Enjoy Life, but.....

This is the introduction of my lecture for the students at Liceo de Cagayan University.

Ecclesiastes 11:9-10

People (young, and old alike) live as though they’re never going to have to account for their actions! We answer to God. He wants us to enjoy life. We can’t enjoy life if we’re harming ourselves. Much of what people think is a “good time” is actually self-abuse. I was reading recently how alcoholics can’t really enjoy a glass of beer or wine. They’ve lost the capacity to savor. Their enjoyment is spoiled, and a fine wine is wasted on them. It’s simply a means to an end. Benjamin Franklin observed that, “beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.” Proverbs 104:15 says that God made wine to “gladden our hearts.” When we abuse this gift, we only hurt ourselves, and others. Solomon is calling us to a life of personal responsibility for our own good.