Ecclesiastes 5:18-20 The Message
After looking at the way things are on this earth, here’s what I’ve decided is the best way to live. Take care of yourself, have good time, and make the most of whatever job you have for as long as God gives you life. And that’s about it. That’s the human lot. 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.
When I read these verses from The Message, I think of moments. Moments of good health come to mind. Moments of enjoying come to my mind. And moments of enjoying what I do for a living enter my mind. In that we give back to God all of our moments in life to glorify him.
Moments of good health have a price. Some we control and some we do not. In these moments, I have made a choice to work on getting into shape and watch more of what I eat. I hope my days are lengthened if its God’s will to run this race we call life.
In my moment of family, my wife and I have made choices to make family a priority. We want to be available for our kids and grandkids. They grow up fast, so we treasure the moments we have with them.
As for the moments of my job, I feel blessed in doing what I do. the door to doing the Lord’s ministry is open for me. I am able to do Vital Men, be an associate pastor in my home community, and to continue ministry in construction. I have been greatly blessed with moments.
As the writer says, “It’s a gift!” God deals out the joy in the present, the now. I pray that my moments bring fame to Jesus. He is the source of my joy and the giver of my moments.
Strength and Courage
Michael
