Wealth Under the Sun

Introduction

The Mexican Fisherman

An American investment banker was at the pier of a small coastal Mexican village late one morning when a small boat docked. Inside the small boat was just one fisherman who had already caught several large fish. The American complimented the fisherman on the fish and asked how long it took to catch them.

The fisherman replied, “only a little while.”

The American then asked why didn’t he stay out longer and catch more fish?

The Mexican said he had caught plenty enough to provide for his family’s needs for quite a while and even to give some fish away to others in the village.

The American then asked, “but what do you do with the rest of your time?”

The Mexican fisherman said, “I sleep late, play with my children, take siestas with my wife, and stroll into the village where I sip wine, and play guitar with my amigos. I have a full and busy life.”

The American scoffed. “I am an experienced businessman and can help you,” he said. “You should spend more time fishing, and with the proceeds, buy a bigger boat. With the proceeds from the bigger boat, you could have a fleet of fishing boats, open up your own cannery and control all of the distribution,” he said. “Of course, you would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move to a bigger city to run the expanding enterprise.”

The Mexican fisherman asked, “But, how long will that all take?”

To which the American replied, “Oh, 15 to 20 years or so.”

“But what then?” asked the Mexican.

The American laughed and said, “That’s the best part. When the time was right, you would sell your company and become very rich. You would make millions!”

“Millions – then what?” asked the Mexican.

The American said, “Then you could retire. Move to a small coastal fishing village where you could sleep late, play with your kids, take siestas with your wife, and stroll to the village where you could sip wine and play guitar with your amigos.”

“I already do that,” said the Mexican fisherman.

Solomon’s Assessment

Ecclesiastes 4:4–6 (NKJV)

4 Again, I saw that for all toil and every skillful work a man is envied by his neighbor. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind.

5 The fool folds his hands

And consumes his own flesh.

6 Better a handful with quietness

Than both hands full, together with toil and grasping for the wind.

Transition

People have always had an obsession with accumulating wealth, but few take time to consider its price. All the gain wealth promises is actually the cost it exacts.

Illumination

The Costs of Wealth

The Cost of Family

Ecclesiastes 4:7–8 (NKJV)

7 Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun:

8 There is one alone, without companion:

He has neither son nor brother.

Yet there is no end to all his labors,

Nor is his eye satisfied with riches.

But he never asks,

“For whom do I toil and deprive myself of good?”

This also is vanity and a grave misfortune.

The Cost of Friendship

Ecclesiastes 4:9–12 (NKJV)

9 Two are better than one,

Because they have a good reward for their labor.

10 For if they fall, one will lift up his companion.

But woe to him who is alone when he falls,

For he has no one to help him up.

11 Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm;

But how can one be warm alone?

12 Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him.

And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

The Cost of Legacy

Ecclesiastes 4:13 (NKJV)

13 Better a poor and wise youth

Than an old and foolish king who will be admonished no more.

Ecclesiastes 4:16 (NKJV)

16 There was no end of all the people over whom he was made king;

Yet those who come afterward will not rejoice in him.

Surely this also is vanity and grasping for the wind.

The Competition of Wealth

If God had a competitor (and He has many), would it surprise us to learn that wealth—and the pursuit of wealth—is one of His greatest competitors? Jesus acknowledged this as truth.

Matthew 6:24 (NKJV)

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

Solomon suggests wealth is God’s competitor by giving a few cautions in our interactions with God into this conversation about wealth.

Ecclesiastes 5:1–7 (NKJV)

1 Walk prudently when you go to the house of God; and draw near to hear rather than to give the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they do evil.

2 Do not be rash with your mouth,

And let not your heart utter anything hastily before God.

For God is in heaven, and you on earth;

Therefore let your words be few.

3 For a dream comes through much activity,

And a fool’s voice is known by his many words.

4 When you make a vow to God, do not delay to pay it;

For He has no pleasure in fools.

Pay what you have vowed—

5 Better not to vow than to vow and not pay.

6 Do not let your mouth cause your flesh to sin, nor say before the messenger of God that it was an error. Why should God be angry at your excuse and destroy the work of your hands? 7 For in the multitude of dreams and many words there is also vanity. But fear God.

Solomon’s Advice

Walk prudently

Listen eagerly

Respond hesitantly

It is better to make no vow than to break a hasty vow

The Consistencies of Wealth

Solomon observed universal truths about wealth that we would do well to remember in our pursuit of it.

Bureaucracy Expands

Ecclesiastes 5:8 (NKJV)

8 If you see the oppression of the poor, and the violent perversion of justice and righteousness in a province, do not marvel at the matter; for high official watches over high official, and higher officials are over them.

Appetites Expand

Ecclesiastes 5:10 (NKJV)

10 He who loves silver will not be satisfied with silver;

Nor he who loves abundance, with increase.

This also is vanity.

Costs Expand

Ecclesiastes 5:11 (NKJV)

11 When goods increase,

They increase who eat them;

So what profit have the owners

Except to see them with their eyes?

Demands Expand

Ecclesiastes 5:12 (NKJV)

12 The sleep of a laboring man is sweet,

Whether he eats little or much;

But the abundance of the rich will not permit him to sleep.

Life Does Not Expand

Ecclesiastes 5:13–15 (NKJV)

13 There is a severe evil which I have seen under the sun:

Riches kept for their owner to his hurt.

14 But those riches perish through misfortune;

When he begets a son, there is nothing in his hand.

15 As he came from his mother’s womb, naked shall he return,

To go as he came;

And he shall take nothing from his labor

Which he may carry away in his hand.

Conclusion

Solomon’s Conclusion

Ecclesiastes 5:18–20 (NKJV)

18 Here is what I have seen: It is good and fitting for one to eat and drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labor in which he toils under the sun all the days of his life which God gives him; for it is his heritage. 19 As for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, and given him power to eat of it, to receive his heritage and rejoice in his labor—this is the gift of God. 20 For he will not dwell unduly on the days of his life, because God keeps him busy with the joy of his heart.

Receive the wealth you have as a gift from God

Do not dwell unduly on the days of your life

Keep yourself busy with the joy of your heart

Paul’s Summation

1 Timothy 6:6 NKJV

6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain.

Application

Learn contentment. Everything in our world promotes accumulation, so this is very counter-cultural and difficult. But like the Mexican Fisherman, remember that accumulation will cost you more than it ever gives you.