Beyond the Weekend

January 18 | Memory

January 18, 2019

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God.  Ecclesiastes 5:19

Read: Ecclesiastes 5:19

Listen: Ecclesiastes 5

TODAY’S MESSAGE

Everything is meaningless. Have joy. Those two ideas seem incongruous.

If everything is meaningless and my life won’t be remembered—it doesn’t seem like that would lead to joy. However, the perspective that we aren’t living to preserve memories of our achievements should free us to find joy in the process of living. We should rejoice in the delightful moments of the monotony, cherish the moments of peace, and trust God to use us for his purpose.

We find joy when we trust God and enjoy the journey of life with the gifts he has given us. When we stop being so focused on the final product but instead realize life is about living and growing.

Think back to high school or college. Some of us were so fixated on getting out of there that we didn’t find time to connect with classmates or teachers. We didn’t enjoy the classes or make the most of our time. We just wanted to walk across that stage and get on to the next thing.

One of the more difficult things in life is to force ourselves to slow down and enjoy the process of living instead of focusing on our next success or triumph. God wants to meet us in our current moment.  If life is meaningless without God, then joy can only be found with him. The little moments of life are better when we stop and recognize that God is in them and given them to us.

IN YOUR CHAIR TIME TODAY

Return to the weekend service by listening to and watching the song “Living Hope” by Bethel Music. Be reminded that Jesus is our living hope. He’s the reason life isn’t meaningless.


Download a printable PDF of the BTW week here.

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