Bible Reading: Ecclesiastes 9:1-18
“Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God” – Ecclesiastes 5:19 (KJV).
Riches and wealth are gifts from God. The power to eat of ones labour also is a gift from God. When one understand that it is possible to accumulate wealth and leave such wealth behind for others to enjoy, one will see the need to appreciate God for the power to enjoy wealth. A friend made a striking statement that when he was growing up, his parents could not afford good meal for them. They could hardly afford three square meals and that is often without meat and fish since the parents are poor. He struggled to get the family out of that state of poverty and when his children were established, he was invited to rest in the house of one of his sons but barely two weeks he stayed with them, he was diagnosed of diabetes. He was told to avoid certain food and meat. In his pain, he exclaimed, “now that my children are rich enough to afford good food, doctors say I should not eat most of the food and meat, what an irony of life”.
Health or power to enjoy riches does not rest in man, it is a gift from God. Safety, peace and joy all come from God. Every good and perfect gift comes from God. He alone gives the power to make and to enjoy wealth. His blessings make rich and add no sorrow with it (Prov. 10:22). No man on earth no matter how rich can offer such gift. We see so many wealthy people who are so insecure and have no peace of mind. So many with terminal diseases which their money cannot cure; so many could wish to part with millions of naira to have health and peace but all that have eluded them. When one is justified by faith, one will have peace with God and the gift of righteousness.
PRAYER: Thank you Lord for your unspeakable gift.
Rev. Vincent Diolu