The Journey Continues: Wealth of Contentment

Ecclesiastes 5:18-20

¹⁸ This is what I have observed to be good: that it is appropriate for a person to eat, to drink and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given them—for this is their lot. ¹⁹ Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God. ²⁰ They seldom reflect on the days of their life, because God keeps them occupied with gladness of heart.

A content heart is worth more than the riches of this world. When we rely upon God for our needs, desires, wants, and well-being we rarely find discontent or dwell on the burdens and hardships around us; our focus is purely on God, which blinds us from the distractions of unsettledness.

It seems there are those times in our lives where we are living pay check to pay check, when every penny of our money is allocated for this or that and we wonder if we will ever be able to move forward with all our hopes and dreams if we are busy working today paying for yesterday. A discontenment grows in my heart, a frustration for all my hard work builds, and I quickly feel defeated wondering to myself--How can I possibly do more? The problem with this question is one little letter... "I." How can I do more? Verse 20 above states "They seldom reflect on the days of their life, because God keeps them occupied with gladness of heart." A neat way of thinking is, We work for God and God works for us. This is not meant to mean that we are above God but that He is working in our lives, for us, because he wants us to be filled with gladness of heart, he wants us to be full of wealth, and contentment. The problem is that we don't see things through God's eyes, our focus is always on ourselves and our definition of wealth comes in the form of money, posessions, and wants instead of complete reliance on God and the wealth of finding peace in the abundance of God's grace.

We have the capability to be blessed by God on a daily basis...

¹⁹ Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God.

When we accept our lot and when we are happy in our toil, this is a gift of God. Contemenent is a gift from God and we have that ability each and everyday no matter the outcome of our day or the joys or hardships we face.

Have you ever considered that sometimes God not giving you the desires of your heart is wealth? This sounds so backwards but have you ever looked back and thought to yourself, I'm so glad "that" didn't work out. The thing you wanted so badly, the tears you shed over a lost dream, were later revealed to be harmful or hurtful to your life and your well-being. The timing of conceiving a child, the purchase of a new home, a job that you got passed over for, etc, etc... God knows and wants what is best for our lives--this statement is hard because trusting God for what is best isn't easy and it's not without frustration.

Ecclesiastes 5:2

2 Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God.

God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.