The Gift of Enjoyment
Ecclesiastes 6
1. There’s a story about a child psychologist who wanted to observe how different children respond to negative circumstances.
They got a room and filled it with horse manure. Putting the pessimistic child in there, they observed how he responded.
Predictably, he whined and cried, and despaired that he was in a room full of smelly manure.
They put the other child in there, and the little guy started tearing around the room, digging in the manure with an excitement that baffled the on-lookers.
After a few moments of watching this, they asked him why he was so excited.
He replied, "With all this manure in the room, there¡¦s got to be a pony in here somewhere!"
2. We’ve all heard comparisons between optimists and pessimists, and the part line is that everyone should be an optimist. The problem is that much of our personalities are genetically determined; it’s pretty tough to turn a pessimist into an optimist.
4. But there is an enjoyment of life that runs deeper than optimism and pessimism. This is what Solomon refers to as the "gift of enjoyment."
5. When we hear the word gift, we usually think of:
(1) eternal life
(2) spiritual gifts
(3) bounty and surplus --- like our Thanksgiving emphasis.
6. But some of God’s gifts are given to all (like the rain); others come as a consequence of our behavior (satisfaction when we have worked hard)
7. The gift of enjoyment can come genetically, spiritually, as a result of circumstances. The Bible does not narrow it down. But one thing is clear: some people have it, for one reason or another, while others do not.
MAIN IDEA: The gift of enjoyment is a gift that comes from our happy God; without it, life will not satisfy; with it, we can find enjoyment in the simplest of pleasures.
TS--------- Let me elaborate on this theme by making two assertions.
I. Without That Gift, Even the Good Things of Life Fail to Satisfy (1-6)
A. There were three measuring sticks of success in Hebrew society:
1. Wealth
Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all (I Chron. 29:12)
2. Lots of Children
The LORD will grant you abundant prosperity--in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock and the crops of your ground--in the land he swore to your forefathers to give you (Deut. 28:11).
3. Long Life
Deut. 6:2 reads, "so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the LORD your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life."
B. None of these three, important as they are, are guaranteed to satisfy an individual
C. The real issue: Whether you enjoy life or not depends upon several things, the most important of which is YOU.
1. Has God directly or indirectly given you the gift of enjoyment? If God made you a certain way (with a Sunny Disposish) or if you grow in your relationship to Him, you are more likely to experience an enjoyable life!
2. I think that gift comes in several ways: (1) inherited genetically, (2) developed by a walk with God, (3) the result of a crisis or an awakening, (4) a good peer pressure, and possibly a number of other sources. Somewhere and some way a person picks up the attitudes that enable one to fully enjoy life. Sometimes it may be in our control, sometimes not.
3. ---some people are predisposed to always be depressed; others choose this state through stubbornness and a lack of humility (they won’t learn from others)
D. E.g., Marylu and I have that gift. We REALLY enjoyed our 20th Pastoral Celebration! We knew we were not worthy of such attention and goodness, but that wasn’t going to keep us from soaking it up. It penetrated to our very souls. Many of you have that gift as well.
There was a time when I did NOT have this gift (when I first came here in 1983)because I had fallen for the snare of legalism that said we were only to do that which built up the kingdom.
E. Boone, one of our missionaries, mentioned that the residents in the filthy slums of Nairobi are typically HAPPY people. Yet most Americans are typically unahappy.
F. Is this a gift believers should seek? I believe so. That’s why Paul tells us in Philippians 4:8:
"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things." This is NOT just referring to Scripture, although it includes Scripture.
G. My experiences with unhappy people: they are stubborn, do not really want to change attitudes! And they SEEM to exist to dampen the enthusiasm of others and throw cold water and discouragement around!
Philip Marlowe, the famous radio detective, was known for his opening line: "Get this and get it straight. Crime is a suckers road. Those who travel it end up in the gutter, in prison, or the grave. There’s no other end. But they never learn!¨
Application: I admit I’m fuzzy on this one. Although I do not understand the relationship between God’s sovereign hand and our limited ability to steer our own course, I think each of us should seek this gift and then nurture it along.
The gift of enjoyment is a gift that comes from our happy God; without it, life will not satisfy; with it, we can find enjoyment in the simplest of pleasures.
II. Possessing the Gift of Enjoyment Helps Us to Accept the Limitations of Life (7-12)
These limits are not necessarily bad or evil, nor are we wrong to wish things we different; but, the bottom line is that we either face and accept them or tense up and fight them in frustration to no avail. Do we accept the brick wall and build around it, or punch it with our fists?
1. Limit #1: Satisfaction is never permanent (7)
(1) the word "nephesh" is often translated as "soul," here "appetite."
(2) the cycle of temporary fixes
(3) Solomon elsewhere talks about enjoying eating; so what he is talking about here is the constant need to work so that one can eat
(4) People who have the gift of enjoyment do not delude themselves; they enjoy the blessings available at the time...
2. Limit # 2: Schmoozing and social skills do not guarantee wealth (8)
(1) a lot of good talkers are poor
(2) social skills are very useful in life, but, by themselves, they do not guarantee success
(3) on the other hand, I am such a believer in the importance of social skills that I envision a ministry helping people develop them; basic social skills are becoming extinct; they are no longer caught from society. I am not sure what God wants me to do in this area, but He wants me to do something (pray with me)
3. Limit # 3 Longing for more does not bring satisfaction; satisfaction comes from enjoying what we already have.(9)
(1) my wife has taught me the pleasure of taking a walk around the neighborhood
(2) we are so feverish about movies, computer games, loud absorbing music. We miss the simple but rich pleasures of life; or simple community activities.
4. Limit # 4 The Sovereign Hand Of God (10)
(1) this is the big one.
(2) the fact of your existence, nationality, parentage: out of your control.
5. Limit #5 The Stubborness of To Yield to Words
(1) you can call a drunkard "an anebriated individual," but that doesn’t make him sober
(2) Sam and I are folically challenged, but we still have to wear a hat!
6. Limit # 6 There is no such thing as long term security nor perpetual care (12)
(1) many folks have concluded that two of the biggest human needs are significance and security.
(2) in moderation, this is good; but when we are panic-driven, we get extreme: graspy, controlling, amassing wealth, trying to make a name
Conclusion
1. The gift of enjoyment is a gift that comes from our happy God; without it, life will not satisfy; with it, we can find enjoyment in the simplest of pleasures.
2. I pray that you have this gift. If you do not, seek the Lord and ask for it; emulate those who do, and become open to change. It is wonderful to enjoy the life God has given you! It also glorifies Him. When we enjoy life in a wholesome way, we advertise the goodness and happiness of God Himself.
