Yes, we should make the most of what God gives, both the bounty and the capacity to enjoy it, accepting what's given and delighting in the work. It's God's gift! God deals out joy in the present, the now. It's useless to brood over how long we might live. Ecclesiastes 5:19-20 (MSG)
I had lunch on Saturday with two friends who work for a local corporation. With the economy in recession, their company is struggling. There have been deep cuts and lay offs. Even the company Christmas parties have been cancelled. In the midst of the gloomy news, both friends expressed gratitude that they still had their jobs.
Like all people, I go through peaks and valleys in my job. It's a great job and it fits me and my giftedness. Yet, it's easy to get complacent and ungrateful for something so basic in life. There are so many tempting distractions for our time and energy. I find myself complaining and grudging my occupational task rather than gratefully and joyfully approaching my day's work.
Ecclesiastes has been a great reminder for me in my pursuit of simplifying life. I need to fully en-joy (literally, to have joy in) the very basics like my job, a meal with my family, and a good night's sleep in a warm home. Finding joy in the simple basics of life is part of the key to learning contentment.
2 Don’t shoot off your mouth, or speak before you think.
Don’t be too quick to tell God what you think he wants to hear.
God’s in charge, not you—the less you speak, the better.
This was written for me. I tend to have an opinion on most matters very quickly. I need to be more patient in response to God and humans. I often react to situations rather than ponder response. God, please help me to slow down and think about things before popping off.