How Much Cash Does One Need?

Ecclesiastes 5:10–17 NIV

Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless. As goods increase, so do those who consume them. And what benefit are they to the owners except to feast their eyes on them? The sleep of a laborer is sweet, whether they eat little or much, but as for the rich, their abundance permits them no sleep. I have seen a grievous evil under the sun: wealth hoarded to the harm of its owners, or wealth lost through some misfortune, so that when they have children there is nothing left for them to inherit. Everyone comes naked from their mother’s womb, and as everyone comes, so they depart. They take nothing from their toil that they can carry in their hands. This too is a grievous evil: As everyone comes, so they depart, and what do they gain, since they toil for the wind? All their days they eat in darkness, with great frustration, affliction and anger.

Ecclesiastes

13 - We could always use more money!!!

What would you do with $1 million Dollars?

What would you do with $1 million Dollars?

What about $1 Billion Dollars?

What about $6 Billion Dollars?

Does God Want you to have that much money? No Wealth Gospel in Scripture.

Lord’s Prayer Give us Daily Bread - From Proverbs

-Why, this Perspective?

14 - More cash does not mean more comfort.

Solomon was one of the richest men in the world, at the end of his life though, he realized how little happiness money brought.

How Proverbs would view Money - Manage it with Wisdom and you will be blessed.

How Proverbs would view Money - Manage it with Wisdom and you will be blessed.

The Message of

Ecclesiastes Perspective - Even if you manage it wisely, there are no gaurantees in life - Pursuing wealth is like a vapor

The Law of Diminishing Returns

A large analysis published in the journal Nature Human Behavior used data from the Gallup World Poll, a survey of more than 1.7 million people from 164 countries, to put a price on optimal emotional well-being: between $60,000 and $75,000 a year. That aligns with past research on the topic, which found that people are happiest when they make about $75,000 a year.

But while that may be the sweet spot for feeling positive emotions on a day-to-day basis, the researchers found that a higher figure — $95,000 — is ideal for “life evaluation,” which takes into account long-term goals, peer comparisons and other macro-level metrics.

The researchers, from Purdue University, also found that it may be possible to make too much money, as far as happiness is concerned. They observed declines in emotional well-being and life satisfaction after the $95,000 mark, perhaps because being wealthy — past the point required for daily comfort and purchasing power, at least — can lead to unhealthy social comparisons and unfulfilling material pursuits. - Money, This Is the Amount of Money You Need to Be Happy, According to Research, By JAMIE DUCHARME

In Fact at a certain point the abundance of wealth brings trouble - The Extreme example of the Geddes.

ALL THE MONEY IN THE WORLD follows the kidnapping of 16-year-old John Paul Getty III (Charlie Plummer) and the desperate attempt by his devoted mother Gail (Michelle Williams) to convince his billionaire grandfather (Christopher Plummer) to pay the ransom. When Getty Sr. refuses, Gail attempts to sway him as her son’s captors become increasingly volatile and brutal. With her son’s life in the balance, Gail and Getty’s advisor (Mark Wahlberg) become unlikely allies in the race against time that ultimately reveals the true and lasting value of love over money.

- Getty Sr. Was concerned that giving the ransom would open the door for his other grandkids to be kidnapped.

“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 Carrey

So, What is the answer to Joy, Contentment, Satisfaction?

15-Christ gives contentment.

16-17

Hebrews 13:5–6 NIV

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?”

Hebrews 13:

18 - Money has a way of coming and going—like a houseguest. Sometimes we have it. Sometimes it mysteriously vanishes. As Hebrews says, God is always there. He’s not a houseguest in our lives; He’s a resident.

Money has a way of coming and going—like a houseguest. Sometimes we have it. Sometimes it mysteriously vanishes. As Hebrews says, God is always there. He’s not a houseguest in our lives; He’s a resident.

#1 Promise in all of Scripture:

Just sa

#1 Promise in all of Scripture:

In this context, which we normally do not think about it in this way it means that Jesus’ presence is the only means to true contentment, and the only means for true love.

Second it means that the Lord is very willing and capable to supplying our needs.

Video of the Joy in Uganda - This is what is also so amazing is that we find in some places, even thought they may have a little their joy seems greater than that of people in affluent countries like our own. - And I am amazed at how they continue to live/survive - Pastor who felt guilty strange eating so much food in a U.S. Church members home.

Not that everyone who has little is full of joy. - I have seen on a Native American reservation where the unemployment was 70% not a lot of joy, and in Guatamala, there was joy, but not to the degree as in Uganda. So the amount of money is not the difference. It seems to me is the level of Trust in Jesus was often the difference.

YouTube Video - Person selling books for how to get wealthy. 7 things poor people do that the rich do not do.

Money is the root of all evil, poverty is. - He misquotes like so many people do this passage. One thing he gets right is money is neutral, it is a tool. It is not money that is the root of all evil, it is the “Love of Money.”

Then he overemphasizes responsibility - “Yes” we should be responsible for our actions, but this man has not realized that the pursuit of money is a “mist.” - You can be fully responsible, but that is not a gaurantee, and even if you to gain massive amounts of wealth it does not bring joy, and you lose it when you die, and quite frankly can make you as arrogant as this guy.

Joke

But does this Trusting in Christ mean we are passive?

19 - What does wise stewardship look like?

The book of Ecclesiastes concludes...

“Yes in General it is a good idea if we live according to wisdom, ie manage our funds wisely, and if we do in general we will be better off.”

Ecclesiastes 9:13–18 NIV

I also saw under the sun this example of wisdom that greatly impressed me: There was once a small city with only a few people in it. And a powerful king came against it, surrounded it and built huge siege works against it. Now there lived in that city a man poor but wise, and he saved the city by his wisdom. But nobody remembered that poor man. So I said, “Wisdom is better than strength.” But the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are no longer heeded. The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded than the shouts of a ruler of fools. Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.

However, life is not a gaurantee, Wealth is not a gaurantee, even if we manage our finances well. We are not our own God, and so the key to life is to enjoy life as it comes to you, because ultimately you are not in control. It is to accept the reality that Life is a Vapor, not in our control, but is a gift from God

Conclusion:

Be Proactive in applying wisdom to managing your funds, and

Recognize that ultimately there are no gaurantees, so

Trust God to provide for us, and to be the source of our contentment and love.

Take all of life as a gift from God

Reference the Reformed Confessions:  The Reformed Confessions are statements of faith written to clarify the Gospel at times when the Church was in crisis. Heidelberg Catechism: Q&A’s 26 - 28, 125. Belgic Confession: Article 13

Canon’s of Dort: Head II, Article 5,