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.

Life is fleeting

Ecclesiastes 12:1-8

“Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come.” Sounds a lot like a guy who’s going out with his buddies for a final fling a few days . before reporting for Basic Training. What Solomon’s saying is that we don’t have all the time in the world. It may seem that way when we’re young, but life is brief.

Biblical Perspective

A popular Christian author was discussing his teen years: “I’m thankful I survived them, and that you don’t know anything about them!” The closing verse of Ecclesiastes warns that no one can hide from God. He knows all that’s going on inside us. We may conceal our intentions, be evasive, wear masks, but God knows our inmost secret thoughts. Nothing is hidden from Him.

Life apart from God is empty and meaningless. Life with God is satisfying. Jesus said, “I have come to give you life, and to give it abundantly.” We’re learned from the book of Ecclesiastes that God takes us from futility to faith.