Laughter, Life, and the Lord

I had a lovely day yesterday and it was totally unplanned.

Monday night my son Larry sent me a 4-word text asking, “What’s your plan tomorrow?”

I replied that I had none; he suggested a BBQ in the evening for a 4th of July celebration and before it was all said and done, I had 9 family members in my backyard playing cornhole, (pictured) laughing and enjoying good company and good food, in fact so much so there was no room for dessert, for anyone 🙂 And, although it was hot, very hot, there was lots of shade and with the amount of laughter resounding through the woods, the hot cheeks and sweaty necks matter little.

Eat, drink and be merry.

I have heard this expression a few times. I’m not sure why, but I associate it with weddings, or more specifically wedding receptions. But where do we get this idiom?

Well, in case you have not guessed already, we need to go to the Bible. In fact, this common saying is found several times in the Bible. Let’s take a look at the first mention, and for that we go to the book of Ecclesiastes.

“And I commend joy, for man has nothing better under the sun but to eat and drink and be joyful, for this will go with him in his toil through the days of his life that God has given him under the sun.” Ecclesiastes 8:15 ESV

The first thought that comes to mind when I think of the book of Ecclesiastes is how negative it feels. At first glance it seems filled with woe and dread and little hope, but King Solomon is just saying it like it is. He's calling it like he sees it. He had some “life” under his belt. He had pursued pleasure and riches and knowledge. And he came to the real understanding that it means nothing if we don’t have the hope of eternal salvation.

For the second mention we go to the book of Luke and the Parable of the Rich Fool.

“Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?” And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

“And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’

“And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’

“But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.” - Luke 12:13-21 ESV

The rich farmer was not a fool because of his wealth, or because he was thinking ahead, (planning for retirement you might say,) he was a fool because he lived only for himself, and because he believed that he could secure his life with his stuff, his things, his possessions.

The third appearance of the phrase “eat, drink and be merry” was written by Paul and for that we go to 1 Corinthians chapter 15.

The entirety of chapter 15 is all about the resurrection of Christ, the resurrection of the dead, the resurrection of the body, and the mystery and victory of the dead being raised to eternal life. IT IS RICH! I encourage you to read it. It is filled with promise! But for today’s idiom we go to verse 32.

“What do I gain if, humanly speaking, I fought with beasts at Ephesus? If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” 1 Corinthians 15:32 ESV

Paul went on to write, in only the way Paul could, some very strong words of warning that were pertinent then and perhaps even more so today.

“Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.” Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning. For some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame.” 15:33-34 ESV

I think the bottom line is this. God wants us to have fun with family and friends. I believe He loves to hear our laughter when it comes from a place of love and unity. But our ‘fun’ should never take 1st place in our lives; that belongs to Jesus.

The chapter ends with the best promise of all. And it is a promise. This is a future event, I believe not too far off, that is coming. It will happen, and what a day that will be.

“Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep (die), but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:

“Death is swallowed up in victory.”

“O death, where is your victory?

O death, where is your sting?”

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

“Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” 1 Corinthians 15:51-58 ESV

by Jeanette Stark – Wednesday, July 5, 2023