Thursday, September 3

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2015

Ecclesiastes 4:1–6:12

2 Corinthians 6:14–7:7

Psalm 47:1–9

Proverbs 22:16

 

 

Ecclesiastes 5:10–15 reads:

 

“Whoever loves money never has enough;

    whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income.

    This too is meaningless.

As goods increase,

    so do those who consume them.

And what benefit are they to the owners

    except to feast their eyes on them?

The sleep of a laborer is sweet,

    whether they eat little or much,

but as for the rich, their abundance

    permits them no sleep.

I have seen a grievous evil under the sun:

 

wealth hoarded to the harm of its owners,

    or wealth lost through some misfortune,

so that when they have children

    there is nothing left for them to inherit.

Everyone comes naked from their mother’s womb,

    and as everyone comes, so they depart.

They take nothing from their toil

    that they can carry in their hands.”

 

 

The writer of Ecclesiastes, Solomon, had intimately experienced the lessons in these verses. By virtue of God’s blessing, he had accumulated great wealth – beyond that of all other kings.  In these verses, he touches on the vanity of wealth, extending the book’s theme of “meaningless” reality.

 

In our idealized thinking, material abundance promises security and joy, but, as Solomon notes, reality falls short of these expectations.  In fact, his words suggest that added material benefits may translate primarily into greater anxiety.  In addition, the pursuit of wealth often isolates us from others, causing us to forego the joy and mutual encouragement of true relationships. (Ecclesiastes 4:8-12)

 

The Bible points out that, alternatively, “godliness with contentment is great gain” (1 Timothy 6:6) and that we should “use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.” (Luke 16:9)  Money serves primarily as a means of blessing others, providing for our needs, and experiencing God’s goodness.  Sometimes, we may experience a reverse guilt and forego pleasure; I know that I struggle with this concept.  It seems that, instead, we should find joy in the beautiful things that God has created, remembering His great love and provision towards us.

 

The Scriptures also talk about investing the material resources that we have in God’s Kingdom purposes.  Jesus counsels us in Matthew 6:19–21:  “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”  We see that generosity will help us to maintain a singular focus on loving and serving God and others.  We cannot serve two masters simultaneously. (Matthew 6:24)

 

How has God called you to invest your time, talent, and energy?  Have you found joy in doing so?  What might you consider stopping?  Starting?  Or continuing?

 

 

Lord God, we thank You that You have always provided and will always provide for our needs.  Help us to trust You in difficult moments and to give generously in less challenging moments.  Give us vision for how You would have us invest our time, talent, and energy to Your glory and for the blessing of Your people.  Change our hearts so that we might reflect Your character in these areas.  Use us for Your Kingdom purposes.  We love You and give You praise for all Your goodness to us.  In Jesus’s Name, amen.

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