I find it interesting that we find in the book of Ecclesiastes a book that is dedicated to the idea of enjoying life and living happily and successfully “under the sun”. By “under the sun” our author indicates this present physical life. He deals well with the major issues that serve to disrupt our lives and those things that just get us off track.
Over the past couple of weeks we have been dealing with the matter of materialism. And to be sure materialism is a difficult issue to deal with. It reminds me of dieting. Charlotte and I end up dieting at least once a year. I find eating such an enjoyable event but when I enjoy it too much my clothes begin to get quite tight. I think sometimes that if I would just quit eating there would not be near the struggle because every time I come to the table temptation looms! However eat we must, the challenge is to keep it in a proper perspective. It has been said that often the difference lies in whether we eat to live or if we live to eat. While that states things cutely and graphically the real truth is that God has seen to it that eating can be a very pleasant and enjoyable experience. The “adult” thing to do is to do it with wisdom, discretion and discipline.
The same is true of materialism, we live and move in a material world, the challenge is to keep it in a proper perspective. God help us!
