Taken Care Of.

Whenever I’m in a period in my life when I feel close to God, it’s so amazing. It’s been a while, honestly, since I’ve felt close to Him. But without suffering, how will we know joy? And without distance, how will we ever know warmth?

For the first time in forever I can hear Him. It’s so strange, it blows my mind how fast He works. I just started doing morning and night devotions 2 days ago, and already I hear Him talking to me. He’s never left my side!

Just that thought alone gives me enough joy that I could fall to pieces and not care. 

I got into reading Ecclesiastes somehow, don’t ask me how God lead me here to this book and this chapter. It had nothing to do with my devotions, except that if I hadn’t started these devotions, I probably would have never clicked on a link, and read someone’s testimony, and got interested in Ecclesiastes 5: 5, and then looked it up and read the whole chapter. 

Isn’t it crazy how God can take you from where you are and lead you to where you need to be?

The entire Ecclesiastes chapter 5 is a really good read, but I just really feel like I need to share starting at verse 10. It just really hits home.

Ecclesiastes 5 New Living Translation (NLT).

The Futility of Wealth

¹⁰ Those who love money will never have enough. How meaningless to think that wealth brings true happiness! ¹¹ The more you have, the more people come to help you spend it. So what good is wealth—except perhaps to watch it slip through your fingers!

¹² People who work hard sleep well, whether they eat little or much. But the rich seldom get a good night’s sleep.

¹³ There is another serious problem I have seen under the sun. Hoarding riches harms the saver. ¹⁴ Money is put into risky investments that turn sour, and everything is lost. In the end, there is nothing left to pass on to one’s children. ¹⁵ We all come to the end of our lives as naked and empty-handed as on the day we were born. We can’t take our riches with us.

¹⁶ And this, too, is a very serious problem. People leave this world no better off than when they came. All their hard work is for nothing—like working for the wind. ¹⁷ Throughout their lives, they live under a cloud—frustrated, discouraged, and angry.

¹⁸ Even so, I have noticed one thing, at least, that is good. It is good for people to eat, drink, and enjoy their work under the sun during the short life God has given them, and to accept their lot in life. ¹⁹ And it is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it. To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life—this is indeed a gift from God. ²⁰ God keeps such people so busy enjoying life that they take no time to brood over the past.

Verse 11 – “The more you have, the more people come to help you spend it. So what good is wealth—except perhaps to watch it slip through your fingers!”

Do you ever feel like that? Like your money just goes, and no matter how much you make you’re going to have the same amount left over? I say this all the time! I could make $600 one month and have the same left in the bank as if I made $1200 that month. It doesn’t make any sense to me! But to hear the Word of God say it – I don’t know, it just does something to me. It gives me a sense of calm. All this stressing about money – but we weren’t meant to have any of it! What we get is a blessing from God, so just sit back and be thankful for what He’s given you, and TRUST that He will provide what you need!

^16 “And this, too, is a very serious problem. People leave this world no better off than when they came. All their hard work is for nothing—like working for the wind. ¹⁷ Throughout their lives, they live under a cloud—frustrated, discouraged, and angry.”

This – this is just a jaw dropper to me. This is exactly how I feel. So the way I feel… is the same way God feels? So I’ve been kind of angry with God about something He too is upset about... so, have I been mad at the wrong guy?

^18 “Even so, I have noticed one thing, at least, that is good.” 

Oh, so there is some good news here??

“It is good for people to eat, drink, and enjoy their work under the sun during the short life God has given them, and to accept their lot in life. ¹⁹ And it is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it.”

Okay, so what you’re saying is… Work for what you got, and then enjoy it. No, no, no… “enjoy their work under the sun;” so what you’re saying is… Do what you enjoy doing. 

So this life, God, isn’t just a test to see who can make it to Heaven? It’s not some punishment for the fallen man?

You see the problem we have with all this work we have to do just to survive, and you pity us?? 

You see me, God, living under this cloud of frustration, discouragement, and anger.. and you just want me to be happy. 

You didn’t create the world to be like this, did You?

There is one thing I know and it's that God is good. He is faithful. He provides. He is Good! He has never let me down, I’ve always been able to pay what I need to pay to survive – and find the work when I need it. I just need to accept my lot in life, accept my portion, accept that I am broke right now. And if I follow God and trust Him, He will not only continue to provide, but He will bless me with more, and I can enjoy it.

This just gives me so much hope, and lifts so much off my shoulders. What an amazing lesson at a time when I need it the most. He never fails me!!