Enjoy the gift of possessions!
Extreme makeover (home edition) • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Title: Enjoy the gift of your belongings!Service: Use your possessions to serve others and enhance their lives. Enjoying the gifts of our possessions can be tricky and difficult to navigate. However, if we use these gifts for the purpose of others. We are better equipped to handle the challenge. “Possessions are gifts from God, so use them for God!”
Text: Ecclesiastes 5-6
D.T. “Possessions are gifts from God, so use them for God!”
Introduction: Today we continue our series “Extreme makeover faith edition,” the subject of our message today is going to be possessions. If we are talking about providing our faith and family life with a makeover, discussing the nature of possessions and belongings is absolutely necessary. The discussion on how Christians should view possessions is nothing new, this discussion has proven contentious over the years. Christians have often criticized each other for buying worldly possessions. They cite Jesus telling the rich young ruler to sell all his possessions and give to the poor, and shame others for not doing the same. The book of Ecclesiastes takes a long hard look at this discussion, and offers a conclusion. We see this discussion take place in chapters 5-6. These chapters are packed full of discussion and insight. However, today I would like to start with Solomon's concluding thoughts on the matter. Solomon concludes how Christians should approach possessions in Ecclesiastes 5:18-20
READ Ecclesiastes 5:18-20
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. 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. For he will not much remember the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with joy in his heart.
The title of today’s message is “Enjoy the gift of your possessions” as that is ultimately Solomon's conclusion. Obviously there is more to it right? Solomon's conclusion spans over a few verses, but the discussion regarding how we deal with our possessions over the span of 2 chapters! It has to do with that pesky word “However” and there is alot “however” when it comes to Solomon's conclusion. Possessions are gifts, however we have to deal with them carefully as they can become Idols. Our possessions are gifts, but they can easily become a distraction.
I’ve taken Solomon's discussion on how we should handle the gifts of our possessions into three categories. Each category is entitled “Possessions are gifts from God, however
“Possessions are gifts from God, however “Don’t let them become a distraction”
READ Ecclesiastes 5:10-17
He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity. When goods increase, they increase who eat them, and what advantage has their owner but to see them with his eyes? 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. There is a grievous evil that I have seen under the sun: riches were kept by their owner to his hurt, and those riches were lost in a bad venture. And he is father of a son, but he has nothing in his hand. 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. 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? Moreover, all his days he eats in darkness in much vexation and sickness and anger.
Even though our possessions are gifts to be enjoyed by God, Solomon openly admits our possessions can easily become a great burden. Solomon warns us that our possessions will push us into a juggling act which often leaves us feeling trapped and gasping for air.
The more we own, the higher demand they have for our time. The more vehicles we have, the more attention they require of us (Routine maintenance, keeping things legal) This also applies to property and business ventures. The full stomach of the rich will not let him sleep.
Solomon makes it clear the more we have, the more difficult it is to manage our time and obligations. Because of this, we can become easily distracted.
In chapter 4 there is a verse which I believe reveals the greatest distraction our possessions can give us.
In verse 4 of chapter 4 Solomon notes that toil and skill in work come from envy for one's neighbor. We have terminology for this in the modern world. We call it keeping up with the Joneses. How many people toil in competing with their neighbors? The neighbor's shrubbery is more well manicured than mine, I better fix this! My neighbor just put a gazebo in their backyard, that means I better put it in a pool! My neighbor just bought a brand new pickup, I will too, but mine's gonna be a Diesel!
What does this gain people? Nothing. What does it cost them? Time!
Allowing ourselves to become caught up in a game of “Keeping up with the Joneses" causes us time we don’t have, and distracts us from the purpose for which God gave us gifts. They are meant to be for our enjoyment, not to be a source of envy for our neighbors.
“Possessions are gifts from God, however “Don’t let them create resentment.” The way possessions create resentment is central to chapter 6. In verses 1 and 2 Solomon explains a person who never gets to enjoy their own possessions. Instead they are enjoyed by others, who can often be ungrateful. This obviously creates resentment within the person who owns the possessions. However resentment can also be created by those in close proximity to someone who is rich. (READ Ecclesiastes 6:3 This chapter explains a person who God has gifted with the good life, the American dream. However this person is so distracted by his possessions that he cannot enjoy them, because they always want more!
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.
Pastor Matt Chandler in his series on Ecclesiastes best explains what this person looks like “ He explains that over the years several girls had come into his office and poured their hearts out explaining their hate for their father. A girl has never hated her father for driving an old beat up pickup. A girl never hated her father for not buying a pony. Plenty of women have hated their fathers who drive a 60,000 dollar car and buy poneys for the whole school. Yet they didn’t know the love of their father, warping their perception of their own value, creating resentment which results in disdain.
So you think either person is going to enjoy the gifts God gave them? No. Which means God’s purpose in these gifts will never be realized.
I started this message with a reassuring promise that possessions are a gift from God. However the last several minutes have seemed to suggest the opposite.
So how do we prevent our possessions from distracting us? How do we prevent our possessions from creating resentment?
One option is to change our attitude. The theologian G.K. Chesterson said this regarding our possessions. “There are 2 ways to get enough, one is to accumulate more and more. The other is to desire less.” The second option is how we use the gifts that God has given us
“Possessions are gifts from God, so use them for God!”
Verse 13 of chapter 5 reminds of this (READ Ecclesiastes 5:13
There is a grievous evil that I have seen under the sun: riches were kept by their owner to his hurt,
In other words, the person hoards their wealth and possessions will inevitably be distracting and create resentment either within them or around them. So we shouldn’t hoard what we have, but allow them to be used by God so others can find enjoyment in them as well. We see Jesus provide examples of this in his gospels.The parable of the Talents. Luke 16:9
So how do we use our wealth to create friends, and perhaps introduce them to the gospel?
Hospitality (Open your home, use your big screen TV, invite others in your hobby)
