Ancient Wisdom Ancient Wisdom for Modern Lifefor Modern Life

Wisdom About WealthWisdom About Wealth

Ecclesiastes

The Quest for Wealth is The Quest for Wealth is Vanity!Vanity!

And all that my eyes desired I did not refuse them. I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure, for my heart was pleased because of all my labor and this was my reward for all my labor. 11 Thus I considered all my activities which my hands had done and the labor which I had exerted, and behold all was vanity and striving after wind and there was no profit under the sun.

One never has “enough”.One never has “enough”.

He who loves money will not be He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who satisfied with money, nor he who loves abundance with its income. loves abundance with its income. This too is vanity. (Ecclesiastes This too is vanity. (Ecclesiastes 5:10)5:10)

More wealth brings greater More wealth brings greater responsibility.responsibility.

When good things increase, When good things increase, those who consume them those who consume them increase. So what is the increase. So what is the advantage to their owners advantage to their owners except to look on? (Ecclesiastes except to look on? (Ecclesiastes 5:11)5:11)

More wealth does not always More wealth does not always bring more comfort.bring more comfort.

The sleep of the working man is The sleep of the working man is pleasant, whether he eats little pleasant, whether he eats little or much. But the full stomach of or much. But the full stomach of the rich man does not allow him the rich man does not allow him to sleep. (Ecclesiastes 5:12)to sleep. (Ecclesiastes 5:12)

Wealth is often hoarded Wealth is often hoarded and not used. and not used.

There is a grievous evil which I There is a grievous evil which I have seen under the sun: riches have seen under the sun: riches being hoarded by their owner to being hoarded by their owner to his hurt. (Ecclesiastes 5:13)his hurt. (Ecclesiastes 5:13)

Riches can be lost through Riches can be lost through a bad investment. a bad investment.

When those riches were lost When those riches were lost through a bad investment and he through a bad investment and he had fathered a son, then there had fathered a son, then there was nothing to support him. was nothing to support him. (Ecclesiastes 5:14)(Ecclesiastes 5:14)

You can't take it with you.You can't take it with you.

As he had come naked from his As he had come naked from his mother’s womb, so will he return mother’s womb, so will he return as he came. He will take nothing as he came. He will take nothing from the fruit of his labor that he from the fruit of his labor that he can carry in his hand. And this also can carry in his hand. And this also is a grievous evil—exactly as a man is a grievous evil—exactly as a man is born, thus will he die. So, what is born, thus will he die. So, what is the advantage to him who toils is the advantage to him who toils for the wind? (Ecclesiastes 5:15-for the wind? (Ecclesiastes 5:15-16)16)

Wealth cannot forestall all of Wealth cannot forestall all of life’s difficulties. life’s difficulties.

Throughout his life he also eats Throughout his life he also eats in darkness with great vexation, in darkness with great vexation, sickness and anger. (Ecclesiastes sickness and anger. (Ecclesiastes 5:17)5:17)

Some who are wealthy don't Some who are wealthy don't have the power to enjoy what have the power to enjoy what

they have.they have. There is an evil which I have seen There is an evil which I have seen

under the sun and it is prevalent under the sun and it is prevalent among men—a man to whom God among men—a man to whom God has given riches and wealth and has given riches and wealth and honor so that his soul lacks nothing honor so that his soul lacks nothing of all that he desires, but God has of all that he desires, but God has not empowered him to eat from not empowered him to eat from them, for a foreigner enjoys them. them, for a foreigner enjoys them. This is vanity and a severe This is vanity and a severe affliction. (Ecclesiastes 6:1-2)affliction. (Ecclesiastes 6:1-2)

GUIDEPOSTS FOR LIVINGGUIDEPOSTS FOR LIVING

Enjoy what you have.Enjoy what you have. Here is what I have seen to be good and Here is what I have seen to be good and

fitting: to eat, to drink and enjoy oneself fitting: to eat, to drink and enjoy oneself in all one’s labor in which he toils under in all one’s labor in which he toils under the sun during the few years of his life the sun during the few years of his life which God has given him; for this is his which God has given him; for this is his reward. Furthermore, as for every man reward. Furthermore, as for every man to whom God has given riches and to whom God has given riches and wealth, He has also empowered him to wealth, He has also empowered him to eat from them and to receive his reward eat from them and to receive his reward and rejoice in his labor; this is the gift of and rejoice in his labor; this is the gift of God. For he will not often consider the God. For he will not often consider the years of his life, because God keeps him years of his life, because God keeps him occupied with the gladness of his heart. occupied with the gladness of his heart. (Ecclesiastes 5:18-20)(Ecclesiastes 5:18-20)

Remember, how you live is Remember, how you live is more important than what you more important than what you

have!have!

A good name is better than a A good name is better than a good ointment, and the day of good ointment, and the day of one’s death is better than the one’s death is better than the day of one’s birth. (Ecclesiastes day of one’s birth. (Ecclesiastes 7:1)7:1)

Temper your fun with Temper your fun with soberness.soberness.

It is better to go to a house of mourning It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, than to go to a house of feasting, because that is the end of every man, because that is the end of every man, and the living takes it to heart. Sorrow is and the living takes it to heart. Sorrow is better than laughter, for when a face is better than laughter, for when a face is sad a heart may be happy. The mind of sad a heart may be happy. The mind of the wise is in the house of mourning, the wise is in the house of mourning, while the mind of fools is in the house of while the mind of fools is in the house of pleasure. It is better to listen to the pleasure. It is better to listen to the rebuke of a wise man than for one to rebuke of a wise man than for one to listen to the song of fools. For as the listen to the song of fools. For as the crackling of thorn bushes under a pot, crackling of thorn bushes under a pot, So is the laughter of the fool, and this So is the laughter of the fool, and this too is futility. (Ecclesiastes 7:2-6)too is futility. (Ecclesiastes 7:2-6)

Never accumulate wealth at Never accumulate wealth at the expense of principle.the expense of principle.

For oppression makes a wise For oppression makes a wise man mad, and a bribe corrupts man mad, and a bribe corrupts the heart. (Ecclesiastes 7:7)the heart. (Ecclesiastes 7:7)

Finish what you start!Finish what you start!

The end of a matter is better The end of a matter is better than its beginning; Patience of than its beginning; Patience of spirit is better than haughtiness spirit is better than haughtiness of spirit. (Ecclesiastes 7:8)of spirit. (Ecclesiastes 7:8)

Watch your attitude in Watch your attitude in pursuing wealth!pursuing wealth!

The end of a matter is better The end of a matter is better than its beginning; Patience of than its beginning; Patience of spirit is better than haughtiness spirit is better than haughtiness of spirit. (Ecclesiastes 7:8)of spirit. (Ecclesiastes 7:8)

Avoid the "good ol' days” Avoid the "good ol' days” syndrome.syndrome.

Do not say, “Why is it that the Do not say, “Why is it that the former days were better than former days were better than these?” For it is not from wisdom these?” For it is not from wisdom that you ask about this. that you ask about this. (Ecclesiastes 7:10)(Ecclesiastes 7:10)

Make effort not only for earthly Make effort not only for earthly gain but for spiritual gain but for spiritual

enrichment.enrichment.

For wisdom is protection just as For wisdom is protection just as money is protection. But the money is protection. But the advantage of knowledge is that advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the lives of its wisdom preserves the lives of its possessors. (Ecclesiastes 7:12)possessors. (Ecclesiastes 7:12)

Realize that there is no Realize that there is no guarantee of prosperity in guarantee of prosperity in

believing.believing. Consider the work of God, for who Consider the work of God, for who

is able to straighten what He has is able to straighten what He has bent? In the day of prosperity be bent? In the day of prosperity be happy, but in the day of adversity happy, but in the day of adversity consider—God has made the one consider—God has made the one as well as the other so that man as well as the other so that man may not discover anything that may not discover anything that will be after him. (Ecclesiastes will be after him. (Ecclesiastes 7:13-14)7:13-14)

““Godliness” + Godliness” + “Contentment” “Contentment” = “Great Gain”= “Great Gain”

A “consistent, authentic, A “consistent, authentic, walk with God” + “an walk with God” + “an

attitude of satisfaction and attitude of satisfaction and peace” peace”

=“great gain”.=“great gain”.