Pastor Tom Ascol continues his series on the book of Ecclesiastes with a message centered on Chapter 5, Verse 8 through Chapter 6, Verse 9, entitled “The Love of Money.” Money and wealth can easily become too important in our lives. Jesus tells us “No one can serve two masters . . . . You cannot serve God and money” (Matthew 6:24). In today’s passage, the Preacher warns against, and shows the pitfalls of, chasing after wealth. In fact, his main lesson teaches we should guard against pursuing riches by learning to enjoy God’s daily gifts.
We find three main points the Preacher uses in his argument. First, setting our hearts on riches robs us of joy and contentment. While oppression and injustice are wrong we should not be shocked to find they exist. Still, money will never satisfy the person who loves it, oppressor or oppressed. We were not designed to love money. We were designed to love God. We need to exercise care as are being discipled by life, by ads, by others, to love money and things. However, with more wealth come more need to spend and more worries. At the end of today’s passage (6:7 – 9) the Preacher reiterates, even expands, this teaching. Physical appetites cannot be finally satisfied. Rather, satisfaction is found by the poor man who has seen things as they really are rather than by allowing his appetite(s) to run after more and more things. Money is not the problem; the love of money is the problem. Rather than filling a vacuum, it makes a vacuum that can never be filled.
The second point teaches failing to enjoy life is an evil tragedy. God is for our joy. Hence, He speaks plainly about pathways leading away from our joy. Hoarding wealth does not bring joy. Riches kept by their owners lead to their hurt as they trust their riches. Riches cannot be taken with the dead. Trust has been misplaced. Even though the world’s standard may find a wealthy life to be good, Verses 1 – 6 of Chapter 6 describe a tragic life. Having this world’s goods is of little value after the brevity of physical life. What good are they? Setting our heart on riches robs us of joy and contentment in God’s provision and leads to a vain striving, chasing after the wind.
Point three shows learning to recognize God’s gifts leads to a life of joy and contentment. All of life is grace. God has given all anyone has, and he gives the power to enjoy them. Without that specific power no one could be satisfied, always wanting more. Recognizing God as the giver of all sets us free, leading to real joy and contentment in God’s provision. Recognizing this enables us to come to God on God’s terms. Jesus said, “guard against all covetousness” (Luke 12:15) and to be “rich toward God” (Luke 12:21). We are to live for Him, not for money. Chase after God, not wealth.
This sermon was given by Dr. Tom Ascol on December 4, 2016 at Grace Baptist Church in Cape Coral, FL.
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