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Over the last year, we have had the opportunity to teach and preach on a specific passage of Scripture a lot. It has also conveniently been part of a sermon series for Drew & Tyler’s church recently. Because of this, we decided to take some time and do a reminder / refresher on this passage. We covered it at length over 200 episodes ago, but we decided that it was time for a revisit of this passage: Ecclesiastes 5:10-15

Ecclesiastes 5:10–15a

“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. 

If you’ve ever said, “I wish I had more money.” Here are 7 thoughts to consider based on Ecclesiastes chapter 5.

 

  1. Examine Your Relationship with Money

“Whoever loves money never has enough; Whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless”. (v. 10)

  • Exposes the emptiness of the love of money. The love of money promises everything, but it doesn’t deliver what it promises. 
  • The love of money is a bottomless pit. The more you crave it, the more it controls you.
  • We find this with some successful clients – They get to a point where they have $1.5m, they are 80 years old, and instead of feeling confident, they feel anxious about how they are going to use it. 

  1. More Assets, More Obligations

“As goods increase, so do those who consume them…” (v. 11a)

  • What if you get that vacation home? Now you need to go visit it. Now you need to maintain it, insure it, pay the taxes on it, etc… What about the boat? Now you need to store it. You need to justify the expense of the boat by taking it out every weekend. But now stuff at home is falling apart. Now the boat is sitting idle. See where we are going? You might have more money, but your money is chasing all of these goods, and now you are feeling like butter spread over too much bread. 

  1. Possessions Don’t Always Bring True Value

“And what benefit are they to the owners except to feast their eyes on them?” (v. 11b)

  • Wealth can become decorative, not useful. What’s the point of owning what you don’t use or share?
  • Are your assets working for the Kingdom—or just your ego? Investments should serve God’s purposes, not just sit pretty.
  • Don’t be a museum curator of your own life. Use your resources to bless, not just to impress.
  • Wealth doesn’t buy happiness.

  1. Abundance Can Breed Restlessness

“The sleep of a laborer is sweet, whether they eat little or much, but as for the rich, their abundance permits them no sleep.” (v. 12)

  • The laborer works physically hard, and sleeps well. They might not have enough food, but they sleep sweetly. 
  • The rich’s wealth provides for their lifestyle, so they worry about their wealth, and whether it will disappear.

  1. Hoarding Hurts.

“I have seen a grievous evil under the sun: wealth hoarded to the harm of its owner.”  (v. 13)

  • Saving is wise, but hoarding is harmful. There’s a difference between preparing and obsessing. Wealth without purpose becomes a trap.

  1. Wealth Can Vanish Unexpectedly

“… or wealth lost through some misfortune, so that when they have children there is nothing left for them to inherit.” (v. 14)

  • No fortune is foolproof. One crisis, one crash, one lawsuit, and it’s gone. Inheritance is not guaranteed. You can’t put your faith in it. Putting your hope in your wealth is like building your house on sand.
  • Stop worrying about things that are outside of your control. Stop worrying about the government confiscating IRAs. That’s a pointless worry. 

  1. You Can’t Take It With You

“Everyone comes naked from their mother’s womb, and as everyone comes, so they depart. (v. 15a) “They take nothing from their toil that they can carry in their hands.” (v. 15b)

  • Every possession is temporary. Only eternal investments are worthwhile. You can’t take it with you, but you can send it ahead.

 

Conclusion: There’s a Better Inheritance

  • If our wealth is fleeting, and worry is a problem, and we can’t take it with us, is there a better way? There is a better inheritance! There is a better asset! There’s a more-sure way we can deposit our labors… the bank of heaven! We have the opportunity to invest into the souls of men, into the Kingdom of God. 
    • Giving money away
    • Funding Ministry
    • Investing into Christian companies
    • Ultimately, spending money in a Gospel-informed way in your life. That’s what Christian stewardship is!

Ecclesiastes 5 reminds us: the essence of stewardship is not just what we do with our resources, but how we view them in light of God’s character, our mortality, and eternity.

 

Next Steps

 

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