I find great joy in silly things. Like upgrading my phone to the newest operating system. Or if I’m really hungry, I find great joy in eating a really good taco.
But after awhile the phone seems old again, and I want a new one.
After I finish a taco, I want to eat like three (OK, six) more, and then I feel gross.
Even joy I find in really good things, like spending time with my wife or a friend, can eventually fade from time to time. People will let you down.
“There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God, for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment? For to the one who pleases him God has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner he has given the business of gathering and collecting, only to give to one who pleases God. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.” (Eccles. 2:24-26)
God wants us to have joy in these things, as he “richly provides us with everything to enjoy.” It is God’s desire that all the good things of life should contribute to our enjoyment, but joy is a gift from God, and only those who please God can receive it.
So how do we please God?
“And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” (Heb. 11:6)
It is faith that pleases God. Belief that he created this world and provides everything in it for our enjoyment. Everything. Including happiness and fun things, but also pain and disappointment. These are all gifts from God for those who believe in him.
When we view life from this perspective, we can find joy in anything, even pain or grief. Even when someone lets us down, we can forgive them and ask the Lord to help us find joy in them again. All these things were given to us to enjoy and provide glory to him. They remind us that we are dependent on him, and “for those who love God all things work together for good.”
My hope for you today is that you can acknowledge that all things come from him, that we can thank him for sending his son to save us, and that by having faith in him and him alone we can experience great joy as a gift from him no matter what our circumstances.
