Eat, drink, and be merry
The message this time around is to be content with what God has given
us. In the western world folks have been blessed with peace and much
substance. This isn't the case for the vast majority of those living
around the globe.
While some of us indulge in daily feasts of quality food and drink,
many others are wondering where their next meal and fresh drinking
water is going to come from. The western world really has not a clue
how the other half lives. Rest assured, God sees it all.
I Timothy 6:6-8 But godliness with contentment is
great gain. For we brought nothing into this world,
and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And
having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
Noone is getting out of here alive. All of the things of life are only
for a moment. A blink of an eye. A puff or vapor of smoke, and we are
gone. The eternal God fills time with His presence. Compared to His
eternity, we are but one speck of sand in a mountain of lands.
James 4:14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the
morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour,
that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth
away.
Life is but for a moment. How are we going to live for the Lord? Each
day brings its own problems and struggles. Where do we turn for the
answers? God's word of course!
Ecclesiastes 8:14-15 There is a vanity which is done
upon the earth; that there be just men, unto whom it
happeneth according to the work of the wicked; again,
there be wicked men, to whom it happeneth according
to the work of the righteous: I said that this also
is vanity. Then I commended mirth, because a man hath
no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to
drink, and to be merry: for that shall abide with
him of his labour the days of his life, which God
giveth him under the sun.
Vanity can be thought of as soap bubbles. They appear for a moment and
then they disappear. Such is the way of man. Everyone thinks they have
the answers, but God calls it foolishness. We should look to the Lord
for all the answers.
The word mirth is defined as merry, joyful, to be jolly, and with
laughter. The context of Ecclesiastes is that in all our labours we
enjoy the fruits of our works. Again, its best to be content with what
we have. Always giving thanks to God for everything he has done for us.
Hebrews 13:15 By him therefore let us offer the
sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is,
the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
While we live for the Lord lets be certain we are always in subjection
to His will. Always be prepared to take a stand. Live not as the pagans
or unbelievers do.
I Corinthians 10:27-31 If any of them that believe
not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go;
whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question
for conscience sake. But if any man say unto you,
This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not
for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake:
for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof:
Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other:
for why is my liberty judged of another man's
conscience? For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I
evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks?
Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever
ye do, do all to the glory of God.
Yes! Whatever you do make sure it is for the glory of God!
Ecclesiastes 9:4-6 For to him that is joined to all
the living there is hope: for a living dog is better
than a dead lion. For the living know that they
shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither
have they any more a reward; for the memory of them
is forgotten. Also their love, and their hatred, and
their envy, is now perished; neither have they any
more a portion for ever in any thing that is done
under the sun.
It is quite a contrast between godly living and the disobedient. There
is hope for the living, but the dead will be forgotten. Notice also the
dead have no reward. Those that have forsaken God are spiritually dead.
There is no hope of reward for them. It is very much a life choice for
all to make. Do I serve God or myself? Am I thankful and content?, or
am I ungrateful and rebellious towards God?
Luke 12:16-21 And he spake a parable unto them,
saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought
forth plentifully: And he thought within himself,
saying, What shall I do, because I have no room
where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will
I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater;
and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.
And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much
goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat,
drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou
fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee:
then whose shall those things be, which thou hast
provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for
himself, and is not rich toward God.
Here is a classic example of worldly lust. Rather than giving of his
substance for the service of God, he was concerned about gathering more
for himself. God calls this man a fool. All the goods the man had will
not go with him when he dies. What a tragedy this story is. We need to
store up treasures in heaven and not on earth!
The proper heart of man towards God is exemplified in the following
passage from the book of Colossians.
Colossians 1:10-22 That ye might walk worthy of the
Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good
work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
Strengthened with all might, according to his
glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering
with joyfulness; Giving thanks unto the Father,
which hath made us meet to be partakers of the
inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath
delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath
translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
In whom we have redemption through his blood, even
the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the
invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For
by him were all things created, that are in heaven,
and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether
they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or
powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
And he is before all things, and by him all things
consist. And he is the head of the body, the church:
who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead;
that in all things he might have the preeminence.
For it pleased the Father that in him should all
fulness dwell; And, having made peace through the
blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things
unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things
in earth, or things in heaven. And you, that were
sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by
wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled In the
body of his flesh through death, to present you
holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
The simple truth is that man is naturally alienated from God. It is
our tendancy to care about things we have and forget the one who
actually is behind everything we have. The true focus in our lives
should be how can we serve the one who saved us? Jesus gave it all
and to Him all we owe.
Job set the perfect example we should follow, even during the darkest
of times. What a testimony for righteous living Job has set for us.
Job 1:20-21 Then Job arose, and rent his mantle,
and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground,
and worshipped, And said, Naked came I out of my
mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither:
the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed
be the name of the Lord.
Even in the darkest of times, Job submitted himself to the will of
God. He fell down on his face and worshipped him. Job knew that God
was in control and that naked he came into the world and naked he was
going to return. Job also acknowledged that the Lord was directly
responsible for all that he had.
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 Let us hear the conclusion of
the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments:
for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring
every work into judgment, with every secret thing,
whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
Let us eat, drink, and be merry. Let us do it with a pure heart towards
God. Let us worship at his feet and give Him all the Glory!
Written by Mark Dickens 05/30/2022