Savoring God and His Gifts – EGP Blog post from August 10, 2014

Ecclesiastes 5:17–20 ()

[17] Throughout their lives, they live under a cloud—frustrated, discouraged, and angry. [18] Even so, I have noticed one thing, at least, that is good. It is good for people to eat well, drink a good glass of wine, and enjoy their work—whatever they do under the sun—for however long God lets them live. [19] And 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—that is indeed a gift from God. [20] People who do this rarely look with sorrow on the past, for God has given them reasons for joy.

In today’s world, we’re so geared toward getting out of where we currently are to get to greener pastures that we’ve forgotten how to savor things. We’re so tied up in getting to the next destination that we don’t take the time to enjoy the journey. We speed along in our cars and whip out our phones to text and do social media any time there are two seconds to spare. Then, when we finally get to where we’re going, we’re so geared up from rushing there that we interpret it as boredom and play on our phones instead of being there in the moment with the people and things we came to see.

Philippians 4:8–9 ()

[8] Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely,§ whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell§ on these things. [9] The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Philippians 4:8a Or lovable and gracious
Philippians 4:8b Lit ponder these things

Now, I love photography as much as the next guy, but in our “selfie” generation, we’re so geared up to “Instagram” our food or a sunset that we don’t remember to enjoy it for ourselves. In fact, studies have shown that people who take a snapshot of an experience instinctively rely on the photograph to “capture the moment” and remember it for us, that we don’t fully experience and absorb the emotions of the moment ourselves. On top of that, most people that do take the time to experience those moments will say, “photographs can’t do it justice.”

1 Timothy 6:17 ()

[17] Tell those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which will soon be gone. But their trust should be in the living God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment.

But we must always remember that it’s about the Gift-Giver, not the gift. Experience the moment, savor the food, enjoy the company, but realize that it’s all a gift from our loving God and therefore savor Him all the more!

Psalm 34:8 ()

[8] Taste and see that the Lord is good.
Oh, the joys of those who trust in him!

Key verses

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