Life tastes sweeter when we realize it's from God

While many of us are constantly waiting for our real lives to begin, life is going on all around us. The dreams we had as children now seem to -- for the most part -- still be out there. Or perhaps to our unexpected joy, they are nowhere near.

The book of Ecclesiastes was composed by a teacher. The teacher sought out pleasure, wealth and knowledge all to come to the dreadful conclusion that life is nothing more than to enjoy food that does not fully satisfy, drink that does not fully quench. He writes, "So I decided there is nothing better than to enjoy food and drink and to find satisfaction in work. Then I realized that these pleasures are from the hand of God. For who can eat or enjoy anything apart from him?"

In a cursory read it sounds like he is saying food and drink and work are the best ways to find satisfaction in life. But under examination, this statement is not satisfaction but extreme disappointment. "This is it, really," he says. "Laboring from sunup to sundown just to enjoy the next meal. Studying for 20-plus years only to try to find elusive satisfaction in work."

Life that is isolated to its own pleasures is disappointing at best.

His "aha!" moment was when he realized that these pleasures were from God. He could not enjoy food and drink until he wrapped his calloused heart around the idea that these pleasures began with God. Work is unsatisfying because its isolation does not bring fulfillment and self-actualization. Satisfaction comes when you realize you are part of a bigger picture. The realization that whether your occupation is ditch digging or neurosurgery, God can bring about his purposes through both. Work, food and drink are gifts from God, and the reason they don't satisfy on their own is because the teacher was trying to enjoy them without the Lord.

The teacher of Ecclesiastes shares to any who will take heed what takes many a lifetime to learn. Life is more than what we see and richer than the greatest bank account. Outside of first finding satisfaction in the Lord, everything else is empty.

Rob Hurtgen is a husband, father, minister and writer. Read more from him at www.robhurtgen.wordpress.com.