Having an enjoyable and meaningful life is really contingent upon a person knowing where to look.

     We notice that the words “I know” or “I perceived” ESV, is at the beginning of verse 12 and verse 14. The Hebrew word means to know or perceive something in having acquired knowledge. This knowledge is based on what someone had seen, observed and experienced in life.

     Let us know that the enjoyable life is possible.

Ecclesiastes 3:12a ““I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice,”           

Eclesiastes 3:12a “Nalalaman ko, na walang mas mabuti para sa kanila kundi ang magsaya,” FILIPINO VERSION

     There is nothing good or better than for a person to rejoice or be joyful.

     When Solomon said, “I know” he literally came to know. The writer Solomon is relating the conclusions at which he successively arrived. By his clear reason and his own long and certain experience, Solomon said “I know.”

     It says “there is no good in them” which means there is no good in the sons of men, that is all men. Because men are a sinner, he suffers (Ecclesiastes 3:10 “I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.”).

     Man can get no good in God’s work except by rejoicing in all things that God shares to them, allotted by God and how God doing good in it. Joy is the antidote to worrying care (Matthew 6:34 “Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.”), and to dare to trust joyfully in the Lord is God’s gift (Galatians 5:22 “But the fruit of the Spirit is…joy”).

     Human cares and anxieties cannot accelerate and retard the great events of God’s providence, that is why there is nothing good for a man to do but to be joyful.

     The word “good” or “better” NASB, ESV, NKJV is a word from Hebrew that means to be good because of having a good and pleasant smell. Therefore, there is nothing that looks good or better and nothing smells good or better than someone who enjoys life. The attention and interest of the people was drawn to someone who personally enjoys life.

     Not only you will discover that life is enjoyable but to be excited and joyful in life is a biblical testimony.

Eclesiastes 3:12b “Nalalaman ko, na walang mas mabuti para sa kanila kundi… ang masiyahan habang sila'y nabubuhay.” FILIPINO VERSION

     There is nothing good or better than for a person to do good. To do good is to enjoy life.

     The word “good” KJV, is the same word translated “better” NASB, ESV, NKJV, which refer to doing things that have a good and pleasant smell to them.        This verse has a profound implications.

     The words “to do good” means to do good in a moral sense, that is “to act rightly.” To do good means to see good when it meant enjoyment. Life is enjoyable when you do good. Doing good thing is enjoyable.

     This life that God classify as good will not happen apart from having personal relationship with Jesus Christ as their Saviour and intimate fellowship with Him. If Jesus Christ is not your Saviour and not the center of your Christian life and not the one that rules or not the one who controls your relationship to God, then doing the “good” or “better” things is an impossible to experience.

     Without God in one’s life, the potential to do good is impossible. Paul said in Romans 3:12, “there is none that doeth good, no, not one.” Thus, anyone without Jesus Christ in his life, does not have the potential of doing things that are good according to God’s classification. Without a proper relationship and intimate fellowship with God, a person will not experience doing many good or better and beautiful things in his lifetime.

     A believer must submit to God and make a proper use of what God has given; he must not do no harm to himself and he must endeavour as much as possible to do good to others.

     To "do good" is to go side by side with enjoying God's gifts, and because of that a good conscience and the favour of God are retained, upon which true joy depends.

     Man cannot fully comprehend God's works (Ecclesiastes 3:11 “He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.”), but man ought joyfully to receive ("rejoice in") God's gifts, and "do good" using the gifts of God to himself and to others. This is never out of season (Galatians 6:9 “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”).

     There is nothing better or good than for any Christians in the New Testament to invest one’s life in doing good or better things in their lives. Listen, if a believer in Christ looks back on his lifetime and said that he had a good life, that means, he had a life that God would classify as good, and the verse 12 says there is nothing good or better than that but to do good.

     Let us rejoice in the Lord but not in fleshly joy and not in self-indulgence (Philippians 4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.”; James 4:16 “But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.”).

     We commit mistake if we think we were born for ourselves; no, it is our duty to do good in this life, on which our life is short and uncertain; we have but little time to be doing good, therefore we should redeem time.

     We conclude therefore that that there is no good in the sons of men because no other satisfaction or felicity that a man can enjoy in creatures or worldly things; but for a man to rejoice and to do good, that is to employ them freely and cheerfully in acts of charity and liberality toward others, or to apply them to the glory of God, to live in the fear of God, which is necessary to the happiness of this as well as of the happiness of others. Life is enjoyable when we do good things in life towards others and ourselves.

Eclesiastes 3:13 “At kaloob ng Diyos sa tao na ang bawat isa ay kumain, uminom, at masiyahan sa lahat ng kanyang pinagpaguran.” FILIPINO VERSION

     Everyone who can enjoy life has received a gift from God.

     We are talking here in verse 13, about the physical enjoyment.

Ecclesiastes 2:24 "There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God." Man needs to use what God hath given him.

     We get a good quick look concerning what it really takes to be able for a person to enjoy life. Of course, basically a person needs enough food and drink and he also need to see that his work prospers and means something better happens.

     God is the determining factor for whosoever who gets to enjoy life of better living or good life. No one can enjoy life without putting God first. The decisive factor for enjoyable life is God who is everywhere, who knows everything and who is in controls of everything and knows our needs more than we ask or think (Ephesians 3:20 “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think…”).

     One good gift of God to man is the healthy life which comes with the years of vigor.

     Notice not only Solomon said that we need to be joyful and do good to others to have enjoyable life but he said, “And also that every man should eat” that is literally rendered, 'and also as to every man who eats,' etc., This is about the gift of God to man (Ecclesiastes 3:22 “Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion:”; Ecclesiastes 2:24 "There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God."; Ecclesiastes 2:26 "For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God."; Ecclesiastes 5:18 “Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it is his portion.”). When a man received those things as God's gifts, and intended to God's glory, the good things of life are enjoyed in their due time and order (Acts 2:46 “And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,”; 1 Corinthians 7:31 “And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.”; 1 Corinthians 10:31 “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”; 1 Timothy 4:3 “Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.”).

     The word "also" by Solomon implies, not only is it God's gift that any man's sufferings are removed or avoided, but also that in suffering, whether it is presently happenings or feared, man should be cheerful. The heart to enjoy God's gifts is not natural to man, but the heart to enjoy God’s gift is also the gift of God (Ecclesiastes 2:24 “that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God.”; Ecclesiastes 2:26 “For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy:…that he may give to him that is good before God.”;

     If you are a person who has plenty and sufficient to eat and you enjoy your work and the fruit of your labor, then you are a person who has received a gift from God. Be careful, instead of complaining about things that we do not have, we should enjoy what we do have. In everything give thanks (I Thessalonians 5:18 “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”). All good things comes from above (James 1:17 “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights”).

     Enjoying life is a gift given by the sovereign God, and enduring life is also a lack of gift given by the sovereign God. What are you experiencing enjoying life or enduring life?

              - - - - - Continuation, Part 2 - - - - -

Ecclesiastes 3:14a “I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever:”

Eclesiastes 3:14a “Nalalaman ko na anumang ginagawa ng Diyos ay mananatili magpakailanman;” FILIPINO VERSION

     Let us learn that the work of God is permanent. Whatsoever God shall do, shall be for ever. All God’s counsels or decrees are eternal and unchangeable.

     God did not produce any being that God intends ultimately to destroy. God made everything for eternity; however matter may be changed and refined, animal and intellectual beings shall not be deprived of their existence. The wild creation shall be restored, and all human spirits shall live for ever; those who lives pure will remain in a state of supreme and endless blessedness, while those who live impure will be in a state of indestructible misery.

     The Lord’s work that is forever is opposed to man's labors that is perishing (Ecclesiastes 2:15 “Then said I in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool, so it happeneth even to me; and why was I then more wise? Then I said in my heart, that this also is vanity.”).

     The writer Solomon knew that everything God does is something that stands forever, it means for eternity. If what we are doing is connected into something that God is doing then it will surely stand. There will have a permanence of God’s work if your life, if your business, if your ministry is of God.

     Everything man does and every man is doing, in himself and of himself is transitory, impermanent, fleeting. In contrast, everything God does and everything God is doing, is eternal. When man transitory effort happens to connect into the eternal plan of God, there is a permanence because the God’s work is permanent.

     Solomon says, “whatsoever God doeth, it shall be forever” (Psalms 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.”; Psalms 33:11 “The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.”; 1 Samuel 3:12 “In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end.”; 2 Samuel 23:5“Although my house be not so with God; yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure:”; Psalms 89:34 “My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.”; Matthew 24:35 “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.”; James 1:17 “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness,….”)

     God will preserve the plants in the vegetable kingdom; the birds, beasts and fishes in the animal kingdom, without diminishing or removing the care. It is nevertheless a fact, we must confess, that many plants and living beings existed in the world before the flood, which now are nowhere to be found. But God’s purpose designs His works shall be forever, because God’s work is permanent.

Ecclesiastes 3:14b “nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.”          

Eclesiastes 3:14b “walang bagay na maidadagdag doon, o anumang bagay na maaalis. Gayon ang ginawa ng Diyos upang ang tao ay matakot sa harapan niya.” FILIPINO VERSION

     Let us learn that the work of God is perfect.

     There is no new order of beings, whether animate or inanimate creation, can be produced. God will not create more; man cannot add.

     Nothing can be added to what God hath done. Men can neither do anything against God's counsel and providence, nor man can hinder any work or act of God. God hath done it, that men should fear before him That, by man’s consideration of God’s power, in the disposal of all persons and things, men should learn to trust in God, to submit to God, to fear to offend God, and more carefully study to please God.

     The work of God is perfect there is nothing that anyone will ever need to add or need to subtract to it. There is nothing missing or there is nothing lacking when God is working. His way is perfect (Psalm 18:30 “As for God, his way is perfect:”), His work is always good to those who loves God (Romans 8:28 “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” NASB). Nothing ever needs to be added or to be subtracted, nothing is missing or lacking, when it comes to God, to God’s work and to God’s Word. God commanded Israel in (Deuteronomy 4:2 “Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.”).

     Nothing can be annihilated; no power but only that power of God which can create can destroy. And whatever God has done, God intended it to be a means of impressing with amazement and wonder of His created being, of His providence, of His mercy, and of His judgments, upon the souls of men, that God may be recognized and reverenced by man. A man has a tendency to be a religious creature if a man has proper consideration of God's works, that means to impress the man in his mind with a sense that there is Supreme being existing, so the man will give godly reverence that is due to God. And because of the sense of mind awareness concerning the Sovereign God, the fear of God is frequently emphasized in the Scripture.

     The plan of God cannot be changed by man’s opposition who is only a creature by God, His works is perfect. God is a Sovereign and He is not under of fate.

     God has recorded the prayers of God’s people, but our workings for our worries are useless because God knows perfectly more than we know about it. If anything that man’s works contradicts to God’s will is because man’s work is crooked and man’s work cannot resolve (Ecclesiastes 1:15 “That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wantingc cannot be numbered.”; Ecclesiastes 7:13 “Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked?”). God’s work is perfect.

     Man’s labors depend wholly on God’s immutable purpose. Therefore, man’s part is to do and enjoy every earthly thing in its proper season (Ecclesiastes 3:12 “I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life.”)  Man enjoys everything, by not setting aside God’s design or God’s order, never undertake anything that depends on his own worrying efforts to accomplish what his own wants to accomplish, but instead man must commit all his ways to God, who has appointed the time and end (Psalm 127:1 “Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.”; Psalm 123:1 “Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens.”; Romans 9:16 “So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.”; Ephesians 1:11 “In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:”).

     Concerning the amazing creation of the Great God purposely that man He made may fear God is the illustration of the called “Herb Trefoil” in connection of the doctrine of eternal Trinity in Unity. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are One, and yet three distinct. – The “Herb Trefoil” in every part has the same root, the same fibres, the same pulpy substance, the same membraneous covering, the same color, the same taste, the same smell, and yet the three leaves distinct, but each and all a continuation of the stem, and proceeding from the same root. This is an awful illustration of the doctrine of Trinity. God’s creation is perfect, nothing can be added and nothing can be destroyed without God’s permission. That is why, man must fear God.

     In order for God to grant us with the enjoyable life, we need to “fear Him” and always “keep His commandments.” Ecclesiastes 12:13 “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.”

Ecclesiastes 3:15 “That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.”

Eclesiastes 3:15 “Ang nangyayari ay nangyari na; at ang mangyayari pa ay nangyari na; at hinahanap ng Diyos ang nakaraan na.” FILIPINO VERSION

     Let us learn that the work of God is purposeful.

     The right statements in verse 15, What has been - what was before, and what shall be has been before. The word “is” in the King James Version is erroneously printed in Roman letters. It does not exist in the Hebrew (it should have been italicized), and the word “is” there translated “now” is the same which is translated as “already.”

     The phrase “That which hath been is now” refers to the things past, present, and to come, are all ordered by one constant divine counsel, in all parts and ages of the world. There is a continual return of the same motions of the heavenly bodies, of the same seasons of the year, and a constant succession of new generations of men and beasts, but all of the same quality. 

     That which bath been in the mind of God from eternity is now realized in time. 

     The phrase “that which is to be hath already been” is the resumption of Ecclesiastes 1:9 “The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.”. Whatever changes there be, the succession of events is ordered by God's "everlasting" laws (Ecclesiastes 3:14 “I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it,..”), and returns in a fixed cycle.

     As of now God governs the world, like as God governed the world from the beginning. The revolutions and operations of nature like in the universe galaxies are still the same up to now, that they have been from the beginning. What we see now, is the same as has been seen by people or generation who live before us. Man is bound to the wheel of life; events pursue each other and repeat themselves. God directs all the events concerning man, by an unvariable providence.

     After many changes, God's law requires the return of the same cycle of events as in the past.

     The mysteriousness and unchangeableness purpose of God are designed to lead man to “fear before God.” Man do not know every event that happened, otherwise man would think himself independent of God and would not walk in faith but rely on himself. No man knows about tomorrow, but man can know that God holds him in His hand, that man may fear God and have reverence toward God.

     God allows everything in life because God has a purpose for everything, and that purpose is to bring a person to the place where that person will fear God as it is stated in previous verse 14 “that men should fear before him.”

     Did you notice or did you experience personally in your life, that God keeps allowing things in your life to happen? The reason why God keeps doing and demonstrating the same kinds of things in one’s life before, is because God wants to bring a man to the point where that man will fear God. God will keep doing what He wants to do and allows everything continuously and even allows the same things over and over again to happen until finally we learn to fear God.

     God monitors all movement and God will bring back for judgment those things that has already passed by. We must not forget that there will be judgment for everything. The meaning of verse 15 is that there is a connection between events of the past, of the present and of the future, and that this connection exists in the justice of God who controls all.

     Everything as God had made, did not appears to us as it is. We have the world so much in our hearts, and we are so taken up with thoughts and cares of worldly things, that is why we do not have time, and we do not have the spirit to see God's hand with His purpose working in everything that God had made. The world has not only gained possession of the heart of man, but the world also has formed the thoughts of man against the beauty of God's works. 

     The word “Requireth.” —means Seeketh again: recalleth the past. The writer Solomon has not been speaking of the bringing the past into judgment, but of the unchanged order of the universe, which constantly repeats itself.

     Solomon writes, “and God requireth that which is past”, that the past may return again in its proper order. The heavens themselves, which are the planets, stars, moon, sun, comets though some of them are hundreds of years in going round their orbits, and entire galaxies with its great revolutions show the same phenomena as before.

     In God’s grace, does not God require that which is past? Whatever blessing or influence God gives to the soul of man, God intended those blessings to remain and increase, and surely God will consistently bestow and increases the blessings if man will be faithful. Listener, where are the inspirations of the Spirit in you, where are the motivations of Christ love, where are the pardoning mercy of God, where are the sanctifying grace of God, where are the humility and heavenly-mindedness of Christ produces in you, where are thy holy zeal in your service and worship, where are thy spirit of prayerfulness, where are thy tender conscience and sensitivity against sin, where are the witness of the Spirit in your changed life, which you did once receive and enjoy in life? Where are they? God requireth and seeketh that which is past? May your faithfulness of the past be in you now that you may have the enjoyable life.

     Now, the question is that why the writer Solomon brought this up? Solomon brings this up because fearing God and dealing with things before God will result to a meaningful and enjoyable life. If we just let things pass by, it will never make any of us a happy person. If we learn to face things in light of the holy eternal Word and plan of God, we will experience the key to happiness in this life and the next. Enjoyable life is ours to enjoy.