“Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and the power to enjoy them…this is the gift of God.” — Ecclesiastes 5:19
What if true joy doesn’t come from gaining more—but from gratefully receiving what God has already provided?
That’s the invitation we find in Ecclesiastes, and it’s the focus of a powerful conversation with John Cortines, Director of Partnerships and Growth at the McClellan Foundation and author of FaithFi’s study on the book of Ecclesiastes called, Wisdom Over Wealth: 12 Lessons from Ecclesiastes on Money. His insight centers on what he calls the cycle of grateful living—a biblical framework that reshapes how we view money, work, and contentment.
Rediscovering Joy in God’s Gifts
Ecclesiastes 5:18–20 sits at the heart of Scripture’s teaching on money and meaning. These verses remind us of something we often overlook: Not only are wealth and possessions gifts from God, but so is the ability to enjoy them.
That means joy isn’t something we manufacture through achievement or accumulation. It’s something we receive. Whether we have little or much, Scripture calls us to find satisfaction in the life God has already given us—our work, our relationships, and even our daily routines.
Yet many of us miss this. We’re quick to recognize the dangers of money, but slow to embrace the goodness of God’s provision.
The “E.A.T.” Cycle for Grateful Living
John Cortines summarizes this biblical vision with a simple acronym: E.A.T.
Everything we have—our resources, our health, our relationships—is a gift. Even the capacity to enjoy these things is given by God.
Gratitude begins when we recognize that nothing we have is ultimately self-made. It all flows from His hand.
Ecclesiastes repeatedly reminds us that life is short. This isn’t meant to discourage us—but to awaken us.
When we accept the limits of our time and season, we begin to live with greater purpose. We stop postponing joy and start embracing the present as a gift.
Work is not something to escape—it’s something to embrace.
While our culture often dreams of financial independence as freedom from work, Scripture presents a different vision. We were created with purpose, and meaningful work is part of that design. Even in retirement, we’re called to engage in what is good, fruitful, and God-honoring.
What Gets in the Way of Joy?
If this cycle is so clear, why do so few people experience it? Cortines points out three common obstacles:
Taking God’s provision for granted instead of cultivating gratitude
Ignoring life’s brevity, living as if time is unlimited
Resenting our work, constantly longing for escapeThese patterns lead to anxiety, discontentment, and a constant pursuit of “more.”
Ironically, many people today live with more wealth and comfort than any generation in history—yet struggle deeply with dissatisfaction. As Cortines notes, even great wealth cannot produce lasting joy on its own.
A Better Vision Than “Someday”
One of the most subtle traps in our culture is the belief that joy lies somewhere in the future:
When I earn more…
When I retire…
When life slows down…But Scripture calls us to something radically different. Joy is not found in a future we’re trying to build—it’s found in the present moment with Christ.
This echoes Jesus’ teaching in Luke 12, where He points to the birds and the flowers. They do not worry, yet God provides for them. Their lives are both sustained and limited—and
