There is such a difference in what is believed to be the good things. Even reading the passage this morning in God’s word, it could be confused if only reading a few of the words. I begin with this verse:
“7All the toil of man is for his mouth, yet his appetite is not satisfied.” — Ecclesiastes 6:7 (ESV)
At first glance, it appears that the appetite for success and gain is what is important and that when it is not satisfied there is loss for the individual. But what is that success? In the first part of the verse, there is the statement of toil is only for the surface and little fulfillment. I have to look to the verses before to find where the satisfaction should come from.
“3If a man fathers a hundred children and lives many years, so that the days of his years are many, but his soul is not satisfied with life’s good things, and he also has no burial, I say that a stillborn child is better off than he.” — Ecclesiastes 6:3 (ESV)
Now I get more context and am pointed to where the satisfaction should be coming from. Not from the gathering of things or wealth or status, but in the gathering of goodness. Satisfaction in the soul, not in the wallet or for all to see.
The good things are those that may not really have the monetary value as that value is fleeting. As of my writing this morning, inflation is through the roof and salaries are stagnant for those of us in what may be considered stable jobs. Wealth is fleeting with the inflation and the fact of lower value. Yet, there are plenty of good things to be satisfied. Life with Christ, family in your presence, friends to fellowship, and many more, of which do not immediately bring a financial windfall.
I have so much to be thankful for and to be satisfied. I have to remember that satisfaction is not in the monetary and those things specifically that others can “see”, but in the good things that impact the soul and bring the joy of the LORD.
Where are you looking for satisfaction? Are you looking for the monetary value of things for your “happiness”? What if you looked at the satisfaction from the good things that build up the soul and not necessarily the wallet?
Trevor's Thoughts 