THE BEST THINGS IN LIFE

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In Christ, Mark

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God. So I saw that there is nothing better for a person than to enjoy their work, because that is their lot. For who can bring them to see what will happen after them?

Ecclesiastes 3:12-13, 22

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

If someone were to ask you what the best things in life are, how would you respond?

Would it be marriage? Family? Friends? Your work? Financial stability and security? Enough food and drink to survive and stay healthy? Maybe the ability and opportunity to do things that you enjoy doing?

I think our answers would be as varied as our individual experiences are. We all have things we cherish about life, some have more than others.

Solomon had something to say about this discussion on the best things in life as he wrote in the third chapter of Ecclesiastes. Look again at his words:

I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God. So I saw that there is nothing better for a person than to enjoy their work, because that is their lot. For who can bring them to see what will happen after them? Ecclesiastes 3:12-13, 22

Note the things Solomon sees as better:

- One being happy.

- One doing good while they live.

- One who has food and drink to enjoy.

- One who can find satisfaction in their work.

Solomon says that there is nothing better than one having these things but it isn’t because of the things in and of themselves. Just looking at happiness as happiness does not make it better. Ditto for directly looking at the good deeds people do, the food and drink they enjoy, or the jobs they perform. None of these standing on their own will place them in the category of the best things in life.

This is because the only way we truly see things as the best is by seeing them as gifts from the best person we have in life, the Lord God Almighty. He is the one common denominator that connects all the things Solomon is talking about. He is what makes them the best because no one else can provide us anything better than what God provides.

Do you have this viewpoint in regard to the things you cherish most in life? Do you see everything as a gift from God?

If so, then you will not be able to avoid any other attitude in life than one of praise and thanksgiving. You will come to a greater appreciation for the things God has given you and be turned away from coveting anything better, for if God truly intended to gift you with something He would have. If He didn’t, then don’t yearn for something more but give thanks instead for the gifts He has given you.

Friends, the only possible way we will come to a proper gratitude and gratefulness for the lives God has given is if we see all that He has given as a gift and use that gift to His glory, praising Him and giving Him our thanks.

You woke up this morning. Give thanks.

You had food to eat. Give thanks.

You put on clothes. Give thanks.

You left a place that sheltered you. Give thanks.

You had transportation to a place of work. Give thanks.

You had the chance to work and earn a wage. Give thanks.

You went home and were given rest for a new day. Give thanks for the day you had and give thanks for the next day you are given.

I think you get the point. We are granted more gifts than we ever take the time to acknowledge. Today, maybe it would be good to slow down, count your blessings, and take account for all the gifts God has given you.

If you do, I think you would come to find that He has, is, and will always be willing to provide the best things in life, the best things He wants us to have in accordance with His perfect desires for us. We all have so much to be thankful for, that’s for sure.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.

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