This week we're still reading Ecclesiastes, but this time for hints of joy. What a challenge! E has to be one of the "downest" books in the Bible, even attempting to knock the "Wisdom School" of Proverbs off the shelf with its notion that good in life can be extracted by living well. E says life is a lot more random and living well does NOT guarantee a good life.

But the author of E does raise an interesting question. Because time and chance DO play havoc with our neat religious platitudes and because no one really knows what will happen tomorrow (astrology fans take note), what SHOULD we do today?

E seems to answer, just because we can't understand life doesn't mean we can't enjoy it -- at least some of it. He has a great point here. Many of us are always living for "someday." Only 5 more days until the weekend. Then life will begin. Only 11 more months till my VACATION!! Then life will begin. Only 20 more years till I RETIRE!!! Then life will begin. But the fact is, tomorrow may never come. It has not come for countless thousands who keep putting their joy of life off till "someday."

E says... "So I decided there is nothing better than to enjoy food and drink and to find satisfaction in work. Then I realized that this pleasure is from the hand of God." (Eccl. 2:24, NLT) Eat. Drink. Enjoy your work. Find pleasure in life TODAY. Don't wait for "someday."

Pretty wise advice. Even for E.

Wow. Qohelet sure dismantels the "conventional wisdom" of Proverbs! "Again, I saw under the sun that 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 the skillful; but time and chance happen to them all." (9:11, NRSV) His verdict, after all his observation, is that the same fate awaits us all, no matter how fast, strong, wise, rich, or skillful we are. Death awaits us all.

Yet, in the face of such desperate news. Qohelet does not despair, nor advise us to do so. His advice? Carpe diem! Sieze the day. Live for the moment. "Go, eat your bread with a merry heart; for God has long ago approved what you do. ... Enjoy life with the wife whom you love..." (9:7,9)

Qohelet tells us to enjoy life TODAY (for there is no certainty of a living tomorrow) for 3 reasons:

1. God has approved it -- a remarkable statement that suggests that God not only enables enjoyment, but also delights in it.
2. It is the portion granted to us as human beings.
3. The possibility of enjoyment is time limited, so enjoy life while you can.

So -- go sieze the day!