Text: ECCLESIASTES 9: 7-10
By: Atigbi, Wilfred (Bishop)
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INTRODUCTION:
Each of us makes a daily choice to be happy or unhappy. It really does depend upon us (in spite of the common belief that others make us happy or unhappy). Happiness does not come to any body on a platter of gold. An individual or persons who seek for happiness work for it either in the circular world or as Christians. As the saying with a lot of persons, money answers most requirement for one to have happiness. But in the real sense of it, money does not buy happiness but received with Godly fear and commitment by serious minded individual that show love and work for it.
IT THE CHOICE OF AN INDIVIDUAL TO BE HAPPY:
In (Eccl. 9:7-10), Solomon listed five areas in which one can find “happiness” and a “cheerful heart.”
Verse 7: We should be happy with our food and drink. Some are dying of thirst and starvation.
Those of us who have our “daily bread” should display an attitude of gratitude to God.
Verse 8a: We should be happy with our clothing. Simply wearing clothes that are comfortable should give us a sense of joy. Many in the world lack clothing appropriate for changes in the weather. If we have adequate clothing, we should rejoice in God’s provision for us.
Verse 8b: We should be happy if we have medicine. Solomon mentioned the benefits of “oil” Oil was used for medicinal purposes and as an ointment to aid dry skin or cure to skin problems that need solution. Not everyone enjoys the availability of medical services or the resources to pay for them. But they are necessities of life.
Verse 9: Those who are married should be happily married. The man who finds a wife has found “a good thing” (Proverbs 18:22). Many are in unhappy marriages. Why? Usually, one spouse or both spouses have failed to invest effort into building the best marriage possible. Also, many fail to develop contentment with a mate. If the husband is always looking at other women or the wife is thinking of other men, the lack of contentment will grow like a cancer in that marriage.
MARRIAGE: GOD’S WAY CAN BE ACHIEVED BY DETERMINATION:
Many marriages are in trouble, and the Lord’s people are not immune. The sources of trouble are many. Couples argue over finances, children, parents, time together, time apart, priorities, sex, and a host of other topics.
God inspired Solomon to offer some valuable advice concerning marriage. He said, “Enjoy life with the woman whom you love all the days of your fleeting life which He has given to you under the sun; for this is your reward in life …”
(Eccl. 9:9). This verse offers tips for a successful marriage.
First, successful marriages require the giving of affection. While we live in a world that refuses to restrict sexual affection, marriages often lack the kind of intimacy that God intended for them to have (see 1 Cor. 7:3-5).
Second, good marriages depend on an active search for happiness. People need to learn how to bring their mates happiness rather than complaining that their mates do not make them happy.
Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).
Third, marriages require lifelong commitment.
We live in a society that walks away from its problems rather than facing them. Jesus taught that what God has joined together ought not to be separated (Matt. 19:3-6). In successful marriages, both the husband and the wife are willing to work through the difficult times. Every husband and wife can have a successful marriage if both are willing to adhere to this inspired instruction.
Verse 10: We should be happy with our work.
While many continually complain about their jobs, others are happy with the same jobs. What is the difference? The happy workers are determined to maintain positive attitudes about the job.
Happiness is within each person’s grasp. Let us choose to seize it.
CONCLUSION;
We should know that the choice we make today to be happy, makes you a better person tomorrow. A lot of us are in a condition today because of choices we made to live in a particular life which they choose to enjoy in their youthful period wrongly. It May be by the very individual, parents or peer groups influence without proper advice or strict control at that time.
The principle of living, the subject matter has no approved standard template for anyone to follow step by step, but deliberately achieved by person or a group of persons that are acceptable by society in the circular world or a religious group. It is an option one takes to live if he or she chooses to do so deliberately or inadvertently. The end result is for such effort made to be acceptable generally in the society.
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