GOD GIVES THE POWER TO ENJOY
I have seen another evil under the sun, and it weighs heavily on men: 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. This is meaningless, a grievous evil. Ecclesiastes 6:1-2
To have abundance and possessions – all that money can buy – and yet lack the power to enjoy them is a heavy burden. Unfortunately many people suffer from this. They drive flashy cars and own the latest electronic equipment in their big luxurious homes. They try desperately to enjoy them, yet their faces show hollowness and their eyes betray the emptiness inside.
Enjoyment does not reside in increased possessions; it is a gift God must give. If He withholds it, no amount of human effort can give it. The philosophy of this age is that we have a right to things. Advertisers tell us, ‘You deserve this.’ But this contradicts the Biblical teaching regarding our relationship with God. How can we be grateful if we are only getting what we deserve? Gratitude only comes when we feel we don’t deserve something, but we get it anyway.
The Bible admonishes us to give thanks to God for everything. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” You can only enjoy all that you have when you acknowledge God as the source. If He is the One that gives you power to make wealth, then the power to enjoy that wealth also comes from Him. Reverence Him!
Prayer
Lord, I have tasted the frustration of living for things that in the end do not fill me with joy but deprive me of it. Teach me to live gratefully, even when life is painful, knowing that you are still in charge and working out your purpose in me in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Reference: Ecclesiastes 6:1-12; Luke 12:20; 1 Thessalonians 5:18
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