Enjoy Life in the Present
Some people see life today as the Three Witches in Shakespeare’s Macbeth put it, ‘Double, double toil and trouble.’
My own perspective on life changed when a friend wisely pointed out to me that, in a sense, this life is a series of problem-solving exercises. We will never be without problems in this life. If in the midst of all the challenges, you cannot learn to thrive in the situation in which you find yourself, you will never find contentment.
The writer of Ecclesiastes says, ‘We should make the most of what God gives, both the bounty and the capacity to enjoy it, accepting what’s given and delighting in the work. It’s God’s gift! God deals out joy in the present, the now’ (Ecclesiastes 5:19, MSG). Learn to enjoy this wonderful gift of life in the present. If you do not, life will pass you by and you will never enjoy where you are right now.
Trust, respect and honors God - Proverbs 19:23-20:4
The answer to trouble, according to the writer of Proverbs is, ‘The fear of the Lord’ (19:23a) – that is, living in a relationship with God, trusting in him, respecting and honoring him. He writes, ‘The fear of the Lord leads to life: Then one rests content, untouched by trouble’ (v.23).
He goes on to speak of some of the causes of trouble:
Laziness. Laziness is highlighted in this passage as a cause of future trouble: ‘A farmer too lazy to plant in the spring has nothing to harvest in the fall’ (20:4, MSG; see also 19:24).
Cynicism. Mocking (19:25,29) is a form of cynicism. It is very common in our culture today. It can even infect the church, but it is not a good thing. It leads to trouble.
Malice. Dishonesty is another cause of trouble. Robbery leads to ‘shame and disgrace’ (v.26). ‘An unprincipled witness desecrates justice; the mouths of the wicked spew malice’ (v.28, MSG).
Substance abuse. “Wine makes you mean, beer makes you troublesome – a staggering drunk is not much fun’ (20:1, MSG). So much trouble is caused by people getting drunk. Many of the crimes that occur in society are committed under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Quarreling (v.3). “It is the mark of good character to avert quarrels, but fools love to pick fights’ (v.3, MSG).
