Quick Note – Ecclesiastes 2:24-26 – Live in the Moment
Ecclesiastes 2:24-26 – 24 There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God, 25 for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment? 26 For to the one who pleases him God has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner he has given the business of gathering and collecting, only to give to one who pleases God. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.
Portions of Ecclesiastes can be quite depressing, because they talk about how life and everything in it is basically vanity. Whether it is your toil, whether it is your fun, whether it is your passion – all is vanity. This book was written by King Solomon, who had every pleasure at his command. He was one of the wisest people on earth, writing hundreds of proverbs. He was one of the richest people to ever live, whose reign was characterized by silver being as worthless as stone. And he was one of the most famous and respected people of all time. He could have and had everything, so if anybody would know if there was a purpose or goal in life, it would be him. However, he still found life to be completely worthless. All was vanity. His gardens, his servants, his flocks, his gold, and even his wisdom. All to him was vanity. How depressing!
But interestingly, amid many of these depressing verses, Solomon also wrote wise and encouraging statements – statements of purpose and statements of how we should live our lives. One of these statements is found in today’s verses. Solomon said that because all was vanity, a person should simply eat, drink, and find enjoyment in his work. That is how life should be lived. Enjoy each day for what it is. Live in the moment. This sounds very worldly. It sounds contrary to what Jesus tells us to do in laying up treasures in heaven. But that is why it is important to read the following verses, “This also, I saw, is from the hand of God, for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment? For to the one who pleases him God has given wisdom and knowledge and joy…” Solomon made it clear that a person could only enjoy life by following and pleasing God. Apart from God, there is no joy.
God is the one who provides our food. If He withheld it, we would starve. God is the one who provides our drink. If He withheld it, we would thirst. God is the one who gives us a purpose and a goal in life. If He did not direct us, we would be lost and wandering doing things that amount to nothing – that amount to vanity. It is only by following and obeying God that we can please Him. It is by doing His work, waiting on Him, that we can run and not be weary and walk and not faint (vs. 31).
If you are feeling down, if you feel like there is no joy or purpose in life, if your work and toil feel heavy and vain, then I challenge you to examine your heart and ask whether you are living a life that is pleasing to God. Because if you live a life that pleases Him, He will give you purpose and joy. Only then can you truly enjoy life in the moment!
becomingadisciple 
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