Enjoying God’s Gifts
[Read Ecclesiastes 2:24–25]
I couldn’t help but give one more reflection from the book of Ecclesiastes—especially after reading this verse. This is EXACTLY what we need to hear/remember as we prepare for Thanksgiving tomorrow. “A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their own toil.” (Ecclesiastes 2:24, NIV).
This is a powerful reminder for us this Thanksgiving. We can do nothing better right now than to find satisfaction in God’s gifts. We can do nothing better right now than to eat and drink and work and find joy and satisfaction in these things. We can do nothing better right now than to ENJOY the turkey and the gravy and the mashed potatoes and the cranberry sauce. We can do nothing better right now than to ENJOY the fellowship we have with our family.
Now, I know that last line caused a level of grief and sorrow for some. Many will not be spending time with family this Thanksgiving because of our current pandemic. Many are grieving this loss of another holiday—another opportunity to connect with the people they love. And, I want to make sure I’m clear on this: It’s OK to be grieving that loss right now. It’s OK to be sorrowful about this lost opportunity.
However, as Christians, Jesus has given us the powerful ability to be sorrowful, yet always rejoicing. So, we can be sorrowful this Thanksgiving season, yet that doesn’t prevent us from rejoicing. We can still rejoice in the fellowship we CAN have with our families. I know many people who will be doing family gatherings via ZOOM. Rejoice in that. Sure, you can rejoice in the technology that gives you this opportunity, but WAY more importantly, rejoice in the family and friends God has given you. Even though some things have been taken away right now, God has still richly poured out blessing after blessing in our lives. We can still be thankful for the gifts He’s given us and rejoice in them.
To be honest, I think this is more important now than ever. Right now, in the midst of this pandemic—this depressing pandemic—it’s important that we give thanks for God’s gifts and Enjoy them.
There’s a massive temptation hanging over each of us this Thanksgiving. There is a temptation to NOT ENJOY God’s gifts because we aren’t getting exactly what we want. There’s a temptation to sit down at our Thanksgiving meal, eating it in doom and gloom with downcast faces. We are being tempted to unthankfully celebrate Thanksgiving. We are being tempted to become the child surrounded by Christmas presents, but pouting—not enjoying ANY of the other gifts—because he didn’t get that ONE present.
And, to be honest, that response makes sense apart from God. Apart from God, there is no giver of gifts. Things are just things and we can use them and abuse them however we want.
Apart from God, there can’t even be true thankfulness. Have you ever thought about that? If there is no God, where are you directing your thankfulness? Can you really be thankful for the food on your table, if there is no God? You earned it, you worked for it, you deserve it, right? Why be thankful? Can you really be thankful for your friends and family apart from God? They aren’t gifts—they just “are.” And if you are thankful for them, to whom do you give thanks? Yourself? Apart from God, you can’t be truly thankful. That’s why the author says, “This too, I see, is from the hand of God, for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?” (Ecclesiastes 2:24–25, NIV). Without God, you cannot be thankful and you cannot find enjoyment.
Yet, there is a God and everything comes from His hand. Our friends and family members come from his hand. The food on our tables come from his hand. The breath in our lungs and the heart in our chest come from his hand. These are all powerful, beautiful, glorious gifts from God that have been given to us to ENJOY—even when things aren’t perfect, even when things are tough.
And, when we enjoy these gifts, we bring praise and honor to our God. As we enjoy conversations with family and friends tomorrow—in whatever form they may take—we worship our God. As we enjoy every bite of turkey and gravy and potatoes tomorrow, we worship the God who gave us those good gifts—we bring glory to Him.
And, more powerfully, as we joyfully celebrate the goodness of God tomorrow, in the midst of a pandemic, we proclaim God’s goodness to the world. We have a beautiful opportunity to show the world how good and glorious our God is—even when things are hard and don’t go the way we want them to. We can show the world that we will still celebrate and give thanks and enjoy God’s gifts—and WORSHIP—in the midst of trials and difficulties. We can do this because we have an awesome God.
There’s a history of God’s people eating celebratory meals in the midst of difficult and trying situations. Think about the Passover. God’s people were beat down, oppressed, wounded, bruised, and things kept getting worse. And what did God tell them to do as the angel of death passed through the country? Eat a big meal and celebrate with their family—celebrate the goodness and loving-kindness of their God.
A few thousand years later, we see the same thing. The weight of sin and death hanging over a group of people as they gathered in an upper room. Jesus knew he was going to die and he said to his disciples: “And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.” After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.” (Luke 22:15–20, NIV). With the weight of death hanging over him, Jesus said that he EAGERLY desired to eat with them and celebrate. With the weight of death hanging over him he GAVE THANKS (it’s mentioned twice so we don’t miss it).
Because things may be different for you and your family this year, you may be tempted not to make a big deal about this—not to mess with a big meal. I encourage you NOT to go that route. I encourage you to make a fancy, celebratory meal for whoever you are celebrating with. Go all out. Have a big meal, make really good food, enjoy every bite, then enjoy those leftovers for the next week as a reminder of God’s overflowing blessing in your life. Have really good conversations with your friends and family members—in whatever format you can—and enjoy every moment of it, soak in every word.
There is NOTHING better for us to do right now than to ENJOY the gifts God has given us, give Him thanks, and worship Him in the midst of this pandemic. This is what separates us from the rest of the world. So, “Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful heart, for God has already approved what you do.” (Ecclesiastes 9:7, NIV).