The Quest for Money (Ecclesiastes 5:8-20)

Pre-Introduction

Please Turn to Ecclesiastes 5:8-20. The words will be on the screen.

Thanks for your great singing. On the months that have a fifth Sunday, we have been giving our Kids’ volunteers and our Music volunteers a break. But thanks so much to Alex, for leading our singing. And thanks to you for singing!

Would you pray with me?

Pray

Introduction

“Marley was dead: to begin with. There is no doubt whatever, about that. The register of his burial was signed by the clergyman, the clerk, the undertaker, and the chief mourner. Scrooge signed it; and Scrooge's name was good upon 'change, for anything he chose to put his hand to. Old Marley was as dead as a door-nail.”

So begins Charles Dickens’ 1843 novel “A Christmas Carol,” that so many of us have grown to love.

It tells the fictional story of two business partners — Jacob Marley and Ebeneezer Scrooge — both of whom were obsessed with money. Their singular pursuit in life was making more money, especially at the expense of the poor.

In the story, Jacob Marley has died but his ghost appears to Scrooge in the night, warning him that he needs to change his ways and stop living for the pursuit of money.

As the story unfolds, three ghosts appear to Scrooge — the Ghost of Christmas Past, the Ghost of Christmas Present, and the Ghost of Christmas Future.

And all three of them show scenes from Scrooge’s life and from the lives around him, and all of them are trying to shake him out of his singular quest for money. Trying to get him to see how destructive his current path is.

Transition: Scrooge isn’t the only one who needs to be shaken out of the quest for money.

Post-Introduction

This morning as we continue our look at the book of Ecclesiastes, we’re going to see a repeat of the same theme we’ve been seeing in the rest of the book: Your quest for anything is utterly futile apart from God.

And this morning, just like the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future went after Scrooge, the Teacher is coming after you, and coming after me, trying to shake us awake and get us to pay attention and change course.

Big Idea: The Teacher is trying to help you see that You need to recognize that your quest for money is utterly futile apart from God.

Let’s listen in.

Transition:

Ecclesiastes 5:8–20 (ESV)

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.

Transition: Just like the ghosts in A Christmas Carol are trying to get Scrooge to wake up and change course, the Teacher is coming after us and trying to get us to wake up and change course from our quest for money.

And to do that, the Teacher is going to show us Two Problems with the Quest for Money (vv.8-17), and then he’s going to show us the Solution to the Quest for Money (vv.18-20).

Two Problems with the Quest for Money (vv.8-17)

The first problem with the quest for money is that you’ll destroy others.

(1) You’ll destroy others (vv.8-9)

Ecclesiastes 5:8–9 (ESV)

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.

Explanation

This section of the Hebrew text is challenging, with some obscure words and phrases, but it clearly conveys the Teacher's message: don't be surprised by oppression, injustice, or the exploitation of the poor and vulnerable. Don’t be shocked.

And the reason you shouldn’t be shocked is because of the nature of sin.

He says that people in positions of influence—implicitly, because of the self-centered nature of sin— can misuse their power for self-protection, prioritizing their own interests and corrupt superiors, rather than those who are in need.

It’s a pretty bleak assessment.

But we know from experience that it can be true.

Illustration

For example, after the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, millions of dollars in aid were mismanaged or stolen by government officials. Instead of reaching the intended recipients—vulnerable earthquake survivors—the funds were siphoned off by corrupt officials, leaving many without the necessary relief.

Explanation

Don’t be shocked because that’s what sin does. Sin seeks self-satisfaction at the expense of others. Sin is the opposite of love.

1 Timothy 6:9–10 (ESV)

9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.

10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

When you love money, you can’t love others.

Illustration

For example, for Christians who run a business, its a good thing for you to profit from your business. That’s good. That’s wise. But it’s a bad thing to make profits the only thing you care about.

In 2015, Martin Shkreli, the then-CEO of Turing Pharmaceuticals, acquired a 62-year-old drug that was the standard treatment for life-threatening parasitic infections, and overnight he raised the price from $13.50 a tablet to $750 a tablet.

He cared more about boosting profits from life-saving drugs than about the people his drugs were serving.

If you’re willing to do that to people who are sick and suffering, what else are you willing to do? Chances are something else is deeply sick.

In 2017 he was convicted of two counts of securities fraud, one count of conspiracy, fined millions of dollars, and sentenced to 7 years in prison.

Proverbs 22:22–23 (ESV)

22 Do not rob the poor, because he is poor, or crush the afflicted at the gate,

23 for the Lord will plead their cause and rob of life those who rob them.

We shouldn’t be shocked when people who are living for themselves and living for the quest for money end up destroying others’ in their wake.

Application

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Transition: Destroying others isn’t the only problem with the Quest for Money. You’ll also destroy yourself.

(2) You’ll destroy yourself (vv.10-17)

The quest for money promises so much, but delivers so little.

Solomon wasn’t just the smartest person in the room, he was the richest.

2 Chronicles 9:13 (ESV)

13 Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was 666 talents of gold,

Which, if you do the math, is close to 1 Billion Dollars a year

2 Chronicles 9:20 (ESV)

20 All King Solomon’s drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the House of the Forest of Lebanon were of pure gold. Silver was not considered as anything in the days of Solomon.

Illustration

If you open our cabinet at our house, the adults usually drink out of mason jars and the kids drink out of little plastic kid cups from IKEA, because both of those are cheap.

If you opened up Solomon’s cabinet, everybody’s drinking out of cups made out of Gold.

Next level, extravagant, totally unnecessary wealth.

He had so much money he didn’t even have a way to spend all of it.

Illustration

He ended up like Smaug the Dragon sitting on his pile of gold. Just because he can.

It’s that kind of extravagant wealth that Solomon has.

Explanation

So when the Teacher warns us about what the quest for money will do to us, we need to pay attention.

The Teacher lists out six ways that the quest for money will destroy you.

Again, its like the ghosts that are trying to shake Scrooge awake his obsession and his quest for money.

1. You won’t be satisfied with it (v.10)

Ecclesiastes 5:10 (ESV)

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

2. You won’t enjoy it (v.11)

Ecclesiastes 5:11 (ESV)

11 When goods increase, they increase who eat them, and what advantage has their owner but to see them with his eyes?

3. You won’t be able to sleep (v.12)

Ecclesiastes 5:12 (ESV)

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.

4. You’ll lose a lot of it (vv.13-14)

Ecclesiastes 5:13–14 (ESV)

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.

5. You’ll die with it and can’t take it with you (vv.15-16)

Ecclesiastes 5:15–16 (ESV)

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?

6. You’ll be miserable (v.17)

Ecclesiastes 5:17 (ESV)

17 Moreover, all his days he eats in darkness in much vexation and sickness and anger.

Explanation -

Why would you want to live like that?

Doesn’t that just sound awful?

Transition:

Illustration(s) -

“I think everybody should get rich and famous and do everything they ever dreamed of, so they can see that it’s not the answer.” (Jim Carey)

“Money has been put on a pedestal, beauty has been put on a pedestal, celebrity has been put on a pedestal. I have travelled the world and seen the happiest people in the poorest parts of the world. . . In the richest homes I meet the saddest and most depressed people.” (Lady Gaga)

“The ultimate satisfaction in life is not how big your bank account is, it really is whether the people you wished love you actually do love you.” (Warren Buffett)

“If you have $100,000 and you're an unhappy person and you think $1 million is going to make you happy, it is not going to happen.” (Warren Buffett)

“The problem with being rich is you can get richer. You start looking toward the next thing that money’s gonna buy...There are as many miserable rich people as there are miserable poor people. Money has nothing to do with being happier. It really doesn’t. I’m no happier today than I was when I was dirt poor.” (Barabara Corcoran)

They’re saying the exact same thing as the Teacher in the Book of Ecclesiastes.

Ecclesiastes 5:10 (ESV)

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

Application

I fear that in Gilbert Arizona, which now has the highest median income of any town or city in Arizona, even beating out Scottsdale, or even just living in the United States of America, we can be blind to the dangers of the quest for money.

Transition:

The Solution to the Quest for Money (vv.18-20)

[Alternate solutions to the problem of the Quest for Money]

(1) Some people advocate a life of extreme poverty as the morally superior solution to the dangers of the quest for money.

(2) In response to that, some people love their money so much that they are sure to insert “It’s not

Craig Blomberg's book "Neither Poverty Nor Riches: A Biblical Theology of Possessions" provides a comprehensive examination of the Bible's teachings on material possessions. Blomberg's main point is that the Bible presents a balanced view of wealth and poverty, advocating neither extreme wealth nor extreme poverty. Instead, he argues for a responsible stewardship of resources, encouraging generosity, justice, and care for the poor. Blomberg explores various biblical texts and themes to show that material possessions should be used to honor God and serve others, rather than being accumulated for personal gain or neglected in asceticism.

Serve God, Not Money (vv.18-20)

Ecclesiastes 5:18–20 (ESV)

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.

Explanation -

While he’s talking about the problems with the quest for money, God’s not even mentioned. But then in verse 18, the Teacher brings God into the mix.

He says that way to live the good life — what is “good and fitting” — is to enjoy life as a gift from God. And it’s only when we recognize God’s gifts that we

Illustration

Application

Matthew 6:19–21 (ESV)

19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal,

20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.

21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matthew 6:24 (ESV)

24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

1 Timothy 6:17–19 (ESV)

17 As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.

18 They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share,

19 thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.

Transition:

Conclusion