A Proper Attitude Toward Work and Wealth

Transcript

GR 2128
06/09/2019
A Proper Attitude Toward Work and Wealth
Ecclesiastes 5:8-20
Gil Rugh


We're in the book of Ecclesiastes, chapter 5 in your Bibles, Ecclesiastes 5. Some have called this the most difficult book in the Old Testament, but I don't think that's the case. I think sometimes it is misunderstood because of Solomon's failure later in his life and getting involved in pagan worship. Some have thought the book of Ecclesiastes is a gloomy book, a book talking about the senselessness, the hopelessness, the vanity of life, written by an old man who is so disillusioned with life. But that's not the case. Solomon says he is writing words of truth and words of wisdom. He is an instrument that God is using to explain to us how we can live life skillfully. Because of sin, God has put the whole creation under the curse of His judgment. That means there is pain, there is suffering, our work becomes toil and labor and life is short because we are here for a brief time and we are gone.

So, Solomon is talking realistically about life. He is not sugar-coating it, as we say, but the reality of life. He wants us to understand that God intends us, even with the difficulty in trials, to enjoy life. Now foundational to everything for understanding this book of the Bible, as well as any other, is a relationship with God. The beginning of knowledge and wisdom is to know God. If you don't know Him, you don't have a beginning. In fact, in Ecclesiastes 2:25, “For who can eat and who can have enjoyment without Him?” He is the God from whose hand everything comes. And that is crucial. Ecclesiastes 3:1 said, “There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven.” As we have come to know God and entered into a relationship with Him through faith, in recognition of our sin and guilt and the salvation He provided in Christ, we understand that He is in sovereign control over all, the good things and the not-so-good things, the pleasant things and the unpleasant things. God has appointed the time and the events in that time. And that puts things in perspective.

Chapter 5 opens in the first seven verses with drawing our attention in a more detailed and emphasized way toward our responsibility to God. You'll note the end of verse 7 says, “Rather fear God.” That summarizes in a concise way what has been repeated. You must recognize that He is God, that He is sovereign over all, and in His sovereignty, He controls all. He is the God to be honored, to be worshiped, to be listened to, to be obeyed. So, these first seven verses talk about our relationship with God. This is the most important, the most serious thing related to our life under the sun, this physical life we live day by day.

We are to fear God, and that involves as he has talked about in the first three verses of chapter 5, we come to worship Him. That means at heart we come to bow before Him and listen to what He says. The chapter begins, “Guard your steps as you go to the house of God…” as they would go to worship at the tabernacle. “…and draw near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools.” That becomes evil. How terrible it is, people come thinking they are worshiping, and they are really doing evil. We come before God to listen to what He says. That's why we come and open the Bible, which is the Word of God, to listen to what God says, to understand it, and be ready to obey it.

And then in verses 4-7 he says that our relationship with God is a personal relationship, and we recognize the importance of that relationship. In our physical relationships, God says our word ought to mean something; that when we give our word we ought to honor that. How much more in the personal relationship we have with the living God should we keep our promises. That's what vows were. We talked about those in our previous study. He says here in verse 4, “When you make a vow to God, do not be late in paying it…” Vows were voluntary. We looked into this a little bit in our last study. This is reference from the book of Deuteronomy. They were voluntary. You didn't have to make a vow, but once you made a vow you were obligated to fulfill it. Sometimes, when you come before God, you get caught up in the emotion of the moment, or something like that, so you decide to make a vow. You understand you have obligated yourself now. So, you take your relationship with God seriously. I mean, He is God. You keep that in perspective here, at the end of verse 2, “For God is in heaven and you are on the earth…” Be quiet and listen, “…let your words be few.” This is about God and what He has to say, what He has to say to us. And that is foundational to being able to live a life with wisdom and in getting the full enjoyment out of this life. That can be very difficult, painful, and trying at times, but God intends it to be a life characterized by joy. And we take this relationship with God seriously, we keep our word with Him.

Jesus talked about worship in John 4, and we talked about this passage in our previous study as well. God is seeking people to worship Him but only when they worship Him properly. Jesus said we must worship Him in spirit and truth, it comes from the heart, it is in accord with His Word. Jesus said in His prayer to His Father, your Word is truth. And Jesus also said in John 14:6, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” It is not possible to have a relationship with the living God apart from Jesus Christ and the work He has done on the cross. Until you come to settle that relationship, you can have no relationship with the living God. But when you have one now, we come and worship Him, we have joined together today to listen to His Word.

And having stressed the importance of our relationship with God, now Solomon continues to carry on talking about our life under the sun, this physical life we live day after day after day, these days, and how we are to live them, and the joy we are to experience in them. As already mentioned, God has brought judgment on His creation for the sin of Adam, but He has not taken all the joy out of life. Solomon will walk us through in this chapter and then conclude with reminding us of the importance, whether we are poor or whether we are rich, to enjoy each day as God has provided.

Look at verse 8. There is going to be a transition here. He has talked about God, He is sovereign over all, but He has appointed human governors, human government, leaders in His creation. So, you read in verse 8, “If you see oppression of the poor and denial of justice and righteousness in the province, do not be shocked at the sight.” Now just jump back to Ecclesiastes 4:1, this is not new. In Ecclesiastes 4:1 he said, “Then I looked again at all the acts of oppression which were being done under the sun.” In this world in which we live. “And behold I saw the tears of the oppressed and that they had no one to comfort them; and on the side of their oppressors was power, but they had no one to comfort them.” He went on to talk about that can be a miserable situation. That's a reality of this life, a sin-cursed world. It can be difficult, it can be unpleasant, it can be unfair, it can be unjust. So, when you come over to Ecclesiastes 5:8, after reminding us that God is sovereign and we acknowledge Him and bow before Him, he says, “If you see oppression of the poor and denial of justice and righteousness in the province, do not be shocked at the sight...” I mean, that is real life. We understand, sin has consequences and the sin that brought judgment on God's creation has consequences that are ongoing. Don't be shocked at the sight.

Then we are told, “…for one official watches over another official, and there are higher officials over them.” We live in an unfair world, if we could put it that way, in the context of what he has been talking about. There is oppression, there is injustice, there is a lack of righteousness. And some people are treated unfairly and the lower you are, often the more you get walked on, so to speak. The oppression of the poor. But God has provided a certain order for His creation. You remember when God created Adam and Eve in the Garden, I don't mean remember, you remember the biblical account, you weren't there so I understand that. But you remember what happened. God created man as male and female, two people without sin, no sin in His creation of the world at that point, and do you know what? He appointed one to be in charge over the other. The man had authority over the woman. There were only two people on the earth and there is no sin. And God says one is in charge, the man. We know that.

The New Testament tells us that the order of creation established that man would be the leader. He created man first and then the woman. And then in Genesis 2, Adam, the man, named all the animals, showed his authority over that part of creation, and then he named the woman who had been created out of his side, which again is another indication of his authority. All that to not get diverted, but from the very beginning God established order in His creation. And that will continue down until today. So, there are governing authorities, that's what he means in the middle of the verse, “…one official watches over another official, and there are higher officials over them.” That's in the context of this world which can be unrighteous and unfair.

Verse 9, you might read this, “After all, a king who cultivates the field is an advantage to the land.” And you say, what is the connection? Very simple. These officials are appointed to administer justice. Now because of sin some of them will function unfairly, unjustly. But “…a king who cultivates the field is an advantage to the land” here is a king who is taking care of his people, here is a king who is looking out for their welfare and provision for them. So, there is oppression, there is a lack of righteousness and justice, but God has ordained authorities for caring for the people. We have that attitude, we talk about those who are governing authorities over us, we say part of their responsibility is to look out for our welfare. In our society where we vote and they are always telling us that that is why we should vote for them. They are going to do what is best for us. That is part of the intention of God in providing human government.

Just to see the consistency of Ecclesiastes with some other passages, come back to Proverbs, and I've just selected a few verses from Proverbs and then one from the New Testament. There are many. Proverbs 20:8, “A king who sits on the throne of justice disperses all evil with his eyes.” Literally, he sifts all evil with his eyes, because if he is functioning as he should for the benefit of the people, he is looking to deal with the evil that would be harmful to his people. That's part of a ruler and that's what human government does, and we are glad for that. We function safely here. I'm glad for governing authorities that keep order. In parts of the world where the government has disintegrated and there are no real authorities in charge, no one has peace, no one has safety. But God has ordained authorities for that. So, the king here, if he is functioning as he should, he is a king who sits on the throne of justice, functioning as God intends, sifting out the evil that should be punished.

Come down to verse 26, “A wise king winnows the wicked, and drives the threshing wheel over them.” The picture is of separating the wheat and the chaff. You winnow so that the chaff is removed and judged, and the wheat is left, the good. That's what the king is doing; he protects his people and punishes the wicked so that those who murder, hopefully get caught and punished, that those who steal get caught and punished. He is dealing with the wicked, that's what rulers are to do, so that people can have an orderly and safe life.

Come over to Proverbs 25:5, “Take away the wicked before the king, and his throne will be established in righteousness.” The king wants to have righteous people around him, and he wants the wicked judged. Then he can have a throne that functions in righteousness. Now again because of sin we have imperfect rulers. Even when I traveled in a Communist country, I was thankful for the governing authorities. I met with believers who had spent many years in prison for their faith, that was unfair and unjust. But do you know what those governing authorities did? They enabled me to walk down the street without fear of being attacked, without somebody robbing me, and so on. So, there was order even in that kind. We say there are things unfair in that government. But the ruling of government, now as Solomon writes and as a king, is the desire that he would be a godly king and administer God's justice. But even with ungodly rulers there was an order brought.

Come to Proverbs 29:4, “The king gives stability to the land by justice, but a man who takes bribes overthrows it.” In other words, and we see this argued in government down to our day, the king ought to be determined to do what is right, what is just, and not to have his decisions influenced by a bribe. And we see that is being debated in the government in our very day. Who influences this, who has control of that, did he get a benefit out of this? The king gives stability by justice. We see an instability, even in our own country, with all the attacks and unsettledness that goes on, in questions about justice. Look down to verse 12. “If a ruler pays attention to falsehood, all his ministers become wicked.” So, you want the best men in charge.

Come over to Romans 13 in the New Testament, just one passage. It shows the consistency of what Solomon is writing in Ecclesiastes. Romans 13, we need to read this and remind ourselves regularly as believers. The chapter begins, “Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities.” Basically, that is what Solomon is saying. There is oppression, there is unfairness, there is injustice, there is unrighteousness in the world, but God has established order in government; and one official is over another and gives an account to another and so on. Note here, “For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.” Do you know what? God appoints the time, He appoints the event in the time. He appoints the time for the ruler, He appoints the ruler for the time. You understand when Paul writes this there are men like Nero on the throne, and the rulers before and after Nero weren't any better, godless, perverted individuals. You note what he says, “…and those which exist are established by God.” And even in the Roman Empire with those godless rulers, do you know what? There were benefits. There were unfair judgments offered. Paul is going to be executed under the authority of a Roman ruler that was appointed by God. But the Romans brought peace, the Roman peace. They built roads, Paul could travel from country to country and in certain circumstances he could claim his Roman citizenship. He was born with Roman citizenship. That gives me rights, that gives me protection. There is not always consistent fairness but there was order even in that.

God had ordained every ruler. “…and those which exist are established by God. Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God.” You can't get around this. I respect our President, I respected the President before our current President, and the one before that. At my age I have been through a number, as a few of you have. And our responsibility for each one is to recognize that this is the man God has appointed for this time. What did Jesus say to Pilate? “You would have no authority if it hadn't been given to you from God.” Even the man who would condemn Him to crucifixion had been put in that position, for that time, by the hand of God.

Paul, anytime he stands before the Roman authorities, treats them with respect, “the most excellent Felix.” Not because of his moral character but because of the position God had put him in. Remember Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar, God puts in power some of the lowliest, basest of men. Nebuchadnezzar was not a nice man, he had conquered and deported the Jews. What did Jeremiah tell the Jews in Jeremiah 29? Submit to the Babylonians, be good citizens, plant fields and build houses. Why? Because God had for His purpose at that time appointed those rulers.

These are for order, we are to recognize that. Come back to Ecclesiastes 5:8, there is oppression, there is unfairness, there is unrighteousness, but God has established order. Don't expect, we've already seen there is oppression, there is unfairness, but that doesn't change the recognition that there are authorities that will bring a certain order. Now if we are told to do something that is unbiblical, obviously we have to say, I need to do what is biblical. I cannot deny the faith, I cannot go contrary. But I don't have to agree with everything the ruler does or even what the ruler says. And some laws that he passes, I wouldn't think they are fair. But if I could do it without going contrary to Scripture, I do. Romans 13 went on to say that's why you pay taxes. Jesus explained that as well. That is part of our responsibility. I don't get to decide how the taxes are used, and they get to decide what the taxes will be. And I am a good citizen. We want to be careful we don't move out, because when I am not honoring those in power, whatever level, I am being disobedient to God.

So what Solomon says here in a condensed way, is that you are benefited by a good ruler who is looking out for you, basically what verse 9 says.

Now he moves on to more personal things. So, we have moved from the opening part of chapter 5 to God's authority over all to the authorities that represent God, not necessarily godly people, but represent Him by being appointed as leaders in His creation. Now we are going to talk about the personal responsibility we have, the rich and the poor. And do you know what? God's intention is both to enjoy life, and to enjoy the days of their lives. That is God's intention. So verses10-20, are going to talk about wealth and work and a proper attitude toward it all.

Verse 10, “He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves abundance with its income. This too is vanity.” There is our word, hebel, this is a breath. We are also reminded of the transitoriness of things. As I've mentioned, some things that are temporary, brief, are worthless. You take a piece of paper, you use it to start a fire, the paper burns up, that was temporary, and it is worthless, burned to ashes. It served its purpose. But not everything temporary is worthless. Money is not worthless. The love of money leads you into a trap, remember this is all temporary. The love of money is foolishness because you can't be satisfied with money and if that is the focus of your life, you won't find satisfaction no matter how much you have.

As an aside, I was reading this week of a multi-billionaire who bought another home, $80 million. That's a lot more than my house. One place, and it is one of half a dozen homes he has. The last one I think he bought, he paid $34 million. He still has it. Why do you need all that? We are never satisfied. He just left one wife and is involved with another woman. You have all this money, what do you do? Well, buy homes, move on in relationships. Why won't you just be satisfied with what you have? And if that is your love, the focus of your life, it doesn't mean this is true of everyone who has an abundance, but if this is your love, this is the focus of your life, this is what the world offers.

Watch the advertisements, telling you how to be sure to have enough, how to be sure you get more. How do you know you have enough to retire? And we're not talking against wise planning, but the world is absorbed with now and the things. Money doesn't satisfy, and it is just a breath, just a breath. I mean, you understand you don't invest your life in a snowball, the sun is coming up. It's not going to be there, it is a breath. If you love money, you won't be satisfied with it. It can't satisfy the heart.

Come back to Ecclesiastes 2:25, “For who can eat and who can have enjoyment without Him?” So, the love of money, you are familiar with that emphasis, we'll say more in a moment. Look how he explains it, the more you get, the more you need, the more you want, my paraphrase. In verse 11, “When good things increase, those who consume them increase. So what is the advantage to their owners except to look on?” It does. I remember, tells you how old I am, thinking one time, if I could ever make $10,000 a year, that would be enough to live comfortably. I'm glad I didn't make that a vow, that I would promise God that I would live on $10,00. Because things increase. Inflation comes, taxes come, families grow, the business grows, you have more expenses with the business. Whatever it is. So, when good things increase, those who consume them increase. In that sense you don't have an advantage, you just get to watch it, it gets used. That's not saying there is not an advantage to it. He is going to say later in Ecclesiastes, we'll be told that money is the answer to everything. We'll have to put that in context. So, if you have your focus on money and that is what you are living for, it will be gone, it's all temporary. Your expenses will grow, whether it's taxes, whether it's family responsibilities, whether it's business responsibilities. Things get eaten up and used up.

Then he talks about the contrast. Not everybody will have a lot. “The sleep of the working man is pleasant, whether he eats little or much; but the full stomach of the rich man does not allow him to sleep.” I was going to say thank the Lord for antacids. But we are a society that keeps advertising antacids. The poor man is working hard, eats little and goes to bed and he is so tired from his labor, and he doesn't have a full stomach. How many times have you gone to bed and said, I wish I hadn't eaten that before I went to bed. Or if we go out to eat and say I don't know if I want to eat that, it's getting close to bedtime. Those kinds of things. It does, the good life. I realize the poor person who has nothing to eat may be awake with an empty stomach. But the point here is the contrast between a working man who just makes enough to get by and a rich man who has an abundance, maybe not always in a position to enjoy his abundance.

Verse 13, “There is a grievous evil…” and he'll go on to mention the evil, but you understand the point. Don't focus your life on money, don't fall in love with money. We'll look at some other verses in a moment. But that is consistent with the Scripture. We can enjoy the things of this life. You'll note, he is not condemning a person for being poor, he's not condemning a person for being rich. But there can be benefits and problems on either side. Some people that have very little are very satisfied, sleep well at night. Some people with money, are up at night because they have a lot of things to worry about. It's the difference between owning the business and working in the business. You know, I work in the business, I worked today, and I can go home and relax and enjoy. I own the business. I go to see if we are making money, can I pay the bills? All these things. So, the pros and the cons are what he is talking about there. It is all a breath.

Look at verses 13-14, he continues this same idea. “There is a grievous evil which I have seen under the sun: riches being hoarded by their owner to his hurt.” In other words, here is a man who is what we call a workaholic, which I realize is a subjective term. For some people these days, if you work more than 15 hours a week, you are a workaholic, I think. But there is a person who spends his life, he is consumed, I don't have enough, I won't have enough, I have to work harder, work longer hours, have more. He is working to his hurt, to acquire, he is hoarding things. When those riches were lost to a bad investment, something went wrong. He fathered a son, there was nothing to support him. That's an evil. We don't have control over things, they are out of our control and they are all a breath.

So are some people who thought they would have a lot. Dietrich Bonhoffer, some of you have read his Cost of Discipleship, was imprisoned in World War II and was executed there, German. But he said in Germany that his father had saved his whole life for retirement, but then what happened in Germany? The devaluation of currency. He said his total retirement was only enough to buy a cake and a bottle of wine to celebrate his retirement. That was it, it was gone. We don't know, we can't have control. How many people have thought whatever happens.

So here he can't pass anything on to his children because he has nothing. Just an example of how things are transitory, and you don't have control over it. People lost money in the stock market, they lost money to con men who lured them into investing where they shouldn't have invested. The point is they end up with nothing. What Solomon is going to do, is remind people that this is the condition of life.

Before we go on, come over to Matthew 6. Jesus spoke about this in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 6:19, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” That doesn't say you can't have more, some will have more. But we need to be careful. John Wesley stated, whenever I have extra money, I quickly give it away lest it find its way from my pocket to my heart. And that's the danger. We live in a prosperous society and if we're not careful we start out working hard so we will have enough, and soon, we are controlled by that. And then we are controlled by trying to preserve what we have. And then we get concerned by the worries and concern that what we have won't be enough. And we are constantly bombarded with the questions, will you have enough, can you be sure? We know that our investment is in heaven.

Solomon didn't develop it quite that way, but what did he start out chapter 5 with reminding us? You fear God, you honor Him. And that's a recognition that He is sovereign, my life is in His hands. Matthew 6:24 Jesus said, “No one can serve two masters...” Then He goes on, verse 25, “…do not be worried about your life,” and He gives examples, even using Solomon in verse 29. Then verse 31, Don't worry then about life, we can summarize it. “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” That doesn't mean you don't make any plans for tomorrow, but it's like Solomon said, you have no control over tomorrow, life is temporary.

He is going to go on to conclude this chapter when we get there, enjoy each day. And remember? A handful of rest and a handful of work is better than two handfuls of work. God intends us to enjoy this life under the sun. I'm not waiting just to enjoy life when I get to heaven, I'm also taking time to enjoy each day presently because God said I am to do that. And that's where we are going and it's what Jesus said, each day has enough trouble of its own. That doesn't mean I can't plan, and we all need to plan. We get a paycheck, then you need to plan to be able to pay the bills until your next paycheck and buy food and that. He's not talking about that. But I don't live my life worried about tomorrow, concerned. Then I don't enjoy today. Too many people have missed the joy of today because they were absorbed, then they look back and say I wish I had taken little breaks. I wish I had taken the time to do this. I wish I hadn't been so driven for that. But I can't go back. And again, we're not talking about living for pleasure. We'll see this as we go on.

Come back to Ecclesiastes 5:15, the reality of it all for the rich and the poor. “As he had come naked from his mother's womb, so will he return as he came. He will take nothing from the fruit of his labor that he can carry in his hand. This is also a grievous evil—exactly as a man is born, thus he will die.” I mean this is one of the troubles that sin brought into the world—death. My life is temporary and everything I have and everything I do is temporary. And that is not good. The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. This is reality, it's the reality of life. That is a grievous evil, to spend your whole life working, and we've had this already through Ecclesiastes.

A king can work hard and then he has a foolish son, and Solomon did. He wasted what Solomon had accomplished and split the kingdom and so on. And do you know what? Death is going to overtake us all, that's why it is all temporary. Why love money? Why would you fall in love with a snowball that is going to melt as soon as the heat comes up. It is all temporary. That's the reality, the wisdom to live life. That should not be depressing for us as believers because we do know where we are going, but we also know that this is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in tomorrow. No, we will rejoice and be glad in it, to experience what God has for us today because we are going to die and take nothing.

“So what is the advantage to him who toils for the wind?” Here comes the wind again. The wind itself is temporary, it blows, and it doesn't blow. I looked out the window this morning and said, the wind is really blowing. We may go out afterwards and it has died down. It is a temporary thing and it is uncontrollable. So, you only think you are in control. I have saved up a lot, I've done this, I've done that, I know my kids will be set. I'm not saying we can't plan. But the reality of wind, no control.

People talk about Venezuela, how it went from the wealthiest country down there to the poorest. What would it take for our country to make such a turn? Wake up one morning and all of a sudden, our money is not worth anything. Well, whatever happens, we are not in control. That's the point, our life is short, we won't take anything when we leave this life. We didn't bring anything in, we won't take anything out. It's not written to be depressing, but to face reality. That's life and today is the day we have. Even in glory, I won't have today. I have today to live for the Lord, I have today to do what I should do before Him, and to experience the joy He has provided for me today. When this day is gone, it will be gone. That's what Solomon is writing about.

Back up to Job 1, this is consistent with the Scripture as those of you who are familiar with the Scripture are aware. And Job is losing it all, but in verse 21, “He said, ‘Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I shall return there. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.’” He sees the hand of God in it, but he doesn't blame God as though God did something wrong. So, it's not wrong to have things, to be blessed with abundance, but hold them lightly. Would I love the Lord with the same depth of love if He took it all away tomorrow? Would I feel my life has been shattered and be without value if He took it all away tomorrow? Well, He has appointed the time, He has appointed the events. Lord, let me find joy and satisfaction even in this.

Jump to 1 Timothy 6. There are some other verses, but we'll have to overlook them. I just want you to see the consistency of this emphasis in the Word. Remember Paul is writing this, one thousand years after Solomon has passed away and written Ecclesiastes. I Timothy 6:6, “But godliness is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment.” Remember Ecclesiastes 2:25, “For who can eat and who can have enjoyment without Him?” “Godliness is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. But those who want to get rich fall into temptation…” That's what Solomon said, love of money, love of possessions. “…and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil...” Not the money, but the love of it, when it begins to take over my heart. And you note the sad thing here, “…and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” We as Christians have to be careful. Prosperity has its own traps, it has a way of locking onto me and I'm used to the good life.

My mother used to joke and say, “I've been poor, and I've had more; having more is better.” And there is an element that we all agree. I'm glad I live in a country of prosperity. I don't wish I lived as I see some people having to live in parts of the world. I thank God for the blessings that I enjoy, but I don't want them to become the focus of my heart. And if He takes it all away like Job said, I hope I can say, blessed be the name of the Lord. He gave, He took away. He has done what is good, He has done what is best.

Come back to Ecclesiastes 5. This person, verse 16, “…toils for the wind. Throughout his life he eats in darkness with great vexation, sickness and anger.” You have devoted your life to something that is temporary, now it is gone, or you are gone, and it is left. You end up in the same place. What you have doesn't last. That's why he says back in Ecclesiastes 4:6, “One hand full of rest is better than two fists full of labor…” And the control of the wind, it comes, and it goes, and you have no control. That same emphasis, you spent your life, and you didn't take time to enjoy it.

Verses 18-20 talk about, and it's not hedonism, but it's basic fact. In all the toils and labors and all the good things, enjoy every day. Whether you are poor, whether you are rich, enjoy the days of your life. “Here is what I have seen to be good and fitting...” That word fitting, you have a note, a little 1 in front of it. If you look in the margin, it says beautiful. We saw that word back in Ecclesiastes 3:11, “He has made everything appropriate...” And you note you have that little #1 there, in the margin. It is literally beautiful. “He has made everything beautiful in its time.” Ecclesiastes 5:18, “Here is what I have seen to be good and beautiful...” He's not talking about miserable, senseless. I was reading one of the new commentaries on Ecclesiastes this week, and he thinks the best translation for this word translated “vanity” is senseless. Senseless?

But Solomon says, “Here is what I have seen it to be good and beautiful: to eat, to drink, and enjoy oneself in all one's labor in which he toils...” Doesn't say there won't be labor, there won't be toil, “under the sun during the few days of his life which God has given him.” Enjoy the days of your life, they are few and they will soon be gone. That's not to be depressing unless you don't have the privilege of walking day by day in fellowship with the living God and aren't prepared to meet Him in judgment as he'll emphasize particularly as we close this book in chapter 12. But believer, enjoy the days, this is good and beautiful. Go out and have lunch, go home and have a peanut butter sandwich, but sit down and relax and enjoy it. Enjoy oneself in all your labors and toils, note he doesn't say you have to wait until the labor and toil is done. Even the days you are working, go home and relax and take a day off, or do something you enjoy.

“…under the sun during the few years…” and that word years is literally, the days. I like days better because that reminds you every day, there are few days when you look at them overall, “…of his life which God has given him...” You'll note His sovereignty in this, this is what God has given. Eat, drink, enjoy yourself and the labor and toil which God has given. These are things that God intends. He didn't suck all the joy out of it. And now you are at a stage of life where you can relax more, you labor less, thank the Lord. Now don't forget Him. We need to be careful that our pleasure doesn't squeeze out the Lord and we have less and less time for Him, but we can enjoy our days as we walk in obedience to the Lord. “…for this is his reward.” Don't tell me God wants me to be gloomy and think I'm leading a meaningless life. He just told me my reward for labor and toil here is to eat, drink, and enjoy yourself in your labors. Not live for that but take time to enjoy life.

Verse 19, “Furthermore, as for every man…” and note the emphasis in this verse, “Furthermore for every man to whom God has given…” this is God's plan, this is God's will, this is God's reward. “…to whom God has given riches and wealth…” So, if God has given you riches and wealth, thank Him for His gift. Every good gift and every perfect act of giving comes down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow caused by turning, James tells us. He has given it to us. “…He has also empowered him to eat from them and to receive his reward and rejoice in his labor...” What is this labor He has provided? “…this is the gift of God.” So, no matter whether you are the laborer and the one who seems to grind it out every day, or you are the man who hasn't, you each have the privilege of enjoying what you have. And if I don't have as much as someone else has, I want to enjoy my days with what God has given me.

I don't want to miss the joy of my day because I am living in envy that I don't have what the rich man has. And the rich man doesn't have to feel guilty for having, unless he obtained it improperly. But God has given riches and wealth and they don't have to live the same as someone else. He should enjoy it. You'll note, “…He has also empowered him to eat from them and to receive his reward and rejoice in his labor; this is the gift of God.” You'll note both verse 18 and 19, the working laborer and the wealthy rich. Both are to enjoy their days, the few days with the temporary transitory things you have, with little or much. This is the gift of God, it's a reward. Thankfully, He didn't omit the joy, squeeze all the pleasure out of life because of sin. And now for those who fear Him, He wants them to enjoy the life they are living.

Verse 20, “For he will not often consider the years of his life, because God keeps him occupied with the gladness of his heart.” That's the way it is. I'm getting near being old and note how it is when you get older you keep talking about old people as though they were somebody ahead. We are not to stop and think, what is the average age of a man? The average age, they die at about 77. I'm 76. I better go home and start cleaning up. No. God's intention is you enjoy the days you have and if you die tomorrow, you'll be glad you enjoyed today. And if you have two more days, enjoy them. And that's part of God's plan, He will not often consider the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with the gladness of his heart. I don't know where they get this gloominess in the Ecclesiastes. I'm supposed to have a glad heart that enables me to enjoy the days. This is what God has, and He provides that kind of joy and gladness. So, I'm not thinking, I'm running out of life, I have to do this, I have to do that. No. Enjoy the days today and be careful. Plan for retirement, I don't have any problem with that, but don't miss the joy of today because you are trying to sock it all away for tomorrow.

My dad, and I've shared this, but the night before I was going to get married we sat down at the table for a father and son talk, which meant my father talked and I listened. And he said I want you to know, do not expect one more dime from me. I raised you, I fed you, I clothed you, and I provided a house. Don't expect another dime. If I decide sometime to give you something, that will be my decision. Don't expect me to leave you anything. I went away depressed, rethinking my marriage. No, that was fine, it was good. And that doesn't mean he didn't give me things, and he did. And that doesn't mean he didn't leave things. But it was a good reminder. And do you know what? He should enjoy what he had, the days he had, and anything left over, then fine. So, I'm trying to spend everything Marilyn and I have, so there is nothing for the kids. I'm glad I'm studying Ecclesiastes for myself, I don't want to feel guilty taking a vacation or doing things to enjoy life. I don't want to replace serving the Lord in one way or another, but I'm glad I can take time. I'm glad I can go enjoy something, a meal or whatever we can do.

If you don't know the Lord, you ought to come to know Him. It will put joy in your life because He produces joy in the heart and you will see life even in its miseries differently. That's what Solomon would say, there will be bad days, there will be depressing days, there will be unfair days. That's all right, it's all temporary. And find joy in each day and that's God's reward.

Let's pray together. Thank you, Lord, for the riches of your Word. You are a good God, a gracious God, a loving God. Lord, we are undeserving of anything from You, but You in love and mercy and kindness provided a salvation for us to rescue us from our hopelessness, our miserableness, our lostness. And in salvation You have brought to us new life. Lord, thank you for your Word which instructs us in how to live life with wisdom skillfully. Lord, our hearts are encouraged as we are reminded that You intend for us to enjoy the days of our lives. They are few, this life is temporary, everything connected with it is temporary, but that's not discouraging. These are days for us to enjoy, to profit from, to experience your blessings. We commit the day before us, even today, to You. In Christ's name, amen.