It”s God”s Gift ‚Äì Enjoy it!
Solomon wrote in the book of Ecclesiastes some very appropriate words for how I feel sometimes. I know, for many, this book is depressing or difficult to make sense of. It does in some places seem to portray a sense of hopelessness, but I think, it is a book, written to show us the futility of so many material and temporal things. It makes clear that no matter how hard we try, we can”t make much lasting impression on anything , or affect anyone to a significant change! Sometimes, it even appears that the harder we try, the less we actually accomplish!
However, I believe we should come to the point in life, when we realise that we are nothing, we know nothing, we have nothing and we can do nothing, without God!! I think that is then the beginning of us learning to live for Him and with Him, and what is achieved through Him is of eternal worth!
In chapter 5 verse 19 it is written, “We should make the most of what God gives, both the bounty and the capacity to enjoy it, accepting what is given and rejoicing in the work. It”s God”s gift! [TM]
At this time of Thanksgiving, we do have so much to be thankful for that He has given us. And he has given us the ability to enjoy it. His Salvation, His Love, His Mercy, His Grace, to say nothing of His Daily Provision of food, clothing, health, energy, work, His placing us in families with extended family, friends, and people around us, is also not to be taken for granted.
Most of us are grateful for the Harvest He has so bountifully provided. Many farmers have great joy in working the land and seeing it produce food for us all, and we are thankful for those who gather, who work the produce as well as those who sell it and get it to the place where we can buy it!
But do we really thank Him for each other and what we have? Do we take time even for those who may not be our dearest friends. Everyone brought into our lives is there for a reason and we are to enrich each other in some way! Do we have the capacity to enjoy, or do we merely go through a ritual of having to be together because it is Thanksgiving?
No one wants to live with deep regret, but we are all only here for a limited period and the time to enjoy is now!! The time to be thankful is now! The time to be prepared is now! There is a time for everything under the Sun, and that includes the time when it is our turn to be called home. Have we enjoyed our time on earth, as we relax and let Him work through us and see eternal things done through Him!!
Again in this past month we have seen the passing of two very precious ladies in our lives. They both showed clearly, in totally different ways that they were in our lives to enrich us with their love and prayers for us. Now they are reaping their eternal reward and we are bereft of their company, but thankful for their example and memory!!
Let us enjoy our Christian lives, our experience with God & each other and that Joy will overflow to others who need to see it and learn to enjoy what Jesus has given and offered to us all!! It is after all God”s gift!!