The Cycle of Grateful Living with John Cortines

“Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and the power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil—this is the gift of God.”  - Ecclesiastes 5:19

What if true joy doesn’t come from gaining more, but from gratefully receiving what God has already provided? Today, John Cortines joins us to explore what he calls the Cycle of Grateful Living—and how it transforms our approach to money and contentment.

John Cortines is the Director of Grantmaking at The Maclellan Foundation. He is the author of our new study on the book of Ecclesiastes, Wisdom Over Wealth: 12 Lessons from Ecclesiastes on Money, as well as the co-author of God and Money: How We Discovered True Riches at Harvard Business School and True Riches: What Jesus Really Said About Money and Your Heart.

The Heart of Ecclesiastes: Joy as a Gift

Ecclesiastes 5:18–20 forms the foundation of our new Wisdom Over Wealth study:

“It is good and fitting to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil... this is God’s gift to man... God keeps him occupied with joy in his heart.” - Ecclesiastes 5:18–20

These verses, nestled within the longest section on money in the book, offer a radical invitation: rather than striving for more, we’re called to enjoy what we’ve already received. Even the ability to enjoy life’s blessings is a divine gift.

Introducing the Cycle of Grateful Living: E.A.T.

To help us live out this vision, here’s a simple acronym from Ecclesiastes 5:19: E.A.T.—Enjoy, Accept, Toil.

1. Enjoy God’s Provision
   
   Everything we have—our wealth, relationships, health, and even the capacity to enjoy them—is a gift from God. Acknowledging this turns entitlement into gratitude and replaces striving with trust.
    
2. Accept Life’s Brevity
   
   Ecclesiastes frequently reflects on death, not to breed fear, but to awaken us to the preciousness of life. Acceptance of our limits and mortality grants deeper purpose and contentment in the present moment.
    
3. Toil with Joy
   
   Work is not something to escape from. Ecclesiastes calls us to rejoice in our toil. True fulfillment isn’t found in early retirement or unending leisure, but in the meaningful work God places before us.

What Gets in the Way?

Gratitude can often feel elusive in the routines of everyday life. Often, we slip into discontent when we:

• Take God’s provision for granted
• Ignore life’s brevity and live mindlessly
• Complain about work instead of finding purpose in it

The world’s promises—especially those of financial independence or early retirement (FIRE)—can become mirages. We’ve probably all been there, dreaming that if we work hard and save enough, we will someday be free. But that vision of life can be so hollow because the human condition is to be oriented to purpose, to work. Even if you're retired, it's