Scripture teaches that life is a gift from God, and He desires for His people to find joy and contentment in it. In Ecclesiastes, Solomon writes about the importance of enjoying the simple things, like work and food, as a gift from God, as seen in Ecclesiastes 2:24 and 5:18. The book of Proverbs also reminds us that a joyful heart is good medicine, as stated in Proverbs 17:22. Additionally, 1 Peter 3:10 encourages believers to turn away from evil and do good, so that they may enjoy life. Ultimately, Ecclesiastes 11:9 reminds young people to follow their hearts and enjoy their youth, but to also remember their Creator in all their ways.
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Here is what I have seen to be good and fitting: to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in all the labor one does under the sun during the few days of life that God has given him—for this is his lot.
Nothing is better for a man than to eat and drink and enjoy his work. I have also seen that this is from the hand of God.
For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech.
Rejoice, O young man, while you are young, and let your heart be glad in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and in the sight of your eyes, but know that for all these things God will bring you to judgment.
Until now you have not asked for anything in My name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.
You have made known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand.
Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be conceited and not to put their hope in the uncertainty of wealth, but in God, who richly provides all things for us to enjoy.
I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and do good while they live, and also that every man should eat and drink and find satisfaction in all his labor—this is the gift of God.
So I commended the enjoyment of life, because there is nothing better for a man under the sun than to eat and drink and be merry. For this joy will accompany him in his labor during the days of his life that God gives him under the sun.
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air: They do not sow or reap or gather into barns—and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? And why do you worry about clothes? Consider how the lilies of the field grow: They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his glory was adorned like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles strive after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Today has enough trouble of its own.
I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world!”
In the day of prosperity, be joyful, but in the day of adversity, consider this: God has made one of these along with the other, so that a man cannot discover anything that will come after him.
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and have it in all its fullness.