In Ecclesiastes, chapter two, verses twenty-four through twenty-six, begin with, “There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God.” Solomon reaches two conclusions: that eating, drinking, and working—indeed, all activities of life—can bring satisfaction only if one has a personal relationship with God. Only He enables us to find enjoyment in life.
“For who can eat, or who else can hasten hereunto, more than I?” Solomon, being King at the time, saw no one else that could enjoy these privileges like him. After all, God blessed him with great abundance as in First Kings three, verse thirteen, “And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days.”
“For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.” The last verse of the theme, God gives true wisdom, knowledge, and joy to those who, in faith, please Him, as in Ecclesiastes three, verses twelve to thirteen, verse twenty-two, chapter five, verses eighteen through twenty, chapter eight, verse fifteen, and chapter nine, verse seven, respectively. Therefore, we must see life as a gift from God and look to Him to work out His purpose for us.
God’s grace works to produce the desire and power to do His will. The work of grace within us depends on cooperation and response of faith.