Day 48

What is the secret to life?

This is the question I was asked in today's inservice I am attending for my school. The answer we received is "To find what you love and then do that for the rest of your life. Then you will never work another day."

I thought about that, but as I was reading Ecclesiastes I felt that it answers the question a different way. I believe the preacher of Ecclesiastes is teaching us the secret to life is "Being free to love what we do because Christ Jesus now accepts us." Consider the following verses if you will:

Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works. Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment. Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun. Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.

Notice that the secret to enjoying life is "God now accepteth thy works". This gives us freedom to be liberated from the false idea that I must find something to do that will fulfill me. Christ Jesus fulfills us. That alone allows us to live our current life in complete joy and satisfaction regardless of the circumstances.

Just notice in the verses that we do not have a command to find a wife who will please us or find a work which will be fulfilling. Rather, we are to "Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life": The spouse God has given us to love and look after and cherish. We are to go and eat and drink with a merry heart celebrating the victory Christ Jesus has won in us, through us, and for us.

I hope that you will not be looking outside of Jesus Christ for fulfillment. The gospel tells us that Jesus is all we need and more. If we are joyless it is because our sin convinces us that we need something more that Jesus Christ. Do not listen to your sin; listen to God's word.

Solo Christo,

Jay Silvas