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Enjoy Life - Ecclesiastes 5:8 – 6:9
Pastor Grant van Boeschoten
The Structure of this passage
This is style of writing called a Chiasm.
This is not a popular writing style today, so I will show you how it works.
A
B
MAIN POINT
B
A
Here is how this Passage Divides up
A - The Pursuit of Wealth will not satisfy
B - Riches, Honour & Wealth do not equal enjoyment
MAIN POINT - God gives the ability to Enjoy Life
B - Riches, Honour & Wealth do not equal enjoyment
A The Pursuit of Wealth will not satisfy
So because we are not used to this style of writing, we are going to explore it in a style that we are used to.
A, B, MAIN POINT
That means that we will do the first and last section together, then the second and second last section together, and then the climax.
The Pursuit of Wealth will not Satisfy
Ecc 5:8-12 & Ecc 6:7-9
Ecclesiastes 5:8–10 HCSB
If you see oppression of the poor and perversion of justice and righteousness in the province, don’t be astonished at the situation, because one official protects another official, and higher officials protect them.
The profit from the land is taken by all; the king is served by the field.
The one who loves money is never satisfied with money, and whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with income.
This too is futile.
Dilemma: Profit can be taken by others
Don’t be shocked at governments and officials who take more than they should from the people that they govern.
That’s what verse 8 says.
It would be a mistake for us to think that government corruption is a new thing.
And we can be thankful for the many people in government who are upholding righteousness.
But the point is, your profit can be taken by others.
And there will be nothing that you can do about it.
This is quite frustrating for many people?
We feel like we have earned the profit, and we should get to control the profit.
If so, get used to disappointment, profit can be taken by others.
It doesn’t happen every time, but every time that it does happen we feel it in our hearts.
It hurts.
“That’s not fair” is what we say, and of course it isn’t.
But here is the truth.
Those who love money are never satisfied with money.
The teacher isn’t saying that money and wealth are bad.
He’s just pointing out that if you want satisfaction and enjoyment in life, then don’t make money and wealth your first love.
Don’t let the pursuit of money be your top priority in life.
For if you do, you will not be content.
Ecclesiastes 5:11–12 HCSB
When good things increase, the ones who consume them multiply; what, then, is the profit to the owner, except to gaze at them with his eyes?
The sleep of the worker is sweet, whether he eats little or much, but the abundance of the rich permits him no sleep.
We could look at this in the terms of a company.
Somebody out there had a great idea, maybe it was to make chocolate in a new chocolate bar and they called it, “Hawkwood Chocolate”.
Hawkwood Chocolate.
It was a great chocolate bar, people loved it, and the person with the great idea ended up hiring a whole staff to produce the chocolate bar.
But then, it wasn’t doing that well in the eastern side of North America, and so more employees were hired to market Hawkwood Chocolate.
Then, the demand was so high that a factory needed to be bought and converted to a high production model.
And on and on it goes.
According to Ecclesiastes 5, its the workers who are the ones who are going to sleep well at night.
All that they need to worry about is doing their particular task.
But the person with the great idea has become the one with the great responsibility.
They look at all the people whose livelihood depends on them, all of the loans that need satisfied, all of the orders that need filled, all of the work that needs done, and are they satisfied.
It’s the worker having the great sleep at night and the owner who lies awake, trying to think of ways to solve the many new problems that Hawkwood Chocolate has made.
Is The Teacher of Ecclesiastes against business and making a profit?
Not necessarily.
But he does understand the weight of responsibility that accompanies great wealth.
It’s not all fun and games.
And if the reason why you are working so hard is a love of money and a desire for wealth, you will find no lasting satisfaction.
Ecclesiastes 6:7–9 HCSB
All man’s labor is for his stomach, yet the appetite is never satisfied.
What advantage then does the wise man have over the fool?
What advantage is there for the poor person who knows how to conduct himself before others?
Better what the eyes see than wandering desire.
This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.
Question: Was anybody hungry yesterday?
Did you eat some food to satisfy that hunger?
Will that satisfaction extend to today?
Of course not.
We work hard for the food that we eat, but we’ve got to keep on working because we want to keep on eating.
The Teacher is not only talking about our appetite for food, he is also talking about our appetite for wealth.
It will never be satisfied.
What advantage then does the wise one have over the fool?
In terms of satisfying hunger and wealth.
There is no advantage.
Wether you are rich or poor, if love money you will never be satisfied.
But, is there an advantage to be found for those who don’t have an insatiable desire for money and wealth?
Better what the eyes see than a wandering desire?
I really want a new car.
I wish I could afford that house.
Too bad I don’t have enough money for that vacation.
Wandering Desire.
Seeing what we have and wanting more.
That want for more will never lead to satisfaction.
It is like chasing the wind, a futile pursuit.
It is better to be content with what your eyes can see, what is right in front of you, what God has already graciously provided for you.
The first point that Teacher has made is clear,
The Pursuit of Wealth will not satisfy.
Maybe the question is starting to form in your mind.
What will satisfy.
Maybe you are saying, I want for my life to be enjoyable, I can’t spend all my time chasing the wind.
Keep listening, there is hope.
But first a second point will be made.
Riches, Wealth and Honour do not equal Enjoyment
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