Blowin' in the Wind
Blowin' in the Wind
Ecclesiastes 5:8-6:9
8 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. 9 But this is gain for a land in every way: a king committed to cultivated fields.
10 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.
13 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.
18 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.
1 There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, and it lies heavy on mankind: 2 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. 3 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. 4 For it comes in vanity and goes in darkness, and in darkness its name is covered. 5 Moreover, it has not seen the sun or known anything, yet it finds rest rather than he. 6 Even though he should live a thousand years twice over, yet enjoy no good—do not all go to the one place?
7 All the toil of man is for his mouth, yet his appetite is not satisfied. 8 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? 9 Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the appetite: this also is vanity and a striving after wind.
8 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. 9 But this is gain for a land in every way: a king committed to cultivated fields.
10 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.
13 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.
18 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.
1 There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, and it lies heavy on mankind: 2 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. 3 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. 4 For it comes in vanity and goes in darkness, and in darkness its name is covered. 5 Moreover, it has not seen the sun or known anything, yet it finds rest rather than he. 6 Even though he should live a thousand years twice over, yet enjoy no good—do not all go to the one place?
7 All the toil of man is for his mouth, yet his appetite is not satisfied. 8 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? 9 Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the appetite: this also is vanity and a striving after wind.
Gold Dust
One of my favorite old movies is The Treasure of the Sierra Madre. Two drifters go into the mountains with a prospector to look for gold. It starts as a grand adventure, with everyone laughing and dreaming about all the gold they’ll find. They’re smiling, helping each other, calling each other “partner.” It’s all fun and games while they’re still broke, but then they hit paydirt. Now they hide their shares from each other every night. They watch each other constantly, imagining the worst. Tensions rise. They begin accusing each other. When a stranger wanders up, they agree to murder him so they don’t have to cut him in. Gold completely changes them. The closing image of the movie is all that gold dust just blowing away in the desert. Vanity. Solomon would love this movie! When we look for meaning and joy in money, it leaves us broken and miserable, chasing the wind. In this section, Solomon guides us into wise joy by exposing money’s empty promises.
Money's Empty Promise
Money can’t satisfy my longings (5:10). Solomon says, 'I’ve seen it a thousand times. If I could just make as much as X. Just buy that car. Just take that trip, live at that address. Then I’d be satisfied.’ Is this ever how it works out? No! You obsess about whatever it is you want. You either save or in-debt yourself to get it, and before you know it, the new has worn off that thing you couldn’t live without. Then you see something else on Pinterest, and it starts all over! Money promises to satisfy, but it can’t. Wanting never ends. We can spend our lives just living from want to want, led by a wandering appetite (6:9). We think money will satisfy our souls, but then like a gulp of saltwater, it only intensifies the thirst. Satisfaction is not a money issue; it’s a heart issue!
Money can never go deep enough to satisfy our souls—only Jesus can do that! That’s why Paul says, “There is great gain in godliness with contentment” (1 Tim 6:6). Until I can learn to be content in Christ, no thing will ever make me content. It’s fine to want something, to set a goal, to work and save for it, and then to enjoy it. But preach truth to yourself the whole time: "this will not satisfy or complete me! If I am not content without it, I won’t be content with it. I’ll be the same dissatisfied person. Only Christ can bring me lasting contentment."
Money can never go deep enough to satisfy our souls—only Jesus can do that! That’s why Paul says, “There is great gain in godliness with contentment” (1 Tim 6:6). Until I can learn to be content in Christ, no thing will ever make me content. It’s fine to want something, to set a goal, to work and save for it, and then to enjoy it. But preach truth to yourself the whole time: "this will not satisfy or complete me! If I am not content without it, I won’t be content with it. I’ll be the same dissatisfied person. Only Christ can bring me lasting contentment."
What Money Can't Fix
Money also can’t solve my problems. Since many of life’s stresses are tied to money, we think money can solve all our problems. We can fantasize about the trouble-free lives that we would have with a loaded bank account or envy the rich people we imagine to be on easy street. Solomon says, “You know better than that by now! In a fallen world, you will always have problems!” It is naive to think money can lift the curse and give you heaven on earth—only Jesus can do that!
In fact, money often creates new problems! Having money can bring freeloaders to your door (v11), complication to your life, and restlessness to your sleep (12). The owner worries about the company 24/7. He gets there early and stays late. He’s always trying to stay ahead of the competition. If he borrows to expand, now he’s got debt. He has employees to oversee, whose families depend on him. He has to insure everything he’s got and keep a legal team on retainer. He eats a steak but then lies awake thinking about it all. Meanwhile, the hourly employee makes a fraction of his salary. But when he clocks out, he forgets about it. He eats a sandwich, plays with his kids, watches the ballgame, and then sleeps like a rock. The point of the story is not to discourage owners or discourage business success! The point is to stress that in a fallen world, every situation has its own blessings and problems. Money can’t change that. It also won’t fix your deepest problem—sin. There are plenty of people with gobs of money whose lives are a disaster because they won’t submit to Christ. Wise people know that money can’t solve my problems. Put your hope in Jesus!
In fact, money often creates new problems! Having money can bring freeloaders to your door (v11), complication to your life, and restlessness to your sleep (12). The owner worries about the company 24/7. He gets there early and stays late. He’s always trying to stay ahead of the competition. If he borrows to expand, now he’s got debt. He has employees to oversee, whose families depend on him. He has to insure everything he’s got and keep a legal team on retainer. He eats a steak but then lies awake thinking about it all. Meanwhile, the hourly employee makes a fraction of his salary. But when he clocks out, he forgets about it. He eats a sandwich, plays with his kids, watches the ballgame, and then sleeps like a rock. The point of the story is not to discourage owners or discourage business success! The point is to stress that in a fallen world, every situation has its own blessings and problems. Money can’t change that. It also won’t fix your deepest problem—sin. There are plenty of people with gobs of money whose lives are a disaster because they won’t submit to Christ. Wise people know that money can’t solve my problems. Put your hope in Jesus!
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Article by Eric Smith
Senior Pastor, Sharon Baptist Church
Senior Pastor, Sharon Baptist Church
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