Money's Empty Promises
Money's Empty Promises
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.
Money in the Bank
Money makes all kinds of empty promises to us. When we believe them, we wind up broken and miserable. Yesterday we learned that money cannot satisfy my longings or solve my problems. Today, Solomon exposes two more of money’s empty promises.
Money can’t secure my future. Money promises to protect us forever. That’s why having money in the bank makes us feel secure, confident, and in control. It is of course wise to save some of our earnings to prepare for an uncertain future. But without realizing it, we can subtly transfer our trust to money. We can pin our hope for a bright future on the money we have. Solomon says, “that’s a bad idea!” Money is an unstable resting place for your hope. In this life, money can be gone in an instant. Just look at the guy he describes in v13–14: he works hard and saves up, thinking that he will leave a nice inheritance to his son…then one bad investment wipes it all out. When we are making money, we assume that it will always flow in, and so we plan and spend accordingly. But in a fallen world like ours, a thousand things can happen that suddenly turn the tap off to our cash flow! An injury. A corporate merger. A drought. A virus that goes global. That’s why Paul warns us not to “set our hopes on the uncertainty of riches” (1 Tim 6:6). Money is not a trustworthy Savior!
Even if you manage to hang onto it in life, a day will come when it can’t help you. No matter how much you’re worth, you’ve got an appointment to keep with God, and you’ll leave it all behind (15–16). Solomon tells us in verse 17 of a Scrooge-like man who put all his hope in money: “He eats in darkness and vexation and sickness and anger.” But after all that, he leaves this world just like he came in, with absolutely nothing. This is vanity!
Money can’t secure my future. Money promises to protect us forever. That’s why having money in the bank makes us feel secure, confident, and in control. It is of course wise to save some of our earnings to prepare for an uncertain future. But without realizing it, we can subtly transfer our trust to money. We can pin our hope for a bright future on the money we have. Solomon says, “that’s a bad idea!” Money is an unstable resting place for your hope. In this life, money can be gone in an instant. Just look at the guy he describes in v13–14: he works hard and saves up, thinking that he will leave a nice inheritance to his son…then one bad investment wipes it all out. When we are making money, we assume that it will always flow in, and so we plan and spend accordingly. But in a fallen world like ours, a thousand things can happen that suddenly turn the tap off to our cash flow! An injury. A corporate merger. A drought. A virus that goes global. That’s why Paul warns us not to “set our hopes on the uncertainty of riches” (1 Tim 6:6). Money is not a trustworthy Savior!
Even if you manage to hang onto it in life, a day will come when it can’t help you. No matter how much you’re worth, you’ve got an appointment to keep with God, and you’ll leave it all behind (15–16). Solomon tells us in verse 17 of a Scrooge-like man who put all his hope in money: “He eats in darkness and vexation and sickness and anger.” But after all that, he leaves this world just like he came in, with absolutely nothing. This is vanity!
The Power to Enjoy
Money also can’t supply my joy. We imagine that people with money are all fabulously happy. While we struggle to make ends meet, they’ve ‘made it,’ and enjoy the good life. I read a poem in high school called “Richard Cory.” Everyone in town wants to be Richard Cory, a wealthy, handsome, gentleman. Then one day, all the poor people are shocked to hear Richard committed suicide—this rich young man had secretly been living in misery and despair. Money promises to supply joy, but don’t be fooled—it can’t (6:1–6)!
Solomon in 6:2 describes a man with “wealth, possessions, and honor, so that he lacks nothing of all that he desires, yet God does not give him power to enjoy them.” Remember—it’s not in us to enjoy our lives, no matter how much we’ve got! Only God can enable us to enjoy life, in a relationship with him. You can have a designer-life and yet “your soul is not satisfied with life’s good things” (6:3). Imagine being surrounded by good things, yet totally unable to enjoy them! It would be like going to Texas de Brazil with your jaw wired shut! Many people live like that.
Solomon in 6:2 describes a man with “wealth, possessions, and honor, so that he lacks nothing of all that he desires, yet God does not give him power to enjoy them.” Remember—it’s not in us to enjoy our lives, no matter how much we’ve got! Only God can enable us to enjoy life, in a relationship with him. You can have a designer-life and yet “your soul is not satisfied with life’s good things” (6:3). Imagine being surrounded by good things, yet totally unable to enjoy them! It would be like going to Texas de Brazil with your jaw wired shut! Many people live like that.
Accepting Your Lot
The better way is found in 5:18–20: “Accept your lot.” God made me for himself. I need to trust him for the forgiveness of my sins, submit to his wise authority, and walk with him daily. My lot is to live in a fallen world, where something will always be broken and always be missing, and money can’t fix that. But Jesus who died and rose for me is leading me through this fallen world to a perfect home as my Good Shepherd. I can trust him.
Once I settle "my lot," I can say, “Lord, help me enjoy the life you’ve given me, for your glory. My spouse, kids, job, house, church—are all imperfect, but they’re gifts from you. Keep me so occupied with joy each day that time flies by. After I’ve honored you with my money and been generous to others, help me to enjoy it with thankfulness. Amen.”
That is the way of wise joy!
Once I settle "my lot," I can say, “Lord, help me enjoy the life you’ve given me, for your glory. My spouse, kids, job, house, church—are all imperfect, but they’re gifts from you. Keep me so occupied with joy each day that time flies by. After I’ve honored you with my money and been generous to others, help me to enjoy it with thankfulness. Amen.”
That is the way of wise joy!
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Article by Eric Smith
Senior Pastor, Sharon Baptist Church
Senior Pastor, Sharon Baptist Church
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