The Emptiness of Loving Money

The preacher talks about money in Ecclesiastes 5. And if we want to live full lives, we best pay attention. For Solomon had more money than we can imagine. And he realized the danger in ways few will understand. So what does he have to say?

Ecclesiastes 5:10–12 (ESV) He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity. 11 When goods increase, they increase who eat them, and what advantage has their owner but to see them with his eyes? 12 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.

Is it a coincidence that money is discussed RIGHT AFTER Solomon instructs us in repeated terms to come to God's house with silence to listen rather than offer the "sacrifices of fools?" (See Ecclesiastes 5:1). Not at all. Solomon knows that money and riches can stop your ears and darken your heart to God. And so many of our prayers are sustenance related. The fear of not having enough can drive us crazy. And even when we have enough, it never seems like it.

Then Solomon exposes the vain pursuits of wealth:

Ecclesiastes 5:13–17 (ESV) There is a grievous evil that I have seen under the sun: riches were kept by their owner to his hurt, 14 and those riches were lost in a bad venture. And he is father of a son, but he has nothing in his hand. 15 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. 16 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? 17 Moreover, all his days he eats in darkness in much vexation and sickness and anger.

Notice how he takes this on. The problem with wealth is that those who love it tend to hoard it. There's never enough and so your life goes by in vexation and anger because you never arrive at a "comfortable" financial position. Add to it the very real possibility of a bad venture and you're filled with worry. The point is not to hoard wealth but use it. To bless our children with enjoyable lives (see verse 14). Then even more in the later passages, Solomon discusses what money is for:

Ecclesiastes 5:18–20 (ESV) 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. 19 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. 20 For he will not much remember the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with joy in his heart.

Don't hoard but enjoy what God gives. This is commended not only here but in the New Testament. Paul shares with young Pastor Timothy the same principle:

1 Timothy 6:17 (NLT) Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment.

Look at that last phrase again? Trust in God. He will give you all you need for ENJOYMENT! There's not a single thing wrong with enjoying life. It comes from God who in the beginning rejoiced over His creation. And think of why He made all that there is... So that we could know Him and enjoy Him forever. Sin has separated us from that enjoyment and turned the created thing into an ultimate desire. Jesus comes to undo what Adam did and reverse our curse. And how does the book of Hebrews tell us He did it? By considering life with US His JOY. 

Hebrews 12:2 (ESV) looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

In effect, Jesus is our true Solomon who sets our hearts right about possessions so that we long for His presence alone as our greatest desire and joy.