February 15, 2024

Do Christians think money is pointless?

Ecclesiastes 5-6

Martha Canuteson
Thursday's Devo

February 15, 2024

Thursday's Devo

February 15, 2024

Thursday's Devo

February 15, 2024

Thursday's Devo

February 15, 2024

Big Book Idea

God defines where true meaning is found.

Key Verse | Ecclesiastes 5:10

He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity.

Ecclesiastes 5-6

Fear God

1  1 5:1 Ch 4:17 in Hebrew Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. To draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they are doing evil. 2  2 5:2 Ch 5:1 in Hebrew Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few. 3 For a dream comes with much business, and a fool's voice with many words.

4 When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it, for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you vow. 5 It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay. 6 Let not your mouth lead you 3 5:6 Hebrew your flesh into sin, and do not say before the messenger 4 5:6 Or angel that it was a mistake. Why should God be angry at your voice and destroy the work of your hands? 7 For when dreams increase and words grow many, there is vanity; 5 5:7 The Hebrew term hebel can refer to a vapor or mere breath; also verse 10 (see note on 1:2) but 6 5:7 Or For when dreams and vanities increase, words also grow many; but God is the one you must fear.

The Vanity of Wealth and Honor

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. 7 5:9 The meaning of the Hebrew verse is uncertain

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 8 5:18 Or and see good 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; 9 6:2 The Hebrew term hebel can refer to a vapor or mere breath; also verses 4, 9, 11 (see note on 1:2) 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 10 6:6 Or see 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. 11 6:7 Hebrew filled 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.

10 Whatever has come to be has already been named, and it is known what man is, and that he is not able to dispute with one stronger than he. 11 The more words, the more vanity, and what is the advantage to man? 12 For who knows what is good for man while he lives the few days of his vain 12 6:12 The Hebrew term hebel can refer to a vapor or mere breath (see note on 1:2) life, which he passes like a shadow? For who can tell man what will be after him under the sun?

Footnotes

[1] 5:1 Ch 4:17 in Hebrew
[2] 5:2 Ch 5:1 in Hebrew
[3] 5:6 Hebrew your flesh
[4] 5:6 Or angel
[5] 5:7 The Hebrew term hebel can refer to a “vapor” or “mere breath”; also verse 10 (see note on 1:2)
[6] 5:7 Or For when dreams and vanities increase, words also grow many; but
[7] 5:9 The meaning of the Hebrew verse is uncertain
[8] 5:18 Or and see good
[9] 6:2 The Hebrew term hebel can refer to a “vapor” or “mere breath”; also verses 4, 9, 11 (see note on 1:2)
[10] 6:6 Or see
[11] 6:7 Hebrew filled
[12] 6:12 The Hebrew term hebel can refer to a “vapor” or “mere breath” (see note on 1:2)
Table of Contents
Introduction to Ecclesiastes

Introduction to Ecclesiastes

Timeline

Author

The author of Ecclesiastes calls himself “the Preacher” (1:1). Some interpreters have concluded that this was Solomon, while others think he was a role-playing writer later than Solomon. Either way, the book claims that its wisdom comes from the “one Shepherd” (12:11), the Lord himself.

Theme and Interpretation of Ecclesiastes

The theme of Ecclesiastes is the necessity of fearing God in this fallen, confusing world. Each human being wants to understand all the ways God is acting in the world, but he cannot, because he is not God. And yet the faithful do not despair but cling to God, even when they cannot see what God is doing. The Lord deserves his people’s trust. They can leave everything to him while they seek to understand what it means to “fear God and keep his commandments” (12:13). This is true wisdom.

Key Themes

  1. The tragic reality of the fall. The Preacher is painfully aware that the creation has been damaged by sin (7:29; Rom. 8:20, 22). He speaks as one who eagerly awaits the resurrection age (Rom. 8:23).
  2. The “vanity” of life. The book begins and ends with the exclamation, “Vanity of vanities! All is vanity” (Eccles. 1:2; 12:8). The phrase pictures something fleeting and elusive. All the endeavors and pleasures of earthly life are only temporary. When one sees the consequences of sin in this fallen world, one is left in utter frustration, anger, and sorrow. The more one tries to understand life, the more mysterious it becomes (1:12–18).
  3. Sin and death. By sinning, human beings forfeited the righteousness they originally had before God (7:29), and thus all people are sinners (7:20). Death was a result of the fall. The Preacher is only too aware of this dreadful reality that affects everyone (e.g., 2:14–17; 3:18–21; 6:6).
  4. The joy and the frustration of work. God gave Adam work to accomplish prior to the fall, but part of the punishment of his sin was that his work would become difficult (Gen. 2:15; 3:17–19). Both realities are seen in the Preacher’s experience, as he finds his work to be both satisfying (Eccles. 2:10, 24; 3:22; 5:18–20; 9:9–10) and aggravating (2:18–23; 4:4–8).
  5. The grateful enjoyment of God’s good gifts. The Preacher spends a great deal of time commenting on the twisted realities of a fallen world, but this does not blind him to the beauty of God’s world (3:11). Nor does it cause him to despise God’s good gifts of human relationships, food, drink, and satisfying labor (5:18–20; 8:15; 9:7, 9). These are to be received humbly and enjoyed fully as blessings from God.
  6. The fear of God. The fact that “all is vanity” should drive people to take refuge in God, fearing and revering him (7:18; 8:12–13; 12:13–14).

Outline

  1. Introduction and Theme (1:1–3)
  2. First Catalog of “Vanities” (1:4–2:26)
  3. Poem: A Time for Everything (3:1–8)
  4. Fear God, the Sovereign One (3:9–15)
  5. Second Catalog of “Vanities” (3:16–4:16)
  6. Fear God, the Holy and Righteous One (5:1–7)
  7. Life “Under the Sun” (5:8–7:24)
  8. The Heart of the Problem: Sin (7:25–29)
  9. More on Life “Under the Sun” (8:1–12:7)
  10. Final Conclusion and Epilogue (12:8–14)
The Global Message of Ecclesiastes

The Global Message of Ecclesiastes

Life in a Broken World

The book of Ecclesiastes explains the world in all its complexity, confusion, and frustration with striking honesty. “Vanity of vanities! All is vanity,” declares the Preacher, echoing the cries of many who have seen, experienced, and recognized the dreadful fallenness of our world (Eccles. 1:2). The global reality both then and now is that our broken world is filled with oppression of the powerless (4:1), oppression of the poor (5:8), and violation of justice and righteousness (5:8). There is nothing new under the sun (1:9), no lasting earthly glory (1:11), no ultimately fulfilling pleasure (2:1–11), and no certainty in life except that it will end in death and judgment (2:14–16; 3:18–20; 6:6; 12:14).

In a fallen world there are many painful and complicated questions, but the message of Ecclesiastes is that there is an answer. That answer is not an easy one, but it is simple: fear the Lord (Eccles. 3:14; 5:7; 12:13–14). Though this world is filled with oppression and injustice, ultimately it will be well for those who fear God (8:12) and it will not be well for the wicked (8:13).

This world is filled with both blessings and challenges, neither of which provides ultimate answers or clarity about the meaning of life. If this world is all there is, then all is vanity. But when we trust the Lord in the face of circumstances that discourage us from doing so, we have a sure hope that we will one day be restored to him. Indeed, from a whole-Bible perspective, there is one who is the way (John 14:6), who is the comforter (2 Cor. 1:3), who is wisdom itself (1 Cor. 1:24). We will not easily figure God out, nor can we fathom all that he does (Eccles. 3:11). He is not a subject to be scrutinized or solved, nor are his ways easily comprehended (8:17). But God has spoken to us in his Son, who gives us the words of eternal life (John 6:68).

Purpose in Life and the Purpose of Life

The message of Ecclesiastes is that however difficult things may be because of the curse upon mankind in this fallen world, there is purpose and grace for all. There is enduring hope and satisfying life as we walk with God. The very gifts of God that, apart from God, prove hollow and disappointing, can be enjoyed truly and satisfyingly—not as the main purpose of life but as a means to know God in a deeper way. Our message to the world is that there is purpose in life regarding the blessings we receive from God such as food, drink, and work, but that these blessings are not the purpose of life.

Purpose in life. There is a proper place, time, and perspective for each season in life and for each blessing from God (Eccles. 3:1–8). The blessings of common grace are to be recognized as coming from the very hand of God. Work and its enjoyment are blessings from God (2:24; 3:22; 5:18–20). There is purpose in life for work, but neither work itself nor the hoarding of possessions are the purpose of life. When work becomes the governing purpose of life, when envy is our driving force, or when we seek satisfaction in wealth, we are left disappointed (2:18–23; 4:4). There is purpose in life for other gifts of common grace such as food, drink, and relationships (2:24–26; 3:12–13; 5:18–20; 8:15; 9:7, 9). The proper enjoyment of such gifts comes from God, who alone satisfies (3:13; 5:19).

The purpose of life. This then is the purpose of life: to fear God, who is sovereign (Eccles. 3:11, 14), holy in heaven (5:2, 7), and judge of all (12:13–14). He is the Giver of gifts and the one who grants even the ability to enjoy these gifts (5:19). In receiving such gifts of life we are to find our greatest joy in him (5:20).

The Global Church’s Mission to a Broken World

The book of Ecclesiastes provides a brutally honest and refreshing message for the global church to proclaim to the world. In one sense the Christian message is other-worldly, yet it also addresses the sober realities that face each society and every individual in every generation. The message of the gospel not only affirms the disappointments of life, it also offers the only true hope for meaningful living.

The Giver and the gifts. There is a Creator to be worshiped (Eccles. 12:1). He has made all things. Life is to be enjoyed as being from him and to him. The world must recognize the blessed common grace they have received in creation, life, work, and possessions. They should enjoy such blessings, but not as the purpose of life. The global church has a message of hope for a world that is “striving after wind” (1:14). Clinging to the gift rather than worshiping the Giver is meaningless. The wealthy are not to be envied, for they find neither ultimate satisfaction nor eternal security in their wealth (5:10–17). It is far better to enjoy fellowship with the Giver rather than simply enjoying his gifts, however good they may be.

The ultimate gift. Enjoyment of God is available ultimately because he sent his Son to die on behalf of sinners. There is none who is righteous before God (Eccles. 7:20). No one can escape death (2:16; 9:3, 12). God’s ways cannot be easily or fully fathomed (3:11), but he has indeed revealed himself clearly and gloriously in the person of his Son Jesus Christ (John 14:9). In the Son we have seen the one who both demonstrates and also empowers what it means to truly fear and enjoy God. There is grace abundant for all who recognize the vanity of their selfish living and remember and fear their Creator (Eccles. 12:1) and Redeemer (Isa. 54:5).

A sure hope. While Ecclesiastes sobers us with the reminder that this fallen world is filled with injustice, it also offers hope. Christians are to be active in seeking justice and encouraging the oppressed within society (Isa. 1:17). But we need not despair at the imperfect justice of this world because God will bring final and perfect justice one day (Eccles. 3:17). For the oppressed and the victims of injustice this is indeed good news. It is not vanity to fear and follow God (8:10–13). To those in the global church who suffer under persecution for the sake of the gospel there is the comfort that God does indeed see them, take care of them, and remember them.

A sovereign Lord. There is one who is in control. God is in control when times are good and when times are bad (Eccles. 7:14). We are not in control—which is a great blessing, despite the ways in which we often seek to control our lives. Our message to the world is to abandon striving after control and to embrace the one who is in control. Every building and work of art will one day turn to dust, but there is one who is eternal and whose works last forever (3:14). Our message to the world is to abandon the quest for self-glory and the accumulation of possessions and to embrace the blessed and wise God-centered life of sober hope.

This is the glorious Christian vision for life that the church must embrace and display for the world to see.

Ecclesiastes Fact #1: Ecclesiastes

Fact: Ecclesiastes

Ecclesiastes encourages God’s people to trust him in a fallen and often confusing world, in which sin and heartache touch every corner of the globe. We are to “fear God and keep his commandments” (12:13), even when we cannot understand everything that is going on around us.

Ecclesiastes Fact #2: Vanity, vanities, and vain

Fact: Vanity, vanities, and vain

The words vanity, vanities, and vain occur nearly 40 times in Ecclesiastes. Their literal meaning is “vapor” or “breath,” so they are used to describe things that can be fleeting or elusive, like the search for meaning and purpose in life.

Ecclesiastes Fact #5: “Eat, drink, and be merry”?

Fact: “Eat, drink, and be merry”?

“Eat, drink, and be merry”? Ecclesiastes advises those who serve God to enjoy his gifts of food, drink, comfort, married life, and honest work (9:7–9; compare 2:24–26; 3:13; 5:19–20).

Study Notes

Eccles. 5:4 People should keep their promises, or vows, to God. By taking a vow, a worshiper would promise to perform a specific act if God would respond favorably to a particular petition.

Study Notes

Eccles. 5:1–7 Fear God, the Holy and Righteous One. In this section, the encouragement to “fear God” is motivated by his holy and righteous character (compare note on 3:9–15).

Study Notes

Eccles. 5:8–9 The political maneuvering of sinful officials results in suffering for the powerless.

Study Notes

Eccles. 5:13–14 riches were kept . . . to his hurt. A man endured hardship and sacrificed in order to acquire wealth but was never able to enjoy it, because it was lost in a bad venture.

Study Notes

Eccles. 5:17 The man’s selfish, fearful greed resulted in a truly wretched life.

Study Notes

Eccles. 5:20 he will not much remember . . . his life. The one to whom God grants contentment focuses on blessings from God rather than the darker realities of human existence.

Study Notes

Eccles. 6:3–6 Long life and many children are among earth’s greatest blessings, but a discontented heart will be unsatisfied even with these.

Study Notes

Eccles. 5:10–6:9 The Preacher observes the destructive nature of greed and concludes that a life of contentment is much better (compare Phil. 4:11; 1 Tim. 6:6, 8; Heb. 13:5).

Study Notes

Eccles. 6:10–11 To “name” something is to exercise authority over it. God is the one who has named all things, and therefore he rules over all. It is foolish for mere mortals to dispute God’s sovereign ordering of the world. To do so only produces more words and more vanity.

Study Notes

Eccles. 6:12 For who knows what is good for man? Even the wisest humans cannot give absolutely correct advice based on a certain knowledge of what will be.

S3:034 Ecclesiastes 5-6

Listen Now

Dive Deeper | Ecclesiastes 5-6

Not too long ago, I had a very early morning flight. Getting up, getting your things, and getting to the airport is not easy to do pre-dawn, but when you take off through the clouds to see the sun peeking, it certainly makes it worth the chaos. Something about flying through clouds has always been my favorite. I think it goes back to the novel idea in children's books and movies that we could float up there and grab a handful of fluffy cloud, sit on one, and relax. But the truth is it doesn't work like that. Those clouds, if you tried to grab a handful, would slip through your fingers. And heaven forbid you try and sit on one, gravity would have its way with you.

This is just how Solomon paints the picture of pursuing wealth in this Scripture. (Important note: he is discussing the love of wealth, not wealth itself.) The idea that material wealth could bring full satisfaction is absurd. It is a cycle of wanting and striving that brings a myriad of troubles—worry, others wanting a share of your wealth, losing sleep, harm, insecurity, loss, and misery. That doesn't sound appealing to anyone, so why is it that we could struggle with such a thing? It's our sinful nature. It is never about how much you have, but about the issue of the heart. That sinfulness sees what we have as not enough and pushes us to seek more to fill that void. Sadly, the space between more and enough never closes. Chasing after more is unattainable; it is but a vapor.

God's design isn't for wealth to be useless. When we recognize that we are sinful, turn from our sin, and trust Jesus, He makes us new creations (2 Corinthians 5:17). We are filled with the Spirit, and we now have the ability to pursue God's original design for our lives. God calls us to contentment (Hebrews 13:5) and generosity (2 Corinthians 9:6-7) and ultimately to find joy not in the gift, but in the Giver.

This month's memory verse

Yahweh! The Lord! The God of compassion and mercy! I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.

– Exodus 34:6b

Discussion Questions

1. What is the last thing you thought would bring you happiness, but ultimately didn't satisfy you?

2. How can you fight against worrying about money? Consider memorizing applicable verses like Hebrews 13:5, 2 Corinthians 9:6-7, or Philippians 2:3-4.

3. How do the gospel and an eternal perspective change your view of money? 

As we gear up to release even more features for Join The Journey in 2025, our staff team, unfortunately, no longer has the margin to continue to support the comment functionality. We have big things in store for Join The Journey 2025. Stay tuned!

HS

Hugh Stephenson

Ecclesiastes 5:15 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.” FLASHBACK - Early December 2013. Maybe the 10th or 11th. Amy and I sat in Presbyterian hospital in a nearly empty room. There were no staff huddling around the bed. No collection of machines and devices that whirred, blinked, and bleeped. Just us and him. It was very quiet. In the room was a table, two chairs, and a bed. A pitcher of water and a small cup with a straw was on the tray by the bed. By the bed was a pole with an IV bag. The line rand down to Amy’s dad’s arm. It was early evening. Her dad lay in the bed. He drifted in and out of awareness. Mostly out. He was very, very close to the end. He was 96. My mind went back to December 1981. I was on the front doorstep of Amy’s house. I had come to Dallas to (ostensibly) be with friends to watch Alabama play Texas in the Cotton Bowl. But I was really there to be with Amy. We were headed out to dinner with her parents whom I had not met yet. I knew this could be a make-or-break night for me. I knocked on the door. A few moments later the door opened and there stood her dad. He was 64 but youthful and vigorous. He greeted me with a big smile and introduced himself. I came in and was shortly greeted by a small militia of grandchildren. What a beautiful and chaotic scene it was. He took me into a small sitting room and the grandchildren followed. The eldest was 13. She immediately ran up to me and introduced herself. Narrowing her eyes and with a wry grin she said, “Amy has told me everything”. Well, we had only been out a few times so I was comforted in knowing there wasn’t that much to tell. :) We had a wonderful evening at dinner. There was a band playing so Amy and I got up and danced. She told me later that her mother was crying as we danced. Amy was the last of the four kids so I guess she was seeing the inevitable… …and I was the inevitable.
HS

Hugh Stephenson

In the ensuing 2 years I had some wonderful visits in Dallas and came to know and love her parents. After we married 1984 there were many family trips. Even years were with her parents, siblings, and spouses. In odd years the 12 grandchildren joined in. It was wonderful. I came to know a lot about Amy’s Dad; much of it towards the end of his life because he didn’t talk about himself much at all. He was born in Waco in 1917. His mom died a few years later and he was sent to Dallas where his aunt raised him and his younger brother. He completed college, served in the Navy at Anzio, and came back for UT Law School. He had a very successful career but never was a big spender. They had a nice house that was well furnished . They had bought art that they liked. But they didn’t buy fancy cars, expensive clothes, or a lot of jewelry. They were very modest in their lifestyle. But they donated a lot of money to institutions and causes they knew and liked. It was to make a very big impression to me. I had many, many conversations with her dad over the years. I knew he was Phi Beta Kappa at Stanford so I loved talking-to him about what he had learned about business and life. I have known a lot of men who were smart. Many who were extremely well educated. Some who took their education and used it to acquire valuable knowledge. The difference with him is he had wisdom. I mean real wisdom. He knew how to understand complicated issues and simplify them down to their essence so he could understand how to think about them. And explain them to me. After he died I learned a few new things about him. Among them- -He was quarterback and captain of the Highland Park Football team. -He was an Eagle Scout. -In the Navy he rose to the rank of Captain. -He had many, many friends who were very highly placed in government and in large corporations. -He was a big supporter of charities. One charity used a machine for their handicapped persons so that they could make goods that would be sold to support the charity. They named that machine after him. I have a friend from Ft Worth who had worked for him and with him in the 1970’s. From time to time he would tell me stories he could recall from their time working together. It was wonderful to hear about him from such a different angle. But the conclusions were always the same. It all came together when I told my Fort Worth friend that he had died. My friend was quiet for a moment- and then he said- “Hugh, I have never in my life known anyone who did more and said less about it than your father-in-law.”
HS

Hugh Stephenson

After our visit that night at Presbyterian we got on a plane next day to go to Philadelphia for our oldest son to have a hip operation. Early the next we got a call from Amy’s sister that he had died quietly and peacefully that night. Often, my mind goes back to that night I met him and the night in the hospital room. He had done so many good things for so many people. He had plenty of material blessings but didn’t excessively value them in any way. And there he was in that room. Wearing only a hospital gown and with no personal possessions whatsoever- 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.” ------------------------------------------------------- The memorial service at HPUMC was completely full. Each of the four children gave a beautiful eulogy. As we all walked out, I saw and heard a very well-known and successful Dallas businessman say quietly to himself- “Wow. What a guy!” I never talked much with him about faith. Yet in reading Ecclesiastes 5:15 I can see where the truth of what guided him came from. -He knew his time was short in this life. -He knew had had been incredibly blessed. -He knew his calling was to bless others. I think about him with gratefulness every day.
MS

Michael Scaman

A very serious Dietrich Bonhoeffer as substitute came the next day to Lit class and spoke on Ecclesiastes 4. He erased the blackboard and began: Human wisdom says various things. A Persian writer named Rumi once said "Silence is the language of God, all else is poor translation." Tolstoy said "True life is lived when tiny changes occur." Neither of those inspired but may be worth considering. In contrast with some contemplation in silence, many say the poetic center of the Psalms is the verse "If only my people will listen". It's listening to God's word. It is not some subjective 'change' where what love means might be negotiated down by a fickle human heart, there is change in the light of God's word and by God's word which illustrates what love is. Divine wisdom in Eccesiastes is better and says: Listen more, talk less. Be careful what you promise, you are not God, But if you do, follow through. Don't delight wrongly, delight rightly. Don't praise wrongly, praise rightly. Find satisfaction in the right things. We find the call to listen more and speak less, to be cautious with our promises, and to delight and praise rightly. True transformation comes from aligning our lives with the divine word, not from fleeting subjective changes. This ia call to humility and obedience, finding our joy and fulfillment in God's eternal truths. There is also human responsibility. Action springs not from thought, but from a readiness for responsibility. Bell rang, Student filed out of the room with more serious looks on their faces.
GJ

greg jones

Great deeper dive this morning. This resonated with me. “The idea that material wealth could bring full satisfaction is absurd. It is a cycle of wanting and striving that brings a myriad of troubles—worry, others wanting a share of your wealth, losing sleep, harm, insecurity, loss, and misery.” Reading these two chapters with a few very short thoughts and placing it within the story of Esther. 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. But this is gain for a land in every way: a king committed to cultivated fields. Ecclesiastes 5:8-9 First short thought. WTF preacher! That’s not right. (That’s ‘way too familiar’ for all the great Nest moms who are probably reading this morning. For any husbands married to Nest moms who are a little on the feral side that might be reading this morning…I won’t speak for you.) Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, “There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom. Their laws are different from those of every other people, and they do not keep the king's laws, so that it is not to the king's profit to tolerate them. If it please the king, let it be decreed that they be destroyed, and I will pay 10,000 talents of silver into the hands of those who have charge of the king's business, that they may put it into the king's treasuries.” So the king took his signet ring from his hand and gave it to Haman the Agagite, the son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews. And the king said to Haman, “The money is given to you, the people also, to do with them as it seems good to you.” Esther 3:8—11 The couriers went out hurriedly by order of the king, and the decree was issued in Susa the citadel. And the king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Susa was thrown into confusion. Esther 3:15 (City of Susa hasn’t been paying attention to Ecclesiastes 5:8-9) Esther throws a party for Haman and the king (Esther 5:1-8) Behold, what I have seen to be good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment… Ecclesiastes 5:18-20 Esther throws a second party for Haman and the king (Esther 7:1-2) There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, and it lies heavy on mankind. Ecclesiastes 6:1 Between the two feast that Esther has prepared the king and Haman, whom the king has made the second most powerful man in the kingdom-Esther 5:9-7:10 happens. Oh snap! That evil that the preacher mentioned in 6:1 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. Ecclesiastes 6:2 (Mordecai and Haman? Double snap!) Haman, if you just could have seen your place in Ecclesiastes 6:7-12 you could have made some better choices. Esther 9:12 is one result from a choice… I guess Haman’s sons were not buried because why else would you hang dead men Esther 9:13. 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, (oh snap again) I say that a stillborn child is better off than he. For it comes in vanity and goes in darkness, and in darkness its name is covered. Moreover, it has not seen the sun or known anything, yet it finds rest rather than he. Even though he should live a thousand years twice over, yet enjoy no good—do not all go to the one place? Ecclesiastes 6:3-6 Whatever has come to be has already been named, and it is known what man is, and that he is not able to dispute with one stronger than he. The more words, the more vanity, and what is the advantage to man? For who knows what is good for man while he lives the few days of his vain life, which he passes like a shadow? For who can tell man what will be after him under the sun? Ecclesiastes 6:10-12 The festival of Purim and how it came to be named is described (Esther 9:20-28). If these two things would have been related that would have been pretty cool. Couple more short thoughts-if you read Ecclesiastes with Esther in the background what looks bad can be flipped for good. And what looks like good can be flipped for bad. That seems to be the nature of things that create and answer some of life’s toughest questions. Second thought-I would have loved to have known Mordecai rather than to just have known of him. But what a great legacy today to know of.
SB

Sue Bohlin

Thanks so much, Martha! And Hugh, I look forward to you introducing me to Amy's dad in heaven. Thanks for sharing your lovely story about him. I am so grateful for having learned in the past few years the importance of understanding the context of the biblical writers' perspective. Solomon's view of Yahweh was faithful to what he knew at the time but incomplete, a shadow of the real reality. ' I read 5:2, "Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few." While cultivating a good strong fear of the Lord is good, he apparently didn't have an intimate, welcoming view of God (as his father David may have?). Then I flash forward to how Jesus spent His entire ministry showing us and telling us what His Father was like. One of His favorite subjects, apparently, was the call to be like a little child--who will, if they have a good relationship with their daddy, quickly and eagerly climb up in their daddy's lap and be scooped up in his arms. as they jabber away. And one of the only times He labeled up front the point of His parable was when he taught about why we should always pray and not give up (Luke 18:1, the parable of the persistent widow). Always praying and not giving up is the opposite of "let your words be few"! We see from the Lord Jesus that the Father welcomes and invites our many words to Him. (And in this moment, I am thinking that I don't recall anywhere in the New Testament where Jesus says "Hush" to any people . . . just storms.)
JC

Jason Cromwell

#1 A few years ago I was offered a job that paid decently and the boss presented himself as a good Christian. I had a bad feeling about it, but everyone assured me that I shouldn't pass it up. I took the job and it was one compromise after another, and eventually the job began to feel like a punishment. I never once felt a sense of peace while there, and the day I left it was like a 10,000 LB weight was lifted off of me.
AL

Amy Lowther

1. God helps me budget and make purchases. God has helped me be satisfied with my purchases. 2. I find God to be a good helper in the area of money. One way I decrease my worries of money is praying to God to decide how to make money, spend money, and invest money. God helps me see the “whole picture”. The verses presented in the question are good and encourage readers to spend money wisely. 3. They help me see the value of money and the value of my opportunities. Martha - Thank you for sharing your ideas. You make an excellent point in saying, “God calls us to contentment (Hebrews 13:5) and generosity (2 Corinthians 9:6-7”. It is good to know and remember God supports each of us as we find contentment and generosity because they are sometimes hard to do.