Read Ecclesiastes 2:24-26
A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment? Ecclesiastes 2:24-25
Solomon was not advocating "Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die!" That is the philosophy of fatalism, not faith. Rather, he was saying, "Thank God for what you do have, and enjoy it to the glory of God." Paul gave his approval to this attitude when he exhorted us to trust in God, "who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment" (1 Tim. 6:17).
Solomon made it clear that not only were the blessings from God, but even the enjoyment of the blessings was God's gift to us (Eccl. 2:24). He considered it evil if a person had all the blessings of life from God but could not enjoy them (6:1-5). It is easy to see why the Jewish people read Ecclesiastes at the Feast of Tabernacles, for Tabernacles is their great time of thanksgiving and rejoicing for God's abundant provision of their needs. The farmer who prayed at the table, "Thanks for good food and for good digestion," knew what Solomon was writing about.
The important thing is that we seek to please the Lord (2:26) and trust Him to meet our every need. God wants to give us wisdom, knowledge, and joy; these three gifts enable us to appreciate His blessings and take pleasure in them. It is not enough to possess things; we must also possess the kind of character that enables us to use things wisely and enjoy them properly.
Applying God's Truth:
What are your Top Ten blessings from God?
For each of the things you have listed, are you experiencing the degree of enjoyment that you feel you should? If not, how can you enjoy them even more?
How can you develop the kind of character that enables you "to use things wisely and enjoy them properly"?
Devotions for Contentment and Wisdom ©2005 by Dr. Warren Wiersbe. Used by permission of David C Cook. May not be further reproduced. All rights reserved.