We are admonished to enjoy life
We are admonished to enjoy life even though we do not fully understand everything. Ecclesiastes 3:12 says, “I know that nothing is better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives.” Try to connect this from verse 9-11 to consider its context (if you want to read it).
When our boys were young we went to the Amusement Parks at the Gold Coast, the Movie World, and Sea world. They had so much fun and laughter, and horrors as well. But the one I enjoyed the most, and we went there 2x, was the Sea World”. I loved the animals and the rides.
My wife and the two older boys went on this fast ride called the Lethal Weapon Our youngest child Ralph was not allowed to ride. I didn’t because I was afraid I would have a heart attack. Even the two older boys didn’t want me to go. So only Annie and the two older boys went for a ride. Ralph and I were just watching them having fun. You can spend a whole day in those amusement parks, and by the end of the day, all you want to do is rest.
Before I fully commit myself to experience something thrilling and unusual I want to know how it works. I want to know whether it is safe or not. That’s just me. There are also people who want to analyse everything, before they get involved in something.
Sometimes in our Christian life we wanted to know more about the ‘workings of God’ before we make a decision. But God just gives enough information about Himself and how He works things out. It is based upon the Word of God. We don’t know everything from the beginning to the end. So, what do you do, if you do not understand some small areas of His program in your life?
By analysing everything, trying to know all the whys in life, we are just letting time pass by, but not being productive and that is why we are not enjoying life to the full. We are being bogged down in the “mud of complexities of life” and as a consequence we are not making any progress.
Does it mean that we should no longer challenge ourselves to understand things, to understand some of the mysteries of life? No! It is good to dig deeper.
On the other hand, we need to realise that we need to provide a balance, because we might be missing something more important than our own analysis of things. We need to accept some of the limits God defined or intended for us. We just need to acknowledge His greatness, His infinity, His eternalness, His awesomeness, that He is beyond description and comprehension and His ways are not our ways; and also acknowledge our smallness, our limitations as human beings created by the Eternal and Great God.
Finally, trust Him as Proverbs 3:5- says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not rely upon your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths.” His guidance is a gift of grace. All by grace and by grace alone. Trust Him!