The Danger of Wealth
For Meditation
In this week’s text, we continue with Qohelet on his journey to discover how to live a good and meaningful life as a human being in a world of hebel. After taking in the bigger picture the last couple of weeks, in chapter 5 Qohelet moves back into his “research mode.” He has tried out various things and experiences under the sun, attempting to test out what could potentially bring meaning to life. He’s tried out wisdom, pleasure and work, and now he turns to money and wealth. And this too, he discovers, is …. meaningless (yep, you guessed it).
Verses 8-17 is a very careful deconstruction of the meaning that we often impart to wealth. While we often believe that money will bring satisfaction, security, and long-lasting significance, the Teacher demonstrates instead that wealth and riches often results in insecurity, dissatisfaction and isolation. And of course, money can do nothing to stop death.
What’s interesting about this section is that Qohelet also spends time in verses 18-20 commending the goodness of wealth, and how a person might enjoy their wealth and possessions by receiving them as a gift of God. The key seems to be to approach wealth with a mindset of a steward, who has been given wealth as something to enjoy and use for others, rather than an owner, who has earned wealth and therefore feels entitled to use it for oneself.
As you prepare for worship, invite God to show you ways that you may have an unhealthy relationship to your money, and invite God to show you a different path forward.
Ecclesiastes 5:8-20
8 If you see the poor oppressed in a district, and justice and rights denied, do not be surprised at such things; for one official is eyed by a higher one, and over them both are others higher still. 9 The increase from the land is taken by all; the king himself profits from the fields.
10Whoever loves money never has enough;
whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income.
This too is meaningless.
11As goods increase,
so do those who consume them.
And what benefit are they to the owners
except to feast their eyes on them?
12The sleep of a laborer is sweet,
whether they eat little or much,
but as for the rich, their abundance
permits them no sleep.
13 I have seen a grievous evil under the sun:
wealth hoarded to the harm of its owners,
14or wealth lost through some misfortune,
so that when they have children
there is nothing left for them to inherit.
15Everyone 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?
17All their days they eat in darkness,
with great frustration, affliction and anger.
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.