good times far outweigh the bad times and even eclipse them. In fact, the joy in your heart will carry you through the bad times. It will sustain you and remind you that there is hope and you are NOT alone.
I’ve been trying to find a song I have heard many times on Christian radio. The ‘story line’ is the singer is answering someone who is asking how he can have faith in the hard times. The singer tells the other how could he not since God has proven Himself so faithful in all his life. The moral is that you don’t have to be afraid of the bad times when you have given your life to God and have a relationship with Him. “How could I not trust?” I’m giving up the search but not the sentiment. When you build your relationship, there is no need to doubt in the hard times. He has proven Himself faithful all my life!
Father God, thank You for the joy in my life. I certainly have a task that I love. Not because the work is so easy but because I LOVE the person I’m performing the work for. Thank You for allowing me into this position. It also gives me time I can spend with You. That brings joy into my life even more.
