What is Wrong With Wanting Wealth? - Ecclesiastes 4-6

There is nothing wrong if it is desired for the right reasons; nothing if your heart is right in the beginning and you are able to control the sinful and selfish desire that will creep into your life—and there will be no problems until the wealth starts becoming the love of your life…And then it is SIN.

Many want to get rich quickly. If you back up about twenty years, you will remember when the first state lottery tickets were sold and the first winners were getting millions as their share while the state kept ten times what they awarded in prizes. Now that the lottery craze is in several states, the wagering runs into the billions of dollars each month. This is only one open spout that is pouring the income of needy people down the drain. Gaming rooms started behind the woodshed with a quilt on the ground and a pair of dice and now they are housed in the largest hotels from Las Vegas to Atlantic City and huge floating casinos from the Great Lakes to the Gulf Coast. These are not houses of chance—you have no chance to win!

Throw in what is wagered each year at events like horse and dog races, pro and now college games, cock and bull fights, gamblers poker and even the so called friendly card games along with the weekend game of golf. I have no idea what the total dollars lost each year would add up to, but would not be surprised that it is equal to the amount of federal income tax paid each year. It could totally pay for health care for all and/or pay for social security for every American over sixty-two. It is mind-boggling $$$.

The love of money is the root of all evil and it is the cause behind much of the poverty in our world today. This society is highly materialistic and many wager and lose their last dollar in what they think is a gambling machine—when it is not a gamble at all. The wheels are set so that the house wins and the sucker loses. The rich grow richer and hungry kids go without food and clothing. It would appear to many that the winners [the house] would be a bunch of happy people. Their whole life is bent on making and accumulating great wealth. Their hotels and casinos are plush; they drive the finest cars and fly in their personal jets. According to Solomon they of all men are the most miserable; therefore it appears to me that there are really no winners in the gambling world. What will it profit a man if he wins the world and loses his own soul?

There is a saying that it takes one to know one. In this case it takes a rich and unhappy man to know that the rich are miserable people. King Solomon ruled during the most prosperous era of the Jewish world. Israel was also at its political zenith, as it controlled all the land from Egypt on the south, the Mediterranean Sea on the west to the Euphrates River on its Far East boundary. Solomon was the wealthiest of all the Jewish kings, drawing tribute [taxes] from the people throughout this vast area. No doubt that his early success came by permission of God who must have been pleased that Solomon was dedicated to the task of building the elaborate temple in Jerusalem to honor Him. But when the temple planning was all complete and the construction was under way and certain to be completed, Solomon turned his attention wine, women and song. He purchased his huge harem of women from other countries; many of his new wives worshipped other gods.

His many wives all lived in luxury at their personal home but also were furnished elaborate temples designed to worship their pagan gods. The final mistake that he made was that in order to appease them he would attend their pagan worship with them. He should have known better because The Almighty God of Heaven has always been emphatic with His commandment that no one may worship any other God but Him, and the breaking of this commandment has never gone and will never go unpunished.

Solomon had the wealth and misused much of it on pagan women and other gods, and this is the first example of WHAT IS WRONG WITH WANTING WEALTH. Much of his wealth came from peasant laborers who were over worked and over taxed and that made it wrong. A third thing that can make the desire for wealth bring about evil in your life is for your desire to be so great that you are willing to neglect your home life and spiritual life and dedicate your all to making money. Wealth becomes God.

There is no innate harm in a twelve gauge shot-gun; and there is no sin assessed against the owner caused by his purchase of the weapon. There are lawful and legitimate reasons that justify our ownership of a deadly weapon. The problem arises when the gun is misused by the owner or other person for his/her own gratification or evil desires. This same analogy is true where money is concerned. Money is not innately evil but when man misuses it—then it becomes a part of the problem that condemns man to sin.

It is not clear to me why the writers of today’s lesson chose to zero in on wealth when the reading of the lesson indicates major emphasis in the evils of oppression; the results of toil, and the human needs that can be met only through healthy friendships. Solomon was critical of anyone that caused another person to feel oppressed. He did not advocate that one should take their own life; but he did indicate that he thought the dead person was actually more at peace and more at ease than the one still living.

Solomon saw a man working alone and considered this folly. He advocates partnerships because partners can help each other in the accumulation of wealth, and if one is having problems the other is there to be responsible through the time of need. Should death come to one there is a deserving one left to inherit the wealth. There is little to gain if man lives alone, works alone, and dies alone. Living as a hermit miser is truly living a life of vaity.

We are to stand in Awe of God; and we are to avoid ever being a part of any kind of false witnessing. Man should let his words be few, and always mean what he says. We are to keep the promises we make, regardless of the consequence. It is better that we never promise anything helpful to any one than to make a promise and break it. This is even more important when God is involved. I think of two important opportunities where man should always keep his word. When we agree to tithe and then keep some back—God will not ignore the false promise. A pledge to the annual budget of the church should be carefully determined. It would be better to pledge nothing and give a little than to pledge much and not keep the promise.

One thing seemed to bother the teacher [Solomon identifies himself as a teacher] as he observed that here under the sun, many work hard, gather and save and live a frugal life only to leave much of their accomplishments for others to enjoy. He indicates that those who would not help with the task of accumulating wealth in some ways do not deserve the right to enjoy the fruit of other’s labor. This is not fair under the sun, he said. Here again he emphasized the importance of holding on to a meaningful and friendly relationship with someone that can not only help acquire the wealth but also can deserve the blessings that may come after the owner is dead.

Solomon leaves no doubt that there is no honor in working for the wrong reason. And there is no doubt that it is always wrong for man to desire wealth, power, and prestige for personal reasons. Solomon prayed for knowledge and was awarded superior knowledge in abundance. This helps us to understand the importance of selecting the right priorities for our life. We should be very carefully how we give account for any riches that God trust in our care. We know that his reaction can vary from the praise of the widow who gave only a penny… but it was all she had—to the man and wife that sold their farm and gave only half of the proceeds. God’s anger and praise was not determined by the amount they gave—BUT WHAT WAS IN THEIR HEART.