One of my favorite parts of Ecclesiastes is Ecclesiastes 11:7-10. Verse 9 says to the young man: rejoice; let your heart be pleasant; follow your heart’s impulses and eyes’ desires; do it responsibly. A lot of Christians shy away from this idea because it sounds like the promotion of a “party hearty” lifestyle. That, of course, is not what Solomon is advocating. But he is saying that youth should be able to enjoy life and that the enjoyment of life should really be a lifelong activity.
Why do Christians shy away from this idea? I think it is because we don’t take God at His word. He says that we are to have an abundant life (John 10:10b) and that we are to experience joy in our life (John 15:11) but we have somehow “learned” that we shouldn’t be happy about it! Perhaps it is because what we see passing for “happiness” is a lifestyle that is, at best, short on happiness and long on hollowness–the TV constantly urges us to drink this beverage or use this product and life will be wonderful, fulfilling, and exciting.
But bad examples shouldn’t deter us from experiencing the joy that God has promised. Commenting on Ecclesiastes 11:7-10, Walter Kaiser in his book Ecclesiastes: Total Life (Chicago: Moody Press, 1979) says, “So have fun! Rejoice and delight yourself in the thrill of living” and do it responsibly. I would think that believers, who have experienced the grace, mercy, and joy of a walk with God, would be most likely to enjoy life. However, many times Christians are more like the people described by Tony Campolo in his book Carpe Diem: Seize The Day (Dallas: Word Publishing, 1995), “Most people are born and years later die without really having lived at all. … They play it safe and tiptoe through life with no aspiration other than to arrive at death safely.”
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