Good morning,
What’s the use?
King Solomon was the wisest King and the hardest working king that Israel ever had. When he sat down to write out the truth he discovered about life here on earth he wrote “Everything is meaningless.”(Ecc.1:2) He wrote that as a person who would look at life as time spent on earth. As an old man looking at what he had accomplished and watching what life looked like without eternity in mind he also wrote, We all come to the end of our lives as naked and empty-handed as on the day we were born.(5:15) When he watched the people around him who were living for themselves, he wrote, Throughout their lives, they live under a cloud–frustrated, discouraged, and angry.(5:17) That is still true for people today who live their lives without God. But when God is a part of the picture King Solomon realized that God had planted us where we are in a body especially designed for each one of us so that we would fulfill God’s perfect plan for each of our lives. People without God lead driven lives, but the Lord wants his people to eat, drink, and enjoy the work that God has planned for us this side of eternity.(5:18) The key to that enjoyment is found in a living relationship with the God who planned our lives to accomplish only what he wanted, no more. Solomon called it accepting our lot in life. The world around us is focused on doing and getting as much as possible during our life here on earth. God is committed to using us to accomplish his plans while we enjoy the good things that he has planned for us this side of eternity.
When the world is faced with the shortness of life, they feel driven to get as much done as possible. God’s kids on the other hand, can rejoice in the shortness of life on this earth, knowing that we have an eternity of joy waiting for us when we finish our work here. Our God will provide for all of our financial needs and give us the health that we need to enjoy our work and willingly accept our lot in life. Our Enemy does his best to get us to focus on ourselves and what we don’t have, but our loving Heavenly Father wants us to recognize what we do have and see it as a love gift that will lead us to a wonderfully fulfilled life. If we will just accept our lot in life, our Heavenly Father’s plan will keep us so busy doing what we enjoy that we will not have time or interest to brood over what has been or what could have been. May the Lord help each of us to accept his plan for our lives and be content with the lot he has lovingly chosen for us.
Ecclesiastes 5:18 -- It is good for people to eat, drink, and enjoy their work under the sun during the short life God has given them, and to accept their lot in life. 19 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—this is indeed a gift from God. 20 God keeps such people so busy enjoying life that they take no time to brood over the past.
Roy Wisner
