Good morning…
I ran across a fun translation of an encouraging scripture.
Seize life! Eat bread with gusto, drink wine with a robust heart. Oh yes—God takes pleasure in your pleasure! Dress festively every morning. Don’t skimp on colors and scarves. Relish life with the spouse you love each and every day of your precarious life. Each day is God’s gift. It’s all you get in exchange for the hard work of staying alive. Make the most of each one! Whatever turns up, grab it and do it. And heartily! This is your last and only chance at it, for there’s neither work to do nor thoughts to think in the company of the dead, where you’re most certainly headed (Ecclesiastes 9:7-10, MSG).
Weirdly, my mind goes to an old commercial. A series of people bump a hand to their forehead as the light bulb of awareness turns on: “Oh, I could have had a V-8.”
Experiencing the Ecclesiastes verses in the light of this quirky commercial, a fresh realization is set ablaze: “Oh, I could have eaten bread with gusto. I could have drank wine with a robust heart. Oh yes, God takes pleasure in my pleasure.” Truth is illuminated: “Oh, I can dress festively every morning. Why skimp on colors and scarves? Life is precarious, so why not relish it with my loved ones each and every day?” The sun rises to high noon on this new insight: “Oh, each day is God’s gift to me, why not rip off the wrapping paper and love what’s inside? This very day I receive in exchange for my hard work of staying alive, why not make the most of these twenty-four hours? Whatever turns up today, I will grab it and do it wholeheartedly.” Once I bump my hand to my forehead as a divine light bulb goes off, I gulp down the V-8 God has handed me today.
There will be no work to do and no thoughts to think when I start my heavenly life in the company of those who have outrun me to our Father’s house. This day may be my last and only chance to live my earthly life to its fullest. Why skimp on joy?
Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life (1 Timothy 6:17-19, NLT).
…Sue…
