Enjoy Life?

I mentioned in a previous post that I was currently reading in the book of Ecclesiastes using my Bible reading plan. I came across a peculiar verse:

Ecclesiastes 8:15 So I commend the enjoyment of life, because nothing is better for a man under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy will accompany him in his work all the days of the life God has given him under the sun.

"What!?" I thought to myself. "That sounds more like advice from Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous than the Bible." In the New Testament, Paul argues that if Christ has not risen from the dead, then there is no hope beyond this life so we might as well "Eat and drink for tomorrow we die." This is the philosophy that you only live once so party hard. It conjures up an image of a person given over to hedonism, living to satisfy every selfish whim. What in the world is the verse from Ecclesiasted talking about then?

Have you ever listened in on a conversation and only heard a part? You have to listen to the whole conversation to really understand what is being talked about. This was the case here with me. As I read the entire book of Ecclesiastes, it started to paint a picture. The picture was that of a thoughtful advice to the individual who lives outside of the context of God and acts as though his life on earth will continue forever. Such a person strives to make a name for himself that will endure "under the sun" not realizing that "the wise man, like the fool, will not be long remembered; in days to come both will be forgotten" (Ecclesiastes 2:16). The person has forgotten the addage that you can't take it with you and strives and toils to store up "treasures on earth" whether it be possessions or some of great work of significance. The author responds:

Ecclesiastes 2:18 I hated all the things I had toiled for under the sun, because I must leave them to the one who comes after me. 19 And who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will have control over all the work into which I have poured my effort and skill under the sun. This too is meaningless. 20 So my heart began to despair over all my toilsome labor under the sun. 21 For a man may do his work with wisdom, knowledge and skill, and then he must leave all he owns to someone who has not worked for it. This too is meaningless and a great misfortune. 22 What does a man get for all the toil and anxious striving with which he labors under the sun? 23 All his days his work is pain and grief; even at night his mind does not rest. This too is meaningless.

The advice: don't live life striving and toiling for some great utopia on earth because you will never achieve it. I will never be able to attain enough wealth to satisfy. I will never accomplish enough great feats to be convinced that my name will endure forever on the earth. I will never find enough pleasures and entertainment to make me happy because of them.

All blessings come from God who "who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment" (1 Timothy 6:17). But the person who is always striving for more will never be able to enjoy them, for God will not allow it:

Ecclesiastes 6:1 I have seen another evil under the sun, and it weighs heavily on men: 2 God gives a man wealth, possessions and honor, so that he lacks nothing his heart desires, but God does not enable him to enjoy them, and a stranger enjoys them instead.

I think the whole of the matter is to live a life of gratitude and appreciation for all that God has blessed us with whether much or little. It is a matter of contentment. Living life free of selfish striving for more and more and never obtaining enough:

Ecclesiastes 5:18 Then I realized that it is good and proper for a man to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in his toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given him—for this is his lot. 19 Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work—this is a gift of God. 20 He seldom reflects on the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart.

The book of Ecclesiastes warns that life has both blessing and hardship. So rejoice in the good that does come from the hand of God. Rejoice in the Lord always. Think on the good things. There is a time to mourn and grieve. But why be depressed or anxious or fearful and dissatisfied all the time? Seek the Lord and His kingdom first and he will give us joy in the journey.