“I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my labor, and this was the reward for all my toil. Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.” Ecclesiastes 2:10-11
When I read the verses above, all I can think about is Mr. Monkeyjocks. IYKYK.
In Disney’s Bluey season 2, the two sisters, Bluey and Bingo, are begrudgingly cleaning out their toys but don’t actually want to get rid of anything. Mr. Monkeyjocks is a stuffed animal that the Dad brings to life to teach the kids a lesson. In this 7 minute episode, Mr. Monkeyjocks essentially gets everything he wants in the house then kicks them out of the house. As Mr. Monkeyjocks vied for control of the home, he acts entitled, temperamental, and increasingly unsatisfied. By the end, Mr. Monkeyjocks is sitting on a throne of toys looking bored, and the girls conclude the following:
“Because when you have everything you want… nothing feels special anymore.”
We can connect this worldly reality to the gospel truth that our hearts are made to find true satisfaction in Christ. Nothing else will do. Any created pleasure we can buy, create, or achieve, will pale in comparison to the satisfaction that the Creator gives. This does not mean that we have to hate or scoff at the pleasures of the world. For many, summer is a season of enjoying many wonderful things whether that be fresh produce, travel opportunities, or leisures not normally afforded during the school year. And what a fun gift those things are! Yet Ecclesiastes is a reminder that whatever pleasures we are pursuing should not replace our pursuit of Christ, because in the end they will not satisfy. Father, help us to believe this is true!
Anne
Pic of the week- 14th? Melon of the summer
“I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure.”
Not sure if this applies to watermelon but I am afraid it might…
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