Life satisfaction is an elusive thing. Perhaps it is chased by more people than anything else. And it makes sense. We want to enjoy life and we long for our lives to have some kind of meaning. The problem for many is that this enjoyment and meaning are elusive and fleeting. In one of the ultimate ironies of life, we can have it all and not enjoy it. 

Look at what Solomon wrote: “This is what I have observed to be good: that it is appropriate for a person to eat, to drink and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given them—for this is their lot. Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God. They seldom reflect on the days of their life, because God keeps them occupied with gladness of heart.

I have seen another evil under the sun, and it weighs heavily on mankind: God gives some people wealth, possessions and honor, so that they lack nothing their hearts desire, but God does not grant them the ability to enjoy them, and strangers enjoy them instead. This is meaningless, a grievous evil.” Ecclesiastes 5:18-6:2

Why do some enjoy the gifts of God and others do not? I think CS Lewis sums it up well in one of his writings. “What Satan put into the heads of our remote ancestors was the idea that they could ‘be like gods’ – could set up on their own as if they had created themselves – be their own masters – invent some sort of happiness for themselves outside God, apart from God. And out of that hopeless attempt has come nearly all that we call human history – money, poverty, ambition, war, prostitution, classes, empires, slavery – the long terrible story of man trying to find something other than God which will make him happy.

“The reason why it can never succeed is this. God made us: invented us as a man invents an engine. A car is made to run on petrol, and it would not run properly on anything else. Now God designed the human machine to run on Himself. He Himself is the fuel our spirits were designed to burn, or the food our spirits were designed to feed on. There is no other. That is why it is just no good asking God to make us happy in our own way without bothering about religion. God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing.”

This is exactly the point that Solomon is making. Possessions and wealth without God cannot yield happiness. But if we live lives focused on God, we will enjoy the blessings He gives to the full. And He does give them to us for our enjoyment and His kingdom work. But we always need to remember that happiness and peace come only from Him and without Him it is not to be found. When we make Him central, happiness and peace follow. 

Father, I want to enjoy all that you give. To be occupied with gladness of heart as Solomon says. Help me to always put you first and keep you central in my life. And in doing so to enjoy and appreciate all of your gifts. Amen.