Monday, May 17, 2021
I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. That each of them may eat and drink and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God. Ecclesiastes 3:12-13
Be Happy and Do Good
The search for happiness for some is never ending. They move from one thing to the other seeking for that one thing, job, person, or place that will make them happy. They keep seeking because they never find it where they are looking. Being happy and doing good feed off of each other in a way. One produces the other. If we do good, we will be happy, especially when we belong to God. If we are finding fulfillment in Christ and our relationship with Him, we are more likely to do good.
The truth is that nothing will fulfill us like God and nothing will make us happier and more fulfilled than to do good. When we are not doing good and not living for God we will not be truly happy. We may feel happy for a moment but the brief happiness will pale in comparison to the guilt and pain we might experience from going against God’s will for our lives.
Finding satisfaction in our toil is also sure to provide fulfillment. Work is a part of life, and sadly, many people have forgotten the satisfaction that work can bring. Working is godly as long as your work is not an idol. Sometimes it is a fine line between loving our work and making it an idol. The verse above says that finding satisfaction in our work and having food and drink (having our needs met) is a gift of God. If we work, our needs will most likely be met, and there is a really good feeling about working and paying bills that need to be paid. It does provide satisfaction to know that we have taken care of what needs taking care of.
Jesus modeled this for us in His life here on earth. He poured into others and was constantly “doing good.” The act of doing good is a sure fix for a downcast soul. Anytime we turn the focus off of ourselves and onto caring for others, we will find a balm for a hurting heart. This is the work that will bring fulfillment, along with finding satisfaction in all our toil. Finding satisfaction cannot happen if we don’t want to find satisfaction. If we want to find it, satisfaction can be found. In other words, we may not always want to work or like the job we have to do, but we can be satisfied in doing what we are supposed to do. Work is God’s plan for us to help meet our needs. It is a gift from God. It helps us find value, and to contribute to a society where we are all supposed to work together for the greater good.
No matter what we think will bring us happiness, satisfaction, or fulfillment, nothing will do it like working hard and caring for others. We can get by in life doing the minimum, never helping others or doing good, but we won’t have the best that God has for us. A life lived focused on Him, helping others, and doing the work we are supposed to do will take the fulfillment we experience to a whole new level.
