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Eat, Drink, and Be Merry: A Gospel Call to Bold Enjoyment
Not yet published
Expected 21 Apr 26Surprising Wisdom for Living Well in a Broken World
Enjoying the human journey through this world can seem impossible. So much is going wrong in these dark days. And the daily personal demands never let up. Who has the time—much less the freedom of heart—to play, to laugh, to delight? What's more, those following Christ can also feel duty-bound to live in sacrificial austerity.
But God's strategy for wise living includes bold enjoyment. In fact, any "Christianity" that feels embarrassed about enjoying God's good gifts dishonors him and leaves Christians with less to give their suffering world.
With a pastor's heart, Ray Ortlund invites listeners to embrace God's strategy for facing reality and living well. Meditating on Ecclesiastes 11:9-10, Ortlund explains how following Christ here in this world is a nuanced mix of both suffering and happiness. Ecclesiastes is a gospel call to accept the suffering and to savor the happiness—and savor it boldly.
Delivers a Gospel Call to Pastor Ray Ortlund reminds listeners that God not only allows us enjoyment but even commands it Wise Offers an extended meditation on Ecclesiastes 11:9–10, enriched with personal anecdotes and wisdom from Christians of the past Affirms the actual joys God has placed in everyday life, defying today's cynical and sometimes hyperspiritual culture
Enjoying the human journey through this world can seem impossible. So much is going wrong in these dark days. And the daily personal demands never let up. Who has the time—much less the freedom of heart—to play, to laugh, to delight? What's more, those following Christ can also feel duty-bound to live in sacrificial austerity.
But God's strategy for wise living includes bold enjoyment. In fact, any "Christianity" that feels embarrassed about enjoying God's good gifts dishonors him and leaves Christians with less to give their suffering world.
With a pastor's heart, Ray Ortlund invites listeners to embrace God's strategy for facing reality and living well. Meditating on Ecclesiastes 11:9-10, Ortlund explains how following Christ here in this world is a nuanced mix of both suffering and happiness. Ecclesiastes is a gospel call to accept the suffering and to savor the happiness—and savor it boldly.
Delivers a Gospel Call to Pastor Ray Ortlund reminds listeners that God not only allows us enjoyment but even commands it Wise Offers an extended meditation on Ecclesiastes 11:9–10, enriched with personal anecdotes and wisdom from Christians of the past Affirms the actual joys God has placed in everyday life, defying today's cynical and sometimes hyperspiritual culture
- GenresChristian
160 pages, Paperback
Expected publication April 21, 2026
106 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I picked up Eat, Drink, and Be Merry: A Gospel Call to Bold Enjoyment by Ray Ortlund because the title immediately intrigued me. I expected a tightly written and deeply structured exploration of Ecclesiastes. While the book had meaningful insights, I found it somewhat scattered and at times difficult to follow.
What I did appreciate was the central takeaway: Ecclesiastes teaches that life is short and life is good. That tension—between brevity and goodness—felt biblically faithful and pastorally helpful. Ortlund highlights how Solomon acknowledges the limits and frustrations of life while still urging us to receive God’s gifts with gratitude and joy. That emphasis on enjoying God’s everyday blessings was encouraging and worth reflecting on.
However, I couldn’t shake the sense that the book is written more toward a younger audience—perhaps those just beginning to wrestle with big questions about meaning, purpose, and mortality. As someone in my mid-40s, I didn’t find much of it personally challenging or new. Many of the insights felt introductory rather than deeply probing. Readers newer to Ecclesiastes might benefit more from this approach, but I was hoping for a more layered or comprehensive study.
That said, I don’t regret reading it. I’m walking away with a renewed commitment to accept my limits while savouring my joys. Solomon’s message—life’s shortness paired with life’s goodness—is one I want to hold onto. We cannot control everything, nor can we escape the reality of time passing, but we can gratefully receive what God places in our hands today.
While this particular book may not be the one I return to for deeper study of Ecclesiastes, it served as a reminder to live faithfully within my limits and to boldly enjoy the good gifts God gives.
A special thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of Eat, Drink, and Be Merry by Ray Ortlund. Although the book didn’t quite resonate with me as expected, I appreciate the opportunity to reflect on its message about the brevity and goodness of life.
What I did appreciate was the central takeaway: Ecclesiastes teaches that life is short and life is good. That tension—between brevity and goodness—felt biblically faithful and pastorally helpful. Ortlund highlights how Solomon acknowledges the limits and frustrations of life while still urging us to receive God’s gifts with gratitude and joy. That emphasis on enjoying God’s everyday blessings was encouraging and worth reflecting on.
However, I couldn’t shake the sense that the book is written more toward a younger audience—perhaps those just beginning to wrestle with big questions about meaning, purpose, and mortality. As someone in my mid-40s, I didn’t find much of it personally challenging or new. Many of the insights felt introductory rather than deeply probing. Readers newer to Ecclesiastes might benefit more from this approach, but I was hoping for a more layered or comprehensive study.
That said, I don’t regret reading it. I’m walking away with a renewed commitment to accept my limits while savouring my joys. Solomon’s message—life’s shortness paired with life’s goodness—is one I want to hold onto. We cannot control everything, nor can we escape the reality of time passing, but we can gratefully receive what God places in our hands today.
While this particular book may not be the one I return to for deeper study of Ecclesiastes, it served as a reminder to live faithfully within my limits and to boldly enjoy the good gifts God gives.
A special thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of Eat, Drink, and Be Merry by Ray Ortlund. Although the book didn’t quite resonate with me as expected, I appreciate the opportunity to reflect on its message about the brevity and goodness of life.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This is a look at a few lines from Ecclesiastes. It is a helpful reminder of the goodness of the created order. It provides a nice counter to the translation of "vanity" in Ecclesiastes as "meaningless" (which is indeed a quite misleading rendering).
As with most Ray Ortlund books, it's just as much about him as it is about the topic at hand. This can grow quite frustrating! Also his tone is so excitable that it can grow quite wearying as well. Thankfully it is not a long book.
I suspect Ortlund is attempting to break out of the monotony so characteristic of most books on the Christian life. He is mostly successful, if perhaps at the cost occasionally of weightiness. And I'm also not sure there are so many readers out there who are unnecessarily low on eating, drinking, and merry-making. If there are, such'uns will get quite a wake up from this book!
As with most Ray Ortlund books, it's just as much about him as it is about the topic at hand. This can grow quite frustrating! Also his tone is so excitable that it can grow quite wearying as well. Thankfully it is not a long book.
I suspect Ortlund is attempting to break out of the monotony so characteristic of most books on the Christian life. He is mostly successful, if perhaps at the cost occasionally of weightiness. And I'm also not sure there are so many readers out there who are unnecessarily low on eating, drinking, and merry-making. If there are, such'uns will get quite a wake up from this book!
March 14, 2026
In this book, Ray Ortlund focuses on Ecclesiastes 11:9-10 to discuss God’s call for us to embrace and enjoy every part of life.
While I really appreciated the message of “live your Christian life joyfully,” a whole book on this short portion of Scripture felt a little bit narrow. I enjoyed the first half of the book, but by about halfway, the point was beaten through pretty well and the content seemed stretched thin. The second half of the book seemed to be mostly him quoting other teachers to lengthen the book.
He did quote some other Scripture, but he could have fleshed out much more of Ecclesiastes or other passages to make for meatier content.
Overall, I’m glad I read this book for the concept and some thoughtful points I took with me, but I don’t think it’s one I would come back to.
Thank you NetGalley and Crossway for an advanced copy of this book! All opinions are my own.
While I really appreciated the message of “live your Christian life joyfully,” a whole book on this short portion of Scripture felt a little bit narrow. I enjoyed the first half of the book, but by about halfway, the point was beaten through pretty well and the content seemed stretched thin. The second half of the book seemed to be mostly him quoting other teachers to lengthen the book.
He did quote some other Scripture, but he could have fleshed out much more of Ecclesiastes or other passages to make for meatier content.
Overall, I’m glad I read this book for the concept and some thoughtful points I took with me, but I don’t think it’s one I would come back to.
Thank you NetGalley and Crossway for an advanced copy of this book! All opinions are my own.
February 20, 2026
The overall message and support was great. An important message in our current world. However, the first 50% was chaotic. I found myself internally saying “focus!” to the author. The last 50% was better but still lacked flow. It felt as if certain points/stories/anecdotes that the author wanted to use were forced at times without thinking how it would translate/flow for the reader.
That said, I’ve heard many good things about Ray Ortlund so this read wouldn’t deter me from picking up another one of his books.
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an eARC through NetGalley.
That said, I’ve heard many good things about Ray Ortlund so this read wouldn’t deter me from picking up another one of his books.
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an eARC through NetGalley.
March 5, 2026
3.5⭐️
Commentating on Ecclesiastes 11:9-10, Ray Ortlund makes the case that enjoying God’s good gifts is for our good and God’s glory. In contrast to a nihilistic outlook that says, “Eat and drink for tomorrow we die,” Christians are called to bold enjoyment in Christ that will outlast all of the pleasures we enjoy here on earth.
“Jesus is risen from the dead. His endless triumph means the only lasting reality in this exhausted world is endless happiness. All of history’s evils, piled up together into one huge, stinking heap, amount to the tiniest speck, when compared with the everlasting vastness of the nuclear powered goodness of God.”
I especially appreciated his thoughts on vexation, or fearful worry. There is a temptation in Christian circles to err on the side of seriousness, but to lack joy is to lack in a fruit of the Spirit and is harmful for our souls.
“Real holiness is joyous. And real joy is holy.”
I enjoyed this read but don’t think it is necessarily anything groundbreaking. Though there is some fleshing out of his ideas, it’s a pretty simple concept.
Many thanks to Crossway and Netgalley for the advanced review copy. All opinions are my own.
Commentating on Ecclesiastes 11:9-10, Ray Ortlund makes the case that enjoying God’s good gifts is for our good and God’s glory. In contrast to a nihilistic outlook that says, “Eat and drink for tomorrow we die,” Christians are called to bold enjoyment in Christ that will outlast all of the pleasures we enjoy here on earth.
“Jesus is risen from the dead. His endless triumph means the only lasting reality in this exhausted world is endless happiness. All of history’s evils, piled up together into one huge, stinking heap, amount to the tiniest speck, when compared with the everlasting vastness of the nuclear powered goodness of God.”
I especially appreciated his thoughts on vexation, or fearful worry. There is a temptation in Christian circles to err on the side of seriousness, but to lack joy is to lack in a fruit of the Spirit and is harmful for our souls.
“Real holiness is joyous. And real joy is holy.”
I enjoyed this read but don’t think it is necessarily anything groundbreaking. Though there is some fleshing out of his ideas, it’s a pretty simple concept.
Many thanks to Crossway and Netgalley for the advanced review copy. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Is the author's last name Piper? I need to check if it is. Because this book feels like reading a John Piper book. This is Christian Hedonism 2.0 and more! What's more surprising is how Ortlund use Ecclesiastes to bring forth that God glorifying and God satisfying joy. If you want to read a fill to the brim and overflowing joy over what God is lavishly giving you now and what awaits us believer in eternity, this definitely a highly recommended book!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews