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"I know that nothing is better for them than to rejoice"

Text: Ecclesiastes 3:12

THE GIFT OF GOD

Life on earth is anything but easy to comprehend. There are complexities, and there are also paradoxes. But though we may not be able to comprehend everything, we must know that it is not wrong to be happy and to enjoy life.

“I know that nothing is better for them than to rejoice,
and to do good in their lives,
and also that every man should eat and drink
and enjoy the good of all his labour—
it is the gift of God.”

Ecclesiastes 3:12-13

1. “I know that nothing is better for them”

a) This is a personal statement of Solomon.

b) It is a reflection of his understanding of how one may view life.

2. Two things were highlighted

a) “To rejoice”

i) To be happy.

ii) To find joyful expressions of life.

iii) This is not hedonism (where one lives only for pleasure).

b) “To do good”

i) Being joyful does not mean that one is self-centred.

ii) Joy can be found when one does good for others in life.

iii) Both activities can exist side by side.

3. “And also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labour”

a) Labouring for a living:

i) This is how life works.

ii) We labour to make a living.

iii) This is perfectly normal.

b) What we may do with the money we earn:

i) We may eat and drink.

ii) We may enjoy the good fruit of our labour.

4. “It is the gift of God”

a) Our life on earth

i) Labour

ii) Making a living

b) The gift of God

i) This speaks of His blessing.

ii) We may eat and drink happily.

iii) We are merely enjoying the fruit of our labour.

It is important that we take time for joy! This is a special gift from the Lord.