ECCLESIASTES 9
- The beginning of chapter establishes a truth that may seem depressing. All of us will die. Whether we are good or evil, wise or unwise, we are all faced with our own mortality. Every culture in history has wrestled with the question of what happens after we die. We tend to shy away from death in modern American culture. However, this question is the defining question for every religion in existence. How we answer this question should drive how we live. If we, as believers, expect to live eternally after our earthly life is over, it should impact our values, priorities, and actions.
- How does my understanding of what happens after death impact my life now? If I expect to live eternally as a child of God, how should I live here on earth?
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me, even if he dies, will live. Everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”– John 11:25-26
- Enjoying the gifts we have been given in our life is an important part of the godly life. The teacher tells us to enjoy our lives with our spouses, savor our bread, and drink with a cheerful heart. The enemy of contentment is dissatisfaction. It is impossible for us to enjoy our bread if we are longing for a better bread. Likewise, we cannot find joy in our spouse, kids, house, work, friends and food if we are constantly comparing these to carefully curated ads sold to us on social media or advertisements. Gratitude and thankfulness require us to examine and enjoy the gifts we have already been given, not lustfully dream about what we do not have.
- What gifts do I have that I have not been enjoying as I should? Where is the primary source of discontentment in my life?
“But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out. If we have food and clothing, we will be content with these.” – 1 Timothy 6:6-8
- We are told to work at whatever we do with all our strength. It is so easy to get in the rut of doing “enough to get by.” In our jobs, homes or relationships, sometimes we think the lack of strife is the same as thriving. We live that kind of life at risk of explosion. When we do not develop relational margin and the unexpected happens, it can cause major fractures in all aspects of our life. If we are only doing enough to keep our spouse from lashing out, our kids from running off, or our jobs from firing us, we are not experiencing the full lives that God would have for us.
- Am I working with all of my strength in my family, work and relationships?
“A thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance.” – John 10:10
Life Application: A wise business owner takes frequent inventory of their workers and their stock. In the same way, we should frequently stop and take personal inventory of our lives. Take some time this week to examine your relationships with others, with your job, and with your belongings. How is your attitude towards those things? What areas of your life need more attention and effort?
For Prayer: Pray for the workers at Epcot and across Orlando that Agape Source is working to show the love of Christ to. Pray that they will find favor with the international students that are being discipled and are hearing the gospel.