Our lot in life

What does it mean "to enjoy your lot in life?"

I am sure you have an idea of what that means. In our passage today, Solomon muses over the fact that if we can be at peace about our 'lot in life' then we are on the road to understanding contentment.

"Even so, I have noticed one thing, at least, that is good. It is good for people to eat, drink, and enjoy their work under the sun during the short life God has given them, and to accept their lot in life. And it is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it. To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life—this is indeed a gift from God. God keeps such people so busy enjoying life that they take no time to brood over the past." - Ecclesiastes 5:18-20

Perhaps it is worth thinking about this today? 

What does this imply for us if we feel as if we have been badly treated? Is this how God wants us to remain? Must we then just accept our lot in life?

This is a challenging thing to ponder?

Living in Grace

D3LM3

It all boils down to this

Today's sentence of wisdom, from our friend Solomon, has been passed down from generation to generation - and it is still so so TRUE.

"We all come to the end of our lives as naked and empty-handed as on the day we were born. We can’t take our riches with us."- Ecclesiastes 5:15

When we come to realise this fact we slowly start to detach ourselves from the obsession of holding onto our "things". Most of us take a long time to learn this, but eventually it dawns on most of us. We can't take any material things with us when we die.

Jesus said it like this:

"“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal" (Matthew 6:19).

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Slipping through your fingers

"Those who love money will never have enough. How meaningless to think that wealth brings true happiness! The more you have, the more people come to help you spend it. So what good is wealth—except perhaps to watch it slip through your fingers!" - Ecclesiastes 5:10-11

I love Solomon's image of money slipping through your fingers. It is such a vivid word picture of how easily money slips from our grasp. And the more we seem to grab for it, the quicker it disappears. 

He touches on something else quite interesting in today's reading - that is the notion of how other people will flock around you in order to help you spend what you have got. This is very true and perhaps explains why many people who win the lottery find they are more depressed afterwards than before their big cash bonanza. The stress of having the money makes them less happy than before.

These are all life lessons that we need to learn along the way. Sadly, we may have to relearn then more than once.

"An investment in knowledge pays the best dividends." - Benjamin Franklin

Living in Grace

D3LM3

We should not be surprised

It is interesting that we assume that the issues we are facing in 2020 are unique to our generation. In some ways they are - for example the Corona Virus - but in other ways we are just seeing a repeat of historical mistakes. Take note of today's reading:

"Don’t be surprised if you see a poor person being oppressed by the powerful and if justice is being miscarried throughout the land. For every official is under orders from higher up, and matters of justice get lost in red tape and bureaucracy. Even the king milks the land for his own profit!" - Ecclesiastes 5:8-9

For those of us living in South Africa, this is a sad fact. It is always the poor who seem to be at the raw end of the deal. This is why Jesus challenges us to stand on the side of the poor.

Matthew 5:3 - “God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Fulfill your promises

It is very easy to promise people things and then not to fulfill them. Perhaps some of us reading this today have experienced this in our own lives. I think it is wise that we all heed today's advice, where we are encouraged to fulfill the vows we make. God takes delight in us when we follow through with our promises to him.

"When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it. Do not let your mouth lead you into sin. And do not protest to the temple messenger, “My vow was a mistake.” Why should God be angry at what you say and destroy the work of your hands? Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore fear God." - Ecclesiastes 5:4-7

“Promises are only as strong as the person who gives them ...”- Stephen Richards

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Ears open and mouth shut

There are so many brilliant thoughts in today's reading, but the first line really got my attention! 

"As you enter the house of God, keep your ears open and your mouth shut. It is evil to make mindless offerings to God. Don’t make rash promises, and don’t be hasty in bringing matters before God. After all, God is in heaven, and you are here on earth. So let your words be few." - Ecclesiastes 5:1-2

How often do we get this wrong? We keep our ears closed and open our mouths, instead of the other way around? It should be 'EARS OPEN and MOUTHS SHUT!"

Solomon seems to have made a special mention of our attitudes in worship. Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that we treat God as we treat others - we keep talking all the time and don't pause to listen to His voice.

• "Wisdom is the reward you get for a lifetime of listening when you'd have preferred to talk." -Doug Larson.

What does is mean for us to "let our words be few?"

Living in Grace

D3LM3