Enjoy Yourself (It's Later Than You Think)

Back in 1949, Guy Lombardo and his orchestra performed a popular song with the above title (see video). The lyrics of the song, emphasize the fact that working hard just to earn a few more dollars, will get you nowhere but an early grave. In the latter portion of the song, the lyrics say, “When you kiss a dollar bill, it doesn’t kiss you back.”

This is the song writer’s way of saying that money can never satisfy.

Dear reader, not only can money never fully satisfy, but possessions and fame can never give an individual fulfillment in this life either (Luke 12:13-15).

The wise man, Solomon, wrote:

“There is one alone, without companion: He has neither son nor brother. Yet there is no end to all his labors, Nor is his eye satisfied with riches …. He who loves silver will not be satisfied with silver; Nor he who loves abundance, with increase. This also is vanity” (Ecclesiastes 4:8; Ecclesiastes 5:10). See commentary on these verses here and here.

If we do happen to have been blessed by God with an abundance of money and possessions, how do we put them to good use?

The inspired writer, Paul, provides us the answer:

“Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life” 1 Timothy 6:17-19).

—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets