Read Ecclesiastes 3:9-15
God wants us to enjoy life, not trudge through each day just going through the motions. We often set unrealistic expectations on ourselves for what we can accomplish in a day and end up feeling like we failed. Here we’re told that God has given us the work we are to do. What is that work for you?
If we’re focusing on what God wants, and we already know that his timing is perfect, then our day should go exactly like it should. If we are enjoying the life God has given us, living it to please him, then we have accomplished something very great. There are plenty of people who don’t have this connection to God and are not feeling fulfilled.
Solomon lets us in on a little secret. He says, “Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.” Because we can’t see the whole picture, Solomon concludes: Be happy. Don’t worry. The fruits of our labor are gifts from God!
Why has God placed eternity in our hearts? Solomon doesn’t answer that directly—what are your thoughts? Perhaps God did that to draw us to him. If we are all walking around with this space in our hearts filled with eternity, how will we recognize it if we don’t know God? I suppose I’m picturing a homing device that God places inside so that we’ll find our way home. What about those people who have rejected God, like Solomon did?
I think I’ll focus on Solomon’s suggestion to be happy and enjoy life. God has planned good things for us and showers us with blessings every day. God wants us to fear him, or in other words to think he’s awesome. It’s not hard to muster up that kind of “awe” when you think about all that God has done.
Solomon didn’t know about Jesus’ role in eternity, but he did know how God likes patterns. When we read through Biblical history, we see some of the same themes playing over and over again. We can even see those same themes occurring in our world today. Solomon’s reflections sure had that right in verse 15. “What is happening now has happened before, and what will happen in the future has happened before, because God makes the same things happen over and over again.” Don’t you love when Scripture comes alive like that, and we see Biblical themes we can learn from?
I don’t know about you, but I’m going to focus on God today and how grateful I am for all his gifts, including the eternal life I have because Jesus is in my life. That’s the best way to enjoy life!
Let’s pray. Father, thank you for what you have done for me and will do for me in the future. I am in awe of you and how perfect your timing always is. I know you are giving me the wisdom I need for each day. Protect me from Satan who wants to make me stumble. I want you to be present with me in all areas of my life. Shine through me as I enjoy this life you have given me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
