“I know that there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can. We should eat, drink, and delight in our work because these are God’s gifts of happiness to us.”
Ecclesiastes 3:12-13
Notes for Contemplation as You Use this Devotional:
- This passage is sometimes titled, “The God-Given Task.” Imagine that our “task” is to feel happy.
- Ecclesiastes, written sometime near 400-500 B.C., comes from the Hebrew word, Qoheletmeaning gatherer, teacher or preacher.
- Qohelet, whom many scholars agree is not King Solomon, offers profound wisdom, revealing themselves to be one who understands the nature of life. Their teachings emphasize practical theology — an understanding of God which can be lived and experienced daily.
- Qohelet notes that even though we may never understand all God’s ways or every facet of life, the best thing we can do is enjoy ourselves.
- Happiness as Qohelet describes is not dangerous self-gratification, endless pleasure-seeking, overindulgence, or hedonism. Rather, it is what we feel when we are:
- Optimistic about life;
- Engaged in meaningful activities;
- Enjoying relationships with others;
- On purpose in our work; and
- Accomplishing or achieving what matters most.
- Psychologists now have discovered the power of Qohelet’s ancient insights. As Dr. Martin Seligman notes in his 2011 book, Flourish: A Visionary New Understanding of Happiness and Well-Being: “We think too much about what goes wrong and not enough about what goes right in our lives. Of course, sometimes it makes sense to analyze bad events so that we can learn from them and avoid them in the future. However, people… spend more time thinking about what is bad in life than is helpful. One way to keep this from happening is to get better at thinking about and savoring what went well.”
Contemplation Questions:
Ask yourself:
- When I reflect on my life now, in what ways and/or about which things am I optimistic?
- List, word map, or illustrate all the ways and things.
- When I reflect on my life now, what activities fully engage my attention, excitement, and interest?
- List, word map, or illustrate all the activities.
- When I reflect on my life now, in what ways am I enjoying my relationships and connections with other people?
- List, word map, or illustrate all the relationships and connections.
- When I reflect on my life now, in what ways am I “on purpose,” finding meaning and fulfillment in what I do?
- List, word map, or illustrate all the ways.
- When I reflect on my life now, in what ways am I achieving what I want and accomplishing my most important goals?
- List, word map, or illustrate all the ways.
- When I reflect on my life now, when do I feel truly happy?
- List, word map, or illustrate as many specifics as you can.
- When I reflect on my life now, what is truly going well for me?
- List, word map, or illustrate everything that is going well, even if it isn’t yet ideal or perfect.
- When I contemplate all I have written, mapped, or illustrated, how do I feel knowing that my happiness is a gift from God?
- List, word map, or illustrate all your feelings.
- When I contemplate all of this together, what are at least five (5) ways I can more fully embrace my God-given gift of happiness?
- List, word map, or illustrate as much as you can imagine.
As you work with this devotional, know that God, unconditionally loving and infinitely compassionate, is in the midst of whatever is occurring in your life. Avoid any thoughts of God as condemning or capricious. Affirm that you are one of God’s blessed, divine beloveds and, as Jesus says in Luke 12, that “It is God’s great wish to give us the kingdom.”
Remember that happiness is not something we seek or pursue, but something we feel. Imagine new ways to savor your life, and continue using this devotional as long as you like to nurture your emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual well-being.
© 2021 – Rev. Jennifer L. Sacks – All rights reserved.
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