Choosing God’s Perfect Will

Ecclesiastes 6: 1-2 “I have seen another evil under the sun, and it weighs heavily on mankind: 2 God gives some people wealth, possessions and honor, so that they lack nothing their hearts desire, but God does not grant them the ability to enjoy them, and strangers enjoy them instead. This is meaningless, a grievous evil.”

This is indeed a very insightful observation by Solomon. When I read it this morning, I am reminded of an almost parallel verse in Mark 8: 36, “What good is it if someone gains the whole world but loses his soul?” Many people spend their whole lifetime accumulating wealth, yet find no peace and joy in what they have. Some strive for the highest education achievement and possess all the world can offer but are still not satisfied.

Enjoyment does not reside in increased possessions; it is a gift that God must give. If He withholds it, no amount of effort is going to extract enjoyment from things. That is a difficult lesson for some to learn. Enjoyment is a gift of God.

The truth of the matter is this: we came naked into the world and we shall return naked (Job 1: 21). We take nothing with us as we transit to our eternity. We have to learn to be content with what God has blessed us with in this life. Otherwise, we will be tempted to think that the joy and peace only God can give will come from what we possess, our status in life, and how famous we are. This is where idolatry easily and subtly creeps in. An idol is anything we put our trust in that takes God’s place in our life.

If we desire to guard our hearts against false idols, we will seek righteousness at all costs. Solomon conveys in the vanity of wealth and honors that it is good to enjoy the fruits of our labor for that is a gift God gives us, but we’re not to be consumed by them. 

Never were we intended to live for ourselves and find our identity and purpose in life apart from God, but we have become spiritually blind to our blindness in many cases. We have worshiped the created rather than the Creator, and will give an account on the day of judgment for the choices we made. 

My prayer for you today is that you will choose to always live in the very center of God’s perfect will for you!

 

HAVE A BLESSED DAY!