Saturday, November 14, 2009

Ecclesiastes 5:16-20

And this too is very seirous problem. People leave this world no better off than whenthey came. All their hard work is for nothing-like working for the wind. Throughout their lives, they live under a cloud- frustrated, discouraged, and angry.



Even So, I have noticed one thing, at least, that is good. It is good for people to eat, drink, and enjoy their work under the sun during the short life God has given them, and to accept their lot in life. It is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it. To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life-this is indeed a gift from God. God keeps such people so busy enjoying life that they take no time to brood over the past.





Process vs. results.



Too often we focus our lives and our joy on results (winning games, how much money we make, effectiveness). When the results aren't what we want, we are upset and we break our backs until we reach those goals we set. Some people work their whole lives and never see the results they want. On the other hand, other people do reach their goals and when they do they think, "What do I do now?" It usually isn't what they expected it to be. Like the passage says, it is like "living in a cloud, frustrated, discouraged, and angry"



However, things change when we enjoy the process instead of looking to the results. Enjoying the actual process of reaching your goals (the practices, the tough games) in the long term is far more rewarding. Like the passage says, "God keeps such people so busy enjoying life that they take no time to brood over the past."



Coach Frosty Westering sums this all up by saying, "The joy is in the journey."