Daily Commitment
Ecclesiastes 9:1-10
"Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful heart, for it is now that God favors what you do."
(ECCLESIASTES 9:7)
Do you ever long for a break so that you can come up for a breath of air? It's typical for many of us to lead lives that are simply too busy. We have careers that surround us with unsolvable problems, relationships that are draining, commitments that suffocate. And thus people at every turn are left restless and without peace or hope. Is that familiar to you or to someone you know?
The Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes gives us practical words on coping with such life issues. Writing in his later years, Solomon tells us to take pleasure in what we are doing and enjoy life because it comes as a gift from the hand of God. He challenges us to live life one day at a time. Even with the limitations that confront us, we can enjoy the lasting goodness of God.
When you belong to Jesus and daily commit your way to Him, it matters not what tempest rises up against you; He will go through it with you. Solomon tells us to do the basics: eat and drink with a joyful heart. Focus on Him who gives you all good things.
INSIGHT
MEANING AND FULFILLMENT ARE FOUND IN JESUS CHRIST AND THE LIFE HE HAS PURCHASED FOR YOU AT THE CROSS.
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
2 Chronicles 23-24
Psalm 19
Matthew 26
Ecclesiastes 9:1-10
New Living Translation (NLT)
Death Comes to All
9 This, too, I carefully explored: Even though the actions of godly and wise people are in God’s hands, no one knows whether God will show them favor. 2 The same destiny ultimately awaits everyone, whether righteous or wicked, good or bad,[a] ceremonially clean or unclean, religious or irreligious. Good people receive the same treatment as sinners, and people who make promises to God are treated like people who don’t.
3 It seems so tragic that everyone under the sun suffers the same fate. That is why people are not more careful to be good. Instead, they choose their own mad course, for they have no hope. There is nothing ahead but death anyway. 4 There is hope only for the living. As they say, “It’s better to be a live dog than a dead lion!”
5 The living at least know they will die, but the dead know nothing. They have no further reward, nor are they remembered. 6 Whatever they did in their lifetime—loving, hating, envying—is all long gone. They no longer play a part in anything here on earth. 7 So go ahead. Eat your food with joy, and drink your wine with a happy heart, for God approves of this! 8 Wear fine clothes, with a splash of cologne!
9 Live happily with the woman you love through all the meaningless days of life that God has given you under the sun. The wife God gives you is your reward for all your earthly toil. 10 Whatever you do, do well. For when you go to the grave,[b] there will be no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom.
Footnotes:
a. Ecclesiastes 9:2 As in Greek and Syriac versions and Latin Vulgate; Hebrew lacks or bad.
b. Ecclesiastes 9:10 Hebrew to Sheol.
JESUS IN THE PSALMS [PART 5]
Jesus is always present. He's with us in big and small details of life. And even though he is never mentioned by name, this truth is powerfully evident in the book of Psalms.
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