PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Ecclesiastes 9-10
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“Money is the answer for everything.” (Ecclesiastes 10:19)
Another mishmash of interesting, odd and confusing observations on life.
This one about money jumped out at me because it seems so wrong.
Since this is in the bible, is God saying money is the answer for everything?
Here again we have to beware of how we interpret then bible: it is not a rule book.
God inspires the authors to write what they write, so that we can learn something.
The Teacher is not saying money IS the answer, but that people think it is!
Why do people plan feasts, or drink wine – because they seem to bring happiness.
The Teacher is showing us how confused we are, looking for hope in the wrong places.
Yes, having money would solve many problems in our lives… and create new ones.
In fact, the pursuit of money leads to all kinds of evil (1 Timothy 6:10).
The love of money (greed) is what makes people fools, and life miserable.
We have to get through these observations to reach the ultimate conclusion.
Loving God and people is the answer for everything (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14).
How much time and effort do I put into these, compared to earning or spending money?
PRAYER
Lord, this statement is obviously foolish, and yet how much time do I still spend focusing on money. Teach me to know that loving God and loving people is the answer to everything, and help me to live this way!
“This is the evil in everything that happens under the sun: The same destiny overtakes all.” That is the destiny of death. My present body is going to die. It will be planted in the earth – but through Jesus I will arise again. IN earthly terms my body faces the same destiny whether I am good or bad – I am caught up in the come realm of space and time. I need to eat and drink to live. But my present life is not the end of the story – through Jesus I receive a new life – a new ‘beginning’. Thanks be to God – my earthly destiny is not the end of the story.
The work that I do I need to do with all my might for the right reason. Not riches. Not glory. Just to praise Him for it is in His power that I am able to work. All that I do needs to be give Him the glory. I am but a servant serving Him today and all my tomorrows.
Not what my hands have done can save my guilty soul;
Not what my toiling body works can make my spirit whole.
Not what I feel or what I do can give me peace with God;
Not all my prayers nor cries nor tears can bear this heavy load.
Thy work alone, O precious Christ, can ease this weight of sin;
Thy blood alone, O Lamb of God, can give me peace within.
Thy love alone, O Father God, is what my spirit needs
Now rid me of this dark unrest, and set this captive free
Your voice alone, O Lord, can speak to me of grace;
Your power alone, O Lord, does all my sin erase.
No other work but Yours, no other blood will do;
No other strength but Your great power can bear me safely through.