God’s joy for you
Enjoying the things, one does determine the type of outcome one gets. Finding satisfaction on the things you do is not always the easiest, because many factors become a turn off. In fact, factors such as family problems, the weather, crime, politics etc…, have an effect on how much enjoyment you get on things. But God’s desire and promise, is that we enjoy the fruits of our labor and that we prosper (ps128:2) no matter what the circumstance is. The Proverb says that the blessing of the Lord makes rich (pr10:22) so when one’s ways please him, the things he/she does will prosper and bring enjoyment. John reflects this prosperity desire of the saints the same way our souls prosper (3:Jh1:2).
Ecclesiastes 2:26
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. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.
One of three things that are essential for a person to have victory in life of which God gives him that pleases him is joy. Joy comes from the Lord, both earthen joy and the joy of the spirit. It is important to God that you have joy. It is a sure thing; joy, that for those who strive to be in good standing; no matter how difficult it maybe, God grants a man. His joy comes in the morning, as the scripture says (ps30:5). Solomon in his quest to disembark his God given wisdom decided to mix pleasure with wisdom and found joy, but it was temporal (Ecc2:10-11). He came to the conclusion that all is vanity, that all his labor along with the pleasure he mixed was a waste. The idea that once he passed away someone else was going to take everything that he accomplished, was afflicting his spirit. Solomon provoked his joy by all his accomplishments, but after looking back and understanding that eventually it was for someone else his joy left him (Ecc2:17-18); he was not going to keep that which he worked so hard for. There is a difference between the joy that we provoke and the joy that comes from the Lord. The first is temporary, any thought or situation will cause that joy to disappear just as it did to Solomon. But the second which comes from the Lord becomes our strength (ps28:7). Whatever we have worked on and stirred up joy from God will take it and give it him that pleases him at a given time.
2 For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.
Proverbs 10:22
22 The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.
2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
Psalms 30:5
5 For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
Ecclesiastes 2:10-11
10 And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour. 11 Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.
Ecclesiastes 2:17-18
17 Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit. 18 Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me.
Psalms 28:7
7 The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.