HAVING FUN UNDER THE SUN THROUGH SUBMISSION

Just as you do not know the path of the wind and how bones are formed in the womb of the pregnant woman, so you do not know the work of God who works all things. Ecclesiastes 11:5

Have you ever heard of or read The Pineapple Story? It’s the account of a missionary serving in Indonesia as a church planter. He decides to raise pineapples for food and for his family’s health. However, the natives continue to steal the pineapples. He tries all kinds of things to stop them, but nothing works. Finally, in desperation, he submits himself and his pineapples to the Lord. After that, the natives are puzzled that he doesn’t get mad when they steal the pineapples. They ask him if he has become a Christian! He tells them that he gave all the pineapples to God and now they are stealing God’s pineapples. They realize that God may be angry with them and the situation changes as they want to be right with God. The missionary then leads them to Christ and they all find that submission to God results in “having fun under the sun.”

When you read verses 8-10 of Ecclesiastes chapter 11, it may be puzzling. Does verse 9 mean that we should rejoice in the life which God has given to us and yet be afraid of God’s judgment for it? No. The point is that God expects us to enjoy the life that he has given to us and have great enjoyment of it. Too many Christians feel bad when they feel good because we’re afraid that if we felt better then we might feel worse! That is not the point. God may well ask us at the judgment seat of Christ if we enjoyed the life which He gave us. It dovetails with 1 Timothy 6:17 – “…God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy.” Are you enjoying the life which God has given to you? God is not a cosmic killjoy.

Ike Graham