A portfolio of wealth with and without God

As Thanksgiving has ended and we look toward Christmas it is a time to be reflective. Reflection often brings me to the book of Ecclesiastes. Ecclesiastes is all about perspective. Solomon says over and over, “Stop looking at the world wrongly.” Ecclesiastes 5 is a massive epicenter of perspective altering Scripture. Robin Leach hosted a television show called, “The Lifestyles Of The Rich And Famous.” Why was this show so popular? Because we desire more. People desire to be rich. Ecclesiastes revolves around the theme of happiness especially as it relates to wealth. It unveils the reality behind riches more than any other book in the Bible.

In Ecclesiastes 5:8-20 Solomon describes the intangible assets of two different portfolios. The first is a portfolio of wealth without God. The second is a portfolio of wealth with God. It is very important to examine both lists and the hinge between them.

Are you wealthy? It is important to define rich according to the Bible. Wealthy and rich are having more than one outfit to wear. It also means that you know where your next meal is coming from. If you have more than a days worth of food you are wealthy. If you know where you are going to sleep tonight you are rich.

Verses 8-17 describe a portfolio of wealth without God. What does owning assets mean without God in your life? Solomon gives us a list in these verses.

The first characteristic of wealth without God is oppression. Verse 8 reads, “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.” Often the rich without God and without a biblical ethic take advantage of poor people. The poor often can’t do battle with their injustices. They are outmatched by superior resources. How hard is it to beat a rich man in court? Solomon is saying, “You can’t beat the system. It’s too big. It’s too corrupt.”

The second characteristic of wealth without God is dissatisfaction in verse 10. “He who loves silver will not be satisfied with silver; nor he who loves abundance, with increase. This also is vanity” (verse 10). The Bible never condemns money. Money is not the root of all evil. It is the love of money that is the root of all evil (1 Timothy 6:10). John. D. Rockefeller said, “I have made many millions but they have brought me no happiness. The poorest man I know is the man who has nothing but money.” An old Roman proverb said that money is like sea water — the more you drink the thirstier you get. Stuff does not satisfy. You know the feeling. You wake up Christmas morning. You open the presents and gifts. You have lots of new presents. How long does it take before you figure out there is more stuff you could use or want?

The third characteristic is frustration in verses 11-12. Solomon said, “When goods increase, they increase who eat them; so what profit have the owners except to see them with their own eyes?” Vast amounts of money do not produce happiness but frustration. The reason is that money gets between relationships. You look at people who are richer than you as possible ways to get the stuff you want. People look at you as possible ways to get what they want from you.

The fourth characteristic in a portfolio of wealth without God is desperation in verses 13-17. Verse 15 reads, “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.” You can’t take it with you. There are no U-Hauls behind a hearse.

Howard Hughes was one of the richest men in the world. In his later years he fled from one resort to the next. His straggly beard hung down to his waist. His hair reached the middle of his back. His fingernails were two inches long. His toenails had not been trimmed in so long they corkscrewed. Hughes was married 13 years to Jean Peters, one of the most beautiful women in the world. Never during that time were the two seen in public together. There is no record of them ever being photographed together. For a while they slept in separate bungalows at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Oppression. Dissatisfaction. Frustration. Desperation.

Verses 18-20 describe a portfolio of wealth with God. Solomon announced in verse 18, “Here is what I have seen: it is good and fitting.” Everything changes in this verse. There is a reward for those who see life as a gift from God’s hand. There is nothing wrong with stuff if you connect it to God and you make an ethically, moral right decision about getting it and using it for His glory.

What are the characteristics of a portfolio of wealth with God? Happiness (verse 18), blessing (verse 19) and contentment (verse 20) are listed. “For he will not dwell unduly on the days of his life, because God keeps him busy with the joy of his heart” (verse 20).

Jesus said, “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew 6:33). True wealth is everything money can’t buy and death cannot take away. Great riches are available in the person and work of Jesus. What does Jesus offer? Jesus offers forgiveness of sins, eternal life, meaning, purpose, love and true satisfaction.

This Christmas season may you reflect upon the true meaning of Christmas. It is God who sent his son, Jesus, to live a perfect, sinless life that he might die and pay for our sins. They wrapped him in swaddling clothes (burial cloths) because he was destined to die. They laid him in a manger (a feed trough) because he came as the bread of life. Won’t you follow him today?

Ethan Hansen is the pastor at Faith Bible Fellowship in Big Lake.