contentment is the secret

Ecclesiastes 2:24-26, "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. For who can eat, or who else can hasten hereunto, more than I? 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."

This is a very interesting passage that takes a few turns but ends up at a superb truth. Let's address it in a systematic manner. God measures to each man how much he will be endued with of wisdom, knowledge, and joy. All men are created by God with different gifts, despite the cry of our day that all things must be fair, God does not give equally to all men in life. Yet, it is not for us to question God's decisions and working, but rather to accept the abilities that God has bestowed upon us and use them in the fullest way possible.

that truth being established, the key to life is learning what God has given you and being content with the way that He has made you. Thus contentment, not ability is the key to satisfaction in life. Many who have great abilities also have miserable lives, because they are never content with the things that they have. this is the reference that Solomon makes in the last verse, equating these people as sinners who all their life go around trying to gather more and more by their abilities and yet it all is vanity. Rather the godly man uses what God has given him to the fullest of his abilities, and accepts contentment after he has done what he can. Paul said in 1 Timothy 6:6, "But godliness with contentment is great gain."

So eat the bread and drink the cup and enjoy what God has given you in life, it is far better than to fret about what you don't have.