Bible Study - Wisdom (5) - The Problem with Wealth - Ecclesiastes 5:10-20 - March 31, 2019

Bible Study – Wisdom (5) – The Problem with Wealth – March 31, 2019


This is lesson five (5) in our series entitled “Finding Meaning: Wisdom from Ecclesiastes.”


Our focus scripture is Ecclesiastes 5:10-20.


Contentment comes from CHRIST, not our wealth.


The Jews considered anyone with wealth was blessed by GOD, which can be true or false. The Bible has much to say about money e.g. as recorded in 1 Timothy 6:10 - 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. 

Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.


Money is not evil but the “love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.”


As recorded in Psalm 1: 1 Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers,

2 but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law, day and night.

3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers.

4 Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away.

GOD does bless with many forms of wealth e.g. health, friends, children, peace, satisfaction of work, loving family, etc. which cannot be purchased.

Let’s explore!

Let’s read Ecclesiastes 5:10-12:

10 Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless.

11 As goods increase, so do those who consume them. And what benefit are they to the owners except to feast their eyes on them?

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

King Solomon had observed that those who have wealth want more and they attract plenty of people to help them spend it. How much is enough? Well, I can tell you, just a little bit more.

There are human money sniffing vultures who do not care about the person with the wealthy but they love their money. There are those who will suck up to the wealth just to take advantage of them.

The wealthy need hired help to work for them to take care of what they have or maintain it. The laborer sleeps well at night but the person with wealth has difficulty sleeping.

Why does the person with wealth have difficulty sleeping?

Let’s read Ecclesiastes 5:13-17:

13 I have seen a grievous evil under the sun: wealth hoarded to the harm of its owners,

14 or wealth lost through some misfortune, so that when they have children there is nothing left for them to inherit.

15 Everyone comes naked from their mother’s womb, and as everyone comes, so they depart. They take nothing from their toil that they can carry in their hands.

16 This too is a grievous evil: As everyone comes, so they depart, and what do they gain, since they toil for the wind?

17 All their days they eat in darkness, with great frustration, affliction and anger.

King Solomon has witnessed grievous evil during his life upon earth e.g. wealth hoarded resulted in harm to its owners or wealth poorly invested resulted misfortune. Greed can be a problem, that is hanging onto an investment hoping to get a few more dollars from it and it quickly goes south. Ouch!

Have you either witnessed such tragedy or heard of such tragedies. When I hear such stories, I generally say, “oh, but I would be different?” Would I? Would you?

Solomon speaks words of wisdom – a person enters the world naked and leaves the world naked and empty handed. No person takes earthly wealth with him or her. But what can a person do?

There are those who toil and never enjoy the fruit of their efforts. Why? How should we live? Solomon has the answer ----

Ecclesiastes 5:18-20:

18 This is what I have observed to be good: that it is appropriate for a person to eat, to drink and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given them—for this is their lot.

19 Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God.

20 They seldom reflect on the days of their life, because God keeps them occupied with gladness of heart.

GOD made mankind to enjoy life upon earth within the bounds of obediently serving HIM.

The Apostle Paul recorded in Philippians 4:12-13:

12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.

13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

When we toil to accumulate, we want more and are often miserable. We need an attitude adjustment. When we realize that GOD is the source of our wealth or work, we should enjoy what GOD has allowed us to earn and use during our time upon earth. When we realize that all we have is on loan from GOD, we are to work and tend the garden in which HE has placed us. Then we can seek GOD'S guidance as to where HE desires for us to use the fruit from the work, HE has given to us.

Often, we may ask well why hasn’t GOD given us more?  We read why as recorded in Matthew 7:9-11:

9 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone?

10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?

11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

GOD does not give us things that will harm us. Yes, GOD made us to use our gifts to work and enjoy the fruits of our labor. But we need to recognize and acknowledge GOD in our lives and work to glorify HIM. When we do, we are content in our work because we are working as unto our LORD.  

As the old saying goes “Bloom where you are planted.”

Blessings!!!