Several months ago, our oldest son earned a toy by accomplishing a series of educational milestones. He had worked hard, and we were eager to celebrate him, so we drove to the store and purchased a LEGO set as his reward. All seemed well until we were pulling out of the parking lot and I heard his little voice from the back seat: “I wish this part of the set was different.” Not five minutes after we had purchased the toy, he was already disappointed.
I have watched my son experience the same disappointment again and again. The trinket he bought with his own money. The dessert he picked out. The Nerf gun he begged us to give him for Christmas. As soon as he gained possession of each promising new prize, his satisfaction evaporated into thin air.
My son and I have this conversation often. He complains when his latest present is disappointing. I explain that he cannot derive the fullness of his joy from material things. Around and around we go. It’s a struggle my son will experience for the rest of his life, and I know this because it’s a struggle I’ve had for all of mine.
On some level, we all know that money and possessions cannot satisfy us. And yet, if we are being honest, most of us seek after them anyway. Perhaps not as cravenly as the “wolves on Wall Street,” but who among us is not enticed, and then duped, by the promise and the security of having more?
In Ecclesiastes 5 and 6, the author explains the vanity of this search. He does so by describing multiple scenarios in which the accumulation of wealth amounts to nothing. One man spends his whole life growing his wealth, but is never fully satisfied by it (Ecclesiastes 5:10). Another accumulates wealth but then loses it all in a bad venture (v.13–14). Still another earns riches and honor, which are then taken by another (Ecclesiastes 6:1–2). Over and over he depicts the precarious fragility of money, and the spiritual futility of striving after it.
In these chapters the author is harsh, because he wants to communicate a counter-intuitive idea. Counter to our logic, the accumulation of wealth is not the answer to our problems. Instead, it has all the dependability of a house of cards. Wealth and possession look sturdy to the eye, but they snap like a toothpick under the weight of our souls. That is why so many wealthy people still feel insecure—because they are. Because wealth and material things are inherently fragile and empty, no matter how much we have.
When “all of your labor is for your own stomach,” the truth is you “will never be satisfied” (Ecclesiastes 6:7). It’s a lesson that many of us will choose to learn the hard way, or never learn at all, but we cannot escape its reality: no matter how much we earn or gain or accomplish, the pursuit of wealth is like standing atop a house of cards, when we were created for the Rock of Ages.
Given the emphasis on the “tragedy of wealth” has followed us throughout Ecclesiastes, my ears are hearing the call of the Lord to give to those in need. Personally, I am one of the 1%, the middle class, and I have access to money to give to those in need. I love giving to others, for it is more blessed to give than receive. I have another kind of poverty, however, that has hindered taking steps of action. It’s poor health, low energy and brain fog, which makes it difficult to process through decision-making and doing the good I so long to do. I’m homebound due to the illness so being the one to directly connect with those is need is not in my ability. Yet, I am fixing the meditation of my mind and heart on the grace of God which is sufficient for me, for his power is made perfect in weakness. Would you pray with me for strength and clarity of mind as I aim to look at the financial picture and possible needs before me? It’s my hearts desire to give cheerfully and generously.
Are my eyes filled with light or darkness? What do they rest on? What am I placing before them? Where is my focus?
Love this Lindsay! These are some reflective and challenging questions I should be asking myself. Thanks for sharing!!
I will be content. I have what I need. God is good to me and my kids. I have seen blessings left to right reminding me HE is with me.
I look at it, as long as I have Christ in my life, I will be okay. I do know that material things are, but as long as I know who my saviour is, the giver of love, the giver of “stuff” is, I know deep down in my heart and soul that I will be okay.
Prayers appreciated as I talk with my sister today about faith and Christianity. She will share how her faith has evolved and I will share what I believe. Please pray that the Holy Spirit would speak through me and speak directly to what my sister needs to hear. Pray she and her husband will have the smokescreen lifted from their eyes and see Jesus in ALL of his truth and glory, that they may come to know him and pursue him wholeheartedly.
Praying! Remember: you can’t change a person, only the Holy Spirit can, so don’t take too much of that on yourself. Be the peace maker, the loving example, ready to give an answer for the reasons you have for your hope. It’s a hard one! Praying, sister in Christ!
Nanak…thank you for sharing. I LOVE your last line: be zealous, repent, and store up treasures in heaven.”
1 Timothy 6:6 “But godliness with contentment is great gain.”
We are in a battle.
It is not an argument, it is a war.
A battle for our hearts and souls.
The weapons the enemy uses against us differ.
The enemy sees that we have been uniquely created in the image of the one he hates.
He sees that our strengths and weaknesses vary, and attacks us where we are vulnerable.
He knows the battle for our souls has already been won in Christ Jesus but, he choses to wreck havoc on the day, bringing as much misery and chaos as he is able.
Anything to draw our gaze from our victorious Christ.
For some affluence draws our eyes, for others poverty keeps us down, and still others it is being right in the middle – wanting what is better, fearful of what is worse, that deeps us distracted.
We cannot fight this battle on own.
So God gives us His armor.
Put on the helmet of salvation. Protect your mind from that which would draw us away from our victorious Christ.
Place over your heart and lungs the breastplate of righteousness of Christ. Protect your heart from loving anything that is not a part of the righteousness of Christ. Love fully that/those whom His righteousness guides you to love. Breathe in His fragrant love, breathe out His grace.
Upon our waist place the belt of Truth. Eternal Truth. Ultimate Truth. Truth founded in His Love. Our Core of strength.
With feet securely planted, side by side united, spiked down, standing firmly in peace.
Bearing His shield in one hand. The shield meant to deflect the arrows that the enemy sends. But also our shield that bears the “coat of arms” so to speak, the emblem, the banner that says, we are children of the King.
And finally, in our other hand we lift our swords. His Spirit and Word that slices away all evil. We must hone it. We must spend time sharpening it. We must use it so that our muscles have the strength to lift it swiftly and accurately when in battle.
But this battle is not against flesh and blood,
So we will offer His love to the rich, poor, or in between.
We will live love whether we are rich, poor, or in between.
We will not take prisoners, we welcome all who surrender to the Savior.
Adopted in, fellow heirs and children of the King.
This battle is against evil in the spiritual realm and together we will fight…in His armor…in His Love.
I love the title of our lesson today, “The tragedy of Wealth.” For some it’s looking for financial or material security instead of GOD, for others it’s about how we use the resources we’ve been given. “Wealth” can be measured in many ways, but the most important message is to look at our own hearts. Look at our desires…and keep the main thing the main thing…”be zealous, repent, and store up treasures in heaven.”