Remember to Live

“A man may beget a hundred children, and live many years; but however many are the days of his years, if he does not enjoy life’s good things, or has no burial, I say that a stillborn child is better off than he.” Ecclesiastes 6:3

One of the things that I find ironic in the books of wisdom is a theme that goes between each of the books, but in the two books that are seem as the most downtrodden in the bible, Ecclesiastes and Job, the theme is spoken loudest. The theme that I’m talking about tucked away nice and neatly in between suffering is remember to enjoy life. God did not create us just to die; he wanted us to enjoy what he has made.

I have heard many sermons over the years talking about taking the time to enjoy the beauty of the earth and everything that God has created for us. I have also heard as many stories saying just how short this life is going to be and keep in waiting for Heaven. Both are good advice, but I cannot help but go back to Ecclesiastes 6:3 and many other passages in Ecclesiastes.

God created us to be good shepherds and caretakers of creation. We look back to Genesis and see this, it was only after we sinned that we were made to toil. Even in that toiling we are given pleasures that God did not have to give us, but did anyway. God gave us life to live, and if we are not taking time to enjoy life then we are missing out on the little pieces of heaven that God has given us each and every day.

God gave us an imagination so vivid that we can create our own worlds and stories. Storytelling is a big part of who we started out being, that’s how we first shared our religion and faith. I think that is a big reason why we are called to give our testimony and share the good news. I think a lot of the good news that we could be telling has been missed over the years mostly because we have not taken time as Christians to enjoy the blessings of this world to the fullest.

Now am I saying go out and live reckless, not really. What I’m saying is take some time to do the things you enjoy doing. I know a few Christians that can’t answer the question of, “What do you like to do for fun?” That, my friends, is depressing. We are missing one of the biggest blessings that God has given us. We are here for only a short time so enjoy the things that God has given you.

Enjoy your spouse and just love each other. When you got together you obviously had enough fun that you decided you wanted to spend the rest of your life with them. So spend time with them and enjoy what God has blessed you with. Marriage is a covenant and a blessing to those together. Remember it, enjoy it, and love in it.

Take time to smell the roses. God made it all then gave it to us. We are stewards of the Earth and with that we should do our part to take care of the creation and part of that is enjoying it. When is the last time you stopped at a scenic overlook? When is the last time you looked at your spouse? When is the last time you went for a walk, not a run or jog, but a walk? When is the last time you looked up at the sky and noticed it’s beauty? If it’s not been that long good, but when is the last time you took the time to do something you enjoyed.

Are you too busy to be with God? Are you too busy to watch football? Do you enjoy Football? Well God can be there with you when you watch it. God is with us always and in all things. Husbands love your wife. Wives love your husbands. They might irritate you and annoy you at times, but you love them. Love keeps no count of wrongs. Love always forgives. Love is pure. Conduct your marriage this way and you’ll do fine.

You have kids, love them and spend time with them. Some of my fondest memories growing up were passing tools to my dad as we were working on cars or when we were building something.  These things are things that God has given us to enjoy and love. You know those stupid songs that you and your friends in high school or college would sing. When’s the last time you spun one of those songs up and just sung along and allowed your child to come out.

If you play those songs around your kids, you pass them on to your kids. We are made in God’s image and God created man and woman as his children. So he has given us the ability to create sons and daughters in our image. They receive impressions from you. Forgetting that you love your wife and allowing them to only see the negative side of things puts negative impressions on your kids and what marriage is supposed to be.

We are called to Love. We have talents and things that we enjoy. We are called to enjoy life as well. Solomon was clear in his writings that it is godly to laugh, smile and live. It is Godly to take your wife into your arms and embrace her. It is Godly to just get in the car with the windows down listening to music. It is Godly to dance and sing. It is Godly to tell stories. It is Godly to have fun.

So why are Christians seen as so stuck up? God called us to do these things and do them through Love. Love God and love others. How can a person love if they do not laugh? How can a person know love if they know not joy? Without the joys of life you cannot know love, and if you do not know love you cannot know God.

Want to draw closer to God? Start thanking him for what he has done instead of asking why he hasn’t done what’s next for you, or what you think is next for you. God has a plan, and sometimes you have to just trust that he knows what he’s doing and enjoy life anyway. Let me tell you if God did not want me to do things that I enjoy my blessings would be much different.

If anyone has spent time with me they will notice that I love to have fun, but we all do. Do something fun today. We are here only a little while, so enjoy the creation while you can. Don’t sit lifeless waiting to die so you can live forever.  Eternal life doesn’t have to start after you’re dead. I believe that God wants us to start living it now. We live it now and continue living it when we are back with the father. Live Life, laugh and sing, dance and tell stories, play games and be with one another. After all it is Good.

“Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises.” Psalm 98:4