Thoughts for another day

May 22, 2008

Today's verse: Eccl. 5:19,20. Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God. For he shall not much remember the days of his life; because God answereth him in the joy of his heart. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

To each one of us human beings, the God of Heaven has given some wealth, which we are to use to the fullest extent. I mean it when I say wealth to every one, because it is something, no one else has. It could be beauty, a particular talent or a distinct ability or unusual gifts or something that makes sure that we may eat our bread. The riches are given not so we store them, but that we use them and be content.

In the cloak of negativity and doubt we are usually clothed with, we do not recognise the gifts that God has given us but always crave for something more which we deign to be more beneficial. Man’s greed has always made him crave for more, perhaps also that which he does not need. When God in His mercy satisfies that, then another need arises. It goes on right from the time we learnt to be aware till the time we die. Seldom is a man satisfied with what he has for he always feels that he could have more. Silly as it sounds, it is a fact and we see people not realising it but foolish enough to put their whole life in seeking and getting that which they see to be important yet honestly, hardly serving any purpose.

Today’s verse speaks about God giving riches and wealth, so that men may enjoy them, even while taking joy in the hard work he has put in, all the time realising that even the hard work is a gift of God, for were it not God who enabled, it is impossible for man to do much. The lesson here is in the latter part of our verse: God answers us in the joy of our hearts. I would add to it saying that it is the joy of knowing how good our God is and how nicely He meets all our needs. But what He needs from us is the nature of being content in whatever we have and in it, giving praises to Him.