JOY RECOMMENDED

by Tammy Phillips
December 24, 2021

“So, I commended enjoyment because there is nothing better for a person under the sun than to eat, drink, and enjoy himself, for this will accompany him in his labor during the days of his life that God gives him under the sun”(Ecclesiastes 8:15 CSB)

I am like a kid!  I am so excited to have all my kids under one roof for three days.  It is  a great gift; I need no other than their time.  I am going to enjoy every second in their presence. I recommend joy for you no matter your situation.

When I read Ecclesiastes 8:15, I smiled big.  Solomon was supposed to  be the wisest  man that lived other than Jesus.  Solomon simply stated in human terms that under the sun, “I recommend joy.  There is nothing better for a person to do that eat, drink, be merry, and enjoy life.”  In Ecclesiastes Solomon implied that life under the sun was pretty meaningless. Work we must and it is not easy.  Under the sun can be pretty laborious, so we might as well enjoy.  We should make best of all bad situations and enjoy life. 

I recommend joy, but also know Jesus came and died for us to have a better life and to make a better way for us.  Jesus said,

“I have come that they may have life, and that they may have [it] more abundantly.” (John 10:10 NKJV)

When Jesus made the above statement, in all reality by the Greek work that was used for life, He was saying:

“I have come that you may have life.
I have come that you may have ‘zoe.’
I have come that you may have the absolute fullness of life.
I have come that you may have life real and genuine.
I have come that you may have life alive and breathing,
I have come that you may be alive not lifeless or dead
I have come that you may live stronger and longer.
I have come that you may live happily in the blessings.
I have come that you may enjoy life.”

Solomon recommended joy because he had not found anything better.  Jesus brought the better.  He brought the joy!

I enCOURAGE  and highly recommend enjoyment now and heading in to 2022.  Jesus died for  the better life.  Enjoy His presence this Christmas. Season.  Enjoy your family!   Five times in the twelve short chapters of Ecclesiastes, Solomon loudly proclaimed to, “Eat, drink and enjoy!”  Enjoy the life that Jesus bought and paid for you and me it makes our journey under the sun all the better.