I am a person who is content and happy in life. Today I read in Ecclesiastes 1:18 “With much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief." 

I had always thought my contentment and happiness was because of living well… or at least some good thing, right? But if I’m reading this correctly, the source of my contentment is my lack of knowledge….. which is disappointing, but I’m sure many of those who know me personally would attest to. 
As I once mentioned to a dear friend: I have more intellectual pursuits, but not that much intellect with which to pursue them. I like to imagine I’m a more educated, refined gentlemen, but when I find myself in the presence of the more educated, I’m like: I like soccer…. and pie. At that point all pretense goes out the window and there I stand, kind of exposed. 

All kidding aside, Ecclesiastes is a different book in the Bible. The overall message is something like "A man can do no better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work” (2:24) and “I know there is nothing better than to be happy and do good while they live. That everyone may eat and drink and find satisfaction in all his toil- this is the gift of God.” (3:12-13) 

It acknowledges the ultimate emptiness of so much of what we do here on earth, but also recognizes there is joy in some of it too. Enjoy what the Lord has given you. Accept the good too, because not everything life hands you will be enjoyable. Understand that there will be times and seasons for different things- “a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance” (3:4). What the Lord calls you to will include both times of great joy as well as times of great sorrow. This is “the burden God has laid on men. He has made everything beautiful in its time….. yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” (3:10-11)  

The previous pastor at our church taught through this book twice and it felt like it took enough life experience to really understand it and teach it- to be settled in what it says to us. There is a lot in life that is just past our understanding. We aren’t going to know why this or that happens. But don’t let the lack of understanding of the big picture suck the joy out of life- take it as it comes and enjoy the things the Lord has blessed you with in those moments.