Ecclesiastes 5

“As for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, and given him power to eat of it, to receive his heritage and rejoice in his labor—this is the gift of God. For he will not dwell unduly on the days of his life, because God keeps him busy with the joy of his heart.” (Ecclesiastes 5:19–20, NKJV)

As I consider the start of a new year, I have found much to apply from Ecclesiastes. Solomon had received much wisdom, lived a full life, and had observed much activity “under the sun.” While he cries out “vanity” when he looks at life apart from God, whenever he considers the gifts of God, he finds meaning and cause for rejoicing.

By any standard of measurement, Solomon was wealthy, and here he relates to the wealthy. Now many of us don’t consider ourselves wealthy, but when you visit other places in the world where poverty abounds, you realize how rich we truly are. With wealth comes a responsibility to manage it wisely. Too much wealth can ruin a person. As Jesus said, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God (Matthew 19:24). But here Solomon tells us that it is good to accept your lot in life and enjoy the work God has given you. Then you won’t spend time brooding over the past—either in bitterness over how others have wronged you or in morbid regret of your past failures. You will simply be too busy doing what you enjoy and what you’re good at to have time for such fruitless activities.

So the question to ask ourselves is this: “What has God gifted me with? What do I enjoy?” To these two questions, I would add a third: “Where do I experience God’s grace?” Accepting our gifts and calling and relying on the all-sufficient grace of God, guarantees a full, productive and enjoyable life.