Published 11/15/19
Read Ecclesiastes 5:10
"He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity."
Reflect
Do you ever find yourself thinking more money would solve your problems? What does Solomon warn us about living only for wealth? Why do some people "look with sorrow on the past"? Is this ever you?
There are two reasons people work: to get by, and to get ahead. People in the first group approach work grudgingly. They don't want to work but they have to. If they want to eat or pay for their home, they have to work, though they'd rather not.
People of the second group approach work with a passion. Usually, they're unsatisfied with where they are in life and they see hard work as the only way to rise up. They'll put in long hours to get a promotion and a bigger paycheck. They look forward to moving into bigger houses with shinier cars so people will see and be impressed. They know life is short so they throw themselves into their work completely.
But there's two other approaches to work not mentioned yet. The first is to not work at all. But very few people are actually in a position to survive without having to work. The last option, though, is one where your work not only provides for you, but it brings satisfaction too, not frustration and stress.
"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--that is indeed a gift from God. People who do this rarely look with sorrow on the past, for God has given them reasons for joy" (Ecclesiastes 5:19-20, NLT).
That phrase "accept your lot in life" sounds kind of defeatist doesn't it? We associate it with giving up--and that's exactly what it means here. It means giving up our own attempts to become healthy and wealthy and accepting God's way. It means giving up the stress that comes from long hours of work, and enjoying what God has given us. It means doing our job to the best of our ability, but trusting God to provide for us.
Of course, if you don't know a lot about God, you're probably still a little suspicious. That's why we're here. To show you what the Bible says about God. To show you that God is much more than a spiritual dictator demanding our loyalty. He's a Father and a Friend. He's our Lord and King. And He's the only who gives our life, and our work meaning.
Pray
Lord, help me see how to find peace in accepting my lot in life. Thank you for having a better plan for my life than any I could ever dream up. Amen.