The Tragedy of Wealth
Open Your Bible
Ecclesiastes 6:1-12, Matthew 6:19-24, Mark 10:17-31, 1 Timothy 6:6-7, Revelation 3:17-20
BY Sharon Hodde Miller
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.
58 thoughts on "The Tragedy of Wealth"
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This was a good devotional to remind us to be grateful and be content in whatever state we are in. It starts with thanking Him for the things we have. Writing a list or journaling every day what we are thankful for, helps. We don’t deserve anything or “entitled” to anything either! It’s only by the grace of God we are not consumed. Lamentations 3:22
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I’m graduating college and I just received a job as a High school English teacher! Woo! I’m so excited and I didn’t even think about it, but when they told me my placement (the grades and classes I would have) I was disappointed. I trained for four years to be an English teacher and they want me to teach careers and English.
I was bummed.
However, I know there is beauty in helping students find purpose in their lives. I know I am called to be a light for Jesus in the schools. It’s never going to look like I want it to. Because how I want it to look will never exist. My work will never satisfy me. The perfect colleagues will never satisfy me.-
Be thankful you have a job and do it unto the Lord, he’s the one watching you. It’s probably a blessing in disguise.
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Man do I feel this. I’ve had to move my baby shower to a virtual event and I just “know” we’re not going to get everything we “need” for our baby girl. But God gives us what we truly need when our desires are in line with His. And even if my whole registry were to be purchased, I wouldn’t really be content unless I was content in Him. Now I’m off to watch rhe Veggie Tales episode “Madam Blueberry” to try to have a more thankful heart.
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These readings reminded me to adjust my thought life!! So that I’m praising instead of running after other things.
Adjusting my thoughts, will remind me to be grateful for what I do have, not being envious of the life and things I see others have.
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In all of the times I’ve read the parable of the rich young ruler in Mark 10, I don’t think I’ve ever noticed verse 21: “”Looking at him, Jesus loved him…”. He says this right before challenging the young ruler to sell all of his possessions and follow Him—something that, at first glance, may actually feel unloving to us. Sell all of our treasured possessions? Give up our self-built security? Sacrifice all of the comfort with which we’ve surrounded ourselves? That sounds cruel, not loving…right?
It was in that moment that I realized how often I equate material provision with love. And yes, scripture does make it clear that God expresses His love for us through His provision (Matthew 6:25-34). Only in this story, Jesus loves the rich young ruler by challenging him to rid himself of the very things that are obstacles to a relationship with the Messiah and Creator. Jesus knows how the love of money (and a false sense of control) lead to brokenness and disappointment, and the idea of self-sufficiency that keeps us from admitting our need and turning to Christ (Revelation 3:17).
I find myself so challenged to begin viewing my money and material possessions through this lens, especially the next time I feel like my prayers for provision aren’t being answered as I would like them to be. Perhaps God holds certain things back because He knows they would become a barrier between us; perhaps His “no” to certain requests is an act of love and grace in disguise.
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I love this! I had totally skipped over the “and loved him” as well. What a key part of that entire interaction. As parents it’s easy for us to understand that we may withhold something from our children out of love, but how easily we forget that when we are the children and our Father says no to us.
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I har misses that also and noticed it today :)
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Brutal honesty here: when I’m feeling lonely, like a failure or less than, I spend. I like the feeling of receiving something, and I’m nearly always disappointed. It doesn’t satisfy, and I know only Jesus can, but this cycle developed during a nearly 2 decades long abusive marriage that God graciously ended. The habit is so ingrained, and I can’t seem to break free of it. It’s so embarrassing. I’m a gift giver, and I love to receive gifts, but my “people” are not, so I seldom get gifts and end up “gifting” myself — even if I just don’t have the money. I can’t help but believe that God provided the timing of this study for me for such a time as this. Please pray with me and for me that I can finally break the futility of spending (even if it’s almost always on Jesus books hahaha).
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Praying for you. Thanks for sharing.
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H H, I fully agree.
Amen, Churchmouse, Lizzie, Laurel, GrammieSue, NanaK, Kelly Lampman, Amen.
Nancy Singleton, I fully agree. My downfall is Amazon.
Taylor, I’ll be praying for you.
WOW, Angie you have a way with words. I love what you said.
Lindsay C., your questions made think. -
Once again Sharon Hodde Miller spoke to me. I feel as if she is telling me that yeah you need money but only for the bare necessities and nothing else. I have a tendency to spend my money on others or on things I really don’t need. I should make that in the past tense now. With not having a roommate and no one to help out with any of my bills in the middle of June when I move I am having to learn to budget my money. I have never been good at budgeting. Sisters pray for me.
Also sisters continue to pray for my sister, Carol and nephew, Jake. They will be coming on Thursday to go through my niece’s things. My sister continues to have difficulty keeping focused on her work. Plus she and my nephew don’t see eye-to-eye on forgiving my niece’s fiance’ for the accident which has made for some tension in the household.
If you would like some enjoyable entertainment go to citmagazine.com/article/1684201/fairmont-posts-funny-videos-staff-empty-hotels there are several different ones some are funny and some are entertaining. Have a great day and God be with all of you. I always enjoy reading everyone’s comments.-
Thank you for the video suggestions. What a fun, creative series.
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