Happy Losers!
Eternity Online: John Edmiston (Editor)
Eternity-Inspiration for Wednsday 19th November 1997
Happy Losers!
(Ecclesiastes 5:13-20 NIV) I have seen a grievous evil under the
sun: wealth hoarded to the harm of its owner, {14} or wealth lost
through some misfortune, so that when he has a son there is nothing
left for him. {15} Naked a man comes from his mother's womb, and as
he comes, so he departs. He takes nothing from his labour that he can
carry in his hand. {16} This too is a grievous evil: As a man comes,
so he departs, and what does he gain, since he toils for the wind?
{17} All his days he eats in darkness, with great frustration,
affliction and anger. {18} Then I realized that it is good and proper
for a man to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in his toilsome
labour under the sun during the few days of life God has given
him--for this is his lot. {19} Moreover, when God gives any man
wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his
lot and be happy in his work--this is a gift of God. {20} He seldom
reflects on the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with
gladness of heart.
We are all losers - financially speaking. We lose the lot! " Naked a
man comes from his mother's womb, and as he comes, so he departs. He
takes nothing from his labour that he can carry in his hand." We take
nothing with us that we can carry in our hand. Since this is true we
have the choice to be a happy loser or an unhappy loser. "This too
is a grievous evil: As a man comes, so he departs, and what does he
gain, since he toils for the wind? {17} All his days he eats in
darkness, with great frustration, affliction and anger. {18} Then I
realized that it is good and proper for a man to eat and drink, and
to find satisfaction in his toilsome labour under the sun during the
few days of life God has given him--for this is his lot. "
So the real achievement in life is not possessions but contentment.
That is the sort of statement that middle-aged people make at dinner
parties after they have had three glasses of red wine. Then on
Monday they forget about what they have realised and talked so
eloquently about and promptly re-commence the chase for cash. It is
quite difficult to hold onto the "head-smackingly obvious" insights
of life and put them into practice.
So then how can we do it? How can we live Christianly and contentedly
and give up the chase for cash and start living in relationship with
others and with God. Like most gifts from God we must desire it. We
must first of all desire to live a contented and happy life. That may
sound absurd -surely everyone wants that? I didn't! I thought it was
boring! I wanted adventure! I was nearly 40 before contentment had
any appeal to me whatsoever. " Moreover, when God gives any man
wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his
lot and be happy in his work--this is a gift of God. {20} He seldom
reflects on the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with
gladness of heart."
Paul brings the above statement into light of the the New Testament
when he writes (1 Timothy 6:6-12 NIV) But godliness with
contentment is great gain. {7} For we brought nothing into the
world, and we can take nothing out of it. {8} But if we have food
and clothing, we will be content with that. {9} People who want to
get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and
harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. {10} For
the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager
for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with
many griefs. {11} But you, man of God, flee from all this, and
pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and
gentleness. {12} Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the
eternal life to which you were called when you made your good
confession in the presence of many witnesses.
For Paul godliness with contentment was "great gain". Timothy was to
be satisfied with food and clothing and not to pursue riches, in fact
Timothy was to "flee" the temptation to accumulate them. There were
true treasures to be pursued instead (see verse 11).
How then will we find contentment:
1. See your worth in gospel terms - in Christ.
2. Ask God for the gift of contentment.
3. Flee the love of money and worldly things.
4. Pursue righteousness, godliness..etc - things that satisfy.
Prayer:
Lord give us a true estimate of our "net worth" - not in monetary
terms but in Jesus. Help us to value what is truly valuable and to
remain unpersuaded by this world's attempts to convince us that it
matters. Let only You and Your kingdom matter to us Lord. Please set
us straight in our values and priorities and give us deep
contentment. Amen.
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John Edmiston ([email protected])
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