Eat, Drink and Be Merry: Ecclesiastes 9:1-12

Are we supposed to like the book of Ecclesiastes? No, at least not from the perspective that this book makes us feel good. But it is like he wrote earlier, “It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting” (7:2). We don’t want to pay attention to the frustration God has built into His creation. We want to be restored to the perfect garden of Eden on our own terms. We want to have a beautiful life with no bad surprises. We want life to come from living on this earth instead of turning our focus to God. We want God to be all about making us happy.

But friends, God loves us too much to let us think that garden-of-Eden living off of the food of the tree of life is the answer to the deepest needs of rebel hearts. He made it frustrating to live life here so we would look where we need to for life…Him.

[1] But all this I laid to heart, examining it all, how the righteous and the wise and their deeds are in the hand of God. Whether it is love or hate, man does not know; both are before him. [2] It is the same for all, since the same event happens to the righteous and the wicked, to the good and the evil, to the clean and the unclean, to him who sacrifices and him who does not sacrifice. As the good one is, so is the sinner, and he who swears is as he who shuns an oath. [3] This is an evil in all that is done under the sun, that the same event happens to all. Also, the hearts of the children of man are full of evil, and madness is in their hearts while they live, and after that they go to the dead.

[4] But he who is joined with all the living has hope, for a living dog is better than a dead lion. [5] For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing, and they have no more reward, for the memory of them is forgotten. [6] Their love and their hate and their envy have already perished, and forever they have no more share in all that is done under the sun.

[7] Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart, for God has already approved what you do.

[8] Let your garments be always white. Let not oil be lacking on your head. [9] Enjoy life with the wife whom you love, all the days of your vain life that he has given you under the sun, because that is your portion in life and in your toil at which you toil under the sun. [10] Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going.

[11] Again I saw that under the sun the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to those with knowledge, but time and chance happen to them all. [12] For man does not know his time. Like fish that are taken in an evil net, and like birds that are caught in a snare, so the children of man are snared at an evil time, when it suddenly falls upon them. (Ecclesiastes 9:1–12, ESV)

1. Being righteous and wise and full of good works will not ensure that only good things happen in your future (v.1) — contra the prosperity gospel
2. The one negative event everyone is guaranteed is death (vv.2-3) — despite how righteous one might be, at heart we are all full of evil and madness and deserve to die
3. While you are alive you can at least recognize this truth which gives you hope for some joy in life (vv.4-10) — You can eat, drink and be merry with a clear conscience
   • you can enjoy good food and drink knowing God has approved of you (but if you can’t get this it doesn’t mean God disapproves of you)
   • you can enter into joyous events
   • you can enjoy your spouse
   • you can enjoy your work and learn to do it with all your might, without being concerned about guaranteeing your future
4. If you recognize that not everything works the way it should and that death comes unexpectedly, you can maintain proper perspective (vv.11-12) — There’s never a good time to die, but there is always the possibility of a good time while you live.