The Costly Pursuit of Wealth

If you see in a province the oppression of the poor and the violation of justice and righteousness, do not be amazed at the matter, for the high official is watched by a higher, and there are yet higher ones over them. But this is gain for a land in every way: a king committed to cultivated fields. He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity. When goods increase, they increase who eat them, and what advantage has their owner but to see them with his eyes? Sweet is the sleep of a laborer, whether he eats little or much, but the full stomach of the rich will not let him sleep. There is a grievous evil that I have seen under the sun: riches were kept by their owner to his hurt, and those riches were lost in a bad venture. And he is father of a son, but he has nothing in his hand. As he came from his mother's womb he shall go again, naked as he came, and shall take nothing for his toil that he may carry away in his hand. This also is a grievous evil: just as he came, so shall he go, and what gain is there to him who toils for the wind? Moreover, all his days he eats in darkness in much vexation and sickness and anger. Behold, what I have seen to be good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life that God has given him, for this is his lot. Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil—this is the gift of God. For he will not much remember the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with joy in his heart.

There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, and it lies heavy on mankind: a man to whom God gives wealth, possessions, and honor, so that he lacks nothing of all that he desires, yet God does not give him power to enjoy them, but a stranger enjoys them. This is vanity; it is a grievous evil. If a man fathers a hundred children and lives many years, so that the days of his years are many, but his soul is not satisfied with life's good things, and he also has no burial, I say that a stillborn child is better off than he. For it comes in vanity and goes in darkness, and in darkness its name is covered. Moreover, it has not seen the sun or known anything, yet it finds rest rather than he. Even though he should live a thousand years twice over, yet enjoy no good—do not all go to the one place? All the toil of man is for his mouth, yet his appetite is not satisfied. For what advantage has the wise man over the fool? And what does the poor man have who knows how to conduct himself before the living? Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the appetite: this also is vanity and a striving after wind.

Ecclesiastes 5:8‭-6:9 ESV

Rev. Dwight Too

The love of money and the pursuit of wealth

We live in a culture that is steeped in accumulating wealth and the love of money as residents of the United States. Much like fish that may not even realize that we are in water, we are swimming in a culture filled with the love of money.

The craving for money

He who loves money will not be happy with wealth. If gathering wealth is your focus, no amount is enough. This is the nature of craving wealth. There is never enough. A craving for money just keeps growing. 

The consequences of the love for money

When we take something and use it for another purpose or will have consequences. If we take money and make it ultimate, it will hurt us. A laborer can sleep, even with little food. But rich people suffer insomnia from their wealth. The more stuff you have, the more you have to clean, organize, and protect it. 

A life spent in pursuit in money & wealth is a wasted life

The passage speaks of a man gained riches through working hard, but loses it all in a bad venture and had nothing to leave his son. But more than that, we cannot hold onto riches forever, we will die and leave it behind. We cannot take it with us when we die. But wait someone might say, isn't it better to have more rather than less? Better to have more than not enough? There is a rich man portrayed as having everything that could make for a happy life, but cannot enjoy any of it. The rich man is discontent and cannot enjoy these good things. Satisfaction is not guaranteed just by having more. Your can have it all and still not have contentment.

Intrinsic things can bring joy

God can bring joy through his blessings. A man can be content with what God has given so much so that his days for by. There's another man who found genuine joy & contentment regardless of circumstances. The apostle Paul speaks of contentment in all circumstances. Contentment comes from God, but how? It is learned. When we feel discontentment rising in our hearts, we need to turn to God. How? We place God and Jesus upon the throne of our lives. If we look for joy in buying things, we should turn and consider the gift of life & love in Jesus. If we look for security in money, then we should see our place secured in heaven through the work of Christ. If we look for status through material things, then we should see our great inheritance and royal adoption into the family of God. 

This will make us generous givers. It will make us hold wealth loosely. We will see hurting and poor people and will share what we have. A thief who has been grabbed by the gospel will not just make them stop stealing... It will make them work so they can share, not just live a comfortable life, but to share! Our money is God's investment in our lives so that the church can as a whole further the kingdom of God. If Christians in the United States tithed, simply tithed, we could fund all the missionaries, all the works that God desired. So please steward the blessings of God well. Keep Jesus as the ultimate treasure in your lives.

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