Connect Ecclesiastes 3:22 with Matthew 6:34 on living in the present. Setting the Scene • Ecclesiastes 3:22: “I have seen that there is nothing better for a man than to rejoice in his work, because that is his lot. For who can bring him to see what will happen after him?” • Matthew 6:34: “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Today has enough trouble of its own.” The Wisdom of Solomon: Embrace Your Portion Today • Solomon observes life’s limits and, under divine inspiration, concludes that enjoying today’s work is “nothing better.” • The literal sense stresses that God has fixed our “lot”; what lies beyond today remains hidden. • Key idea: present joy in God-assigned labor honors the Creator who ordained times and seasons (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8). The Teaching of Jesus: Release Tomorrow • Jesus commands freedom from anxiety about the future. • Tomorrow is personified: it “will worry about itself,” underscoring our inability—and God’s exclusive ability—to govern what’s ahead (cf. Proverbs 27:1; James 4:13-15). • Key idea: trust the Father’s daily care (Matthew 6:25-33) and focus on the kingdom today. Connecting the Dots • Both passages insist that God alone controls the unseen future. • Scripture calls believers to: – Enjoy present responsibilities (Ecclesiastes 3:22) – Trust God’s provision and sovereignty (Matthew 6:34) • Living in the present is not escapism; it is obedience that springs from confidence in God’s perfect governance (Psalm 118:24; Lamentations 3:22-23). Practical Ways to Live Presently • Start each day acknowledging God’s rule: “This is the day the LORD has made” (Psalm 118:24). • Give your best effort to today’s tasks, viewing them as worship (Colossians 3:23-24). • Off-load tomorrow’s concerns in prayer (Philippians 4:6-7); then deliberately leave them there. • Cultivate gratitude lists that name today’s evidences of God’s kindness (1 Thessalonians 5:18). • When future fears surface, answer them with promises like Hebrews 13:5-6. The Heart Behind It • God’s character—faithful, sovereign, good—makes present-focused living reasonable and safe (Deuteronomy 31:8). • Trust replaces worry; enjoyment replaces restless striving; worship replaces self-reliance. • Such trust models Christ Himself, who committed His future to the Father (1 Peter 2:23). Summary Truths to Hold On To • Today is God’s gift; tomorrow is God’s jurisdiction. • Enjoying work today (Ecclesiastes 3:22) + refusing anxiety about tomorrow (Matthew 6:34) = a life that glorifies the Lord and blesses others. |
    |