LifeWay Bible Studies for Life Series for January 24: Wrestling with stuff

LifeWay Bible Studies for Life Series for January 24: Wrestling with stuff focuses on Ecclesiastes 2:4-8; 5:10-16.

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Our society shouts to us that happiness is having an abundance of things, and misery is living without them. We live in the midst of mountains of stuff.

Qoheleth, who may well have been Solomon, observed the meaninglessness of things. Stuff does not result in happiness and meaningful life. This stuff consists of material possessions that not only do not produce meaningful life but actually may detract from real happiness.

Increasing material possessions (Ecclesiastes 2:4-8)

The Teacher observed the building of wealth and possessions—actually stating “I” increased. This statement shows the preeminence placed on the one building wealth through material possessions. He lived and participated in an “I-centered” society. Our environment is at least equally centered on materialism and self.

The author listed his achievements. He had increased (either by adding quantity or quality) his works, that is, his achievement of amassing things. He declared he had added to his houses and vineyards, gardens and parks, tree farms, reservoirs (that supplied water for his produce), slaves, herds of cattle and flocks of sheep, hordes of gold and silver, singers (entertainers) and concubines. He possessed more than any before him in Jerusalem. He had riches, power, prestige, pleasure and material security. But these things were meaningless. The Teacher speaks in the same vein as the Master in showing the futility of amassing things for self (Luke 12:13-21).

The critical phrase in this recital of riches is “for myself.” While the phrase occurs four times in the HCSB, in the Hebrew text the phrase occurs some 19 times. The increase of stuff was to be used exclusively by the speaker. No more dangerous trait can be present in a person’s life than the greed that seeks gain for self, thinks the gain came from his/her own efforts and abilities, and plans to use the gain totally for self. The Teacher sounds much like the Master who taught about the meaninglessness of material things for real life (Matthew 6:19-24).

The Bible teaches clearly that no person should ever think he/she increases wealth by his/her power. We should never express pride in achievements of gathering wealth. God gives the ability to create wealth and expects people to acknowledge this and act accordingly (Deuteronomy 8:10-26).

Wanting more material possessions (Ecclesiastes 5:10-14)

Seeking to amass wealth can lead to self-centeredness. Another major problem with seeking to amass wealth is the fact that one never is satisfied. Wealth does not satisfy but often simply leads to continuous, ongoing efforts to secure more. This search for wealth is futile and meaningless.

Money is not the evil, but the intense desire and effort to obtain it and the constant “love” or intense desire for it produces evil. Paul gave the same warning (1 Timothy 6:3-10).

The teacher points to other problems with amassing wealth. First, many will seek to consume the amassed wealth. The wealthy can only gaze at the possessions they have hidden away.


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Second, the wealthy must remain on guard (sleepless) to be certain no one takes the wealth. The worker, on the other hand, can sleep in peace without worry of the goods being taken.

Third, the owner of stuff hordes the wealth to his/her own harm. The love for stuff prevents the wealthy from keeping material things in proper perspective. Distress and misery often arise from centering on material things. The teacher calls this practice a “sickening tragedy.”

Fourth, wealth, strenuously gathered and jealously guarded, inevitably will be lost. Through natural causes or historical incidents, wealth can vanish.

The teaching shows the lack of wisdom in the practice of seeking to gain with no recognition of God’s gift and no intent to share with others. We must guard against the tendency of  amassing wealth for ourselves.

Centralizing material possessions (Ecclesiastes 5:15-16)

The Teacher stresses the invasive nature of material things. People easily centralize material things, including pleasure and position, and suffer much from the practice. The plain teaching is that stuff is temporary. One came into the world naked (at birth) and will leave taking nothing. Hands that are empty when the person comes into the world will go empty when that one leaves the world.

It is meaningless to make stuff central as it will all be lost at death. Committing one’s life to material things is a sickening tragedy (the second use of this same idea). Again, it is the love of money not money itself that is condemned in biblical teachings. One leaves life in the same way he/she came in—without wealth. Qoheleth expresses the truth that is the same as the pronouncements of Jesus in regard to wealth:

• Wealth is not an evidence of God’s pleasure for anyone;
• God gives the ability to produce wealth;
• The love of (concentration on) wealth brings great error and sufferings;
• Wealth should never be consumed totally on the holder of the wealth;
• Wealth in the world ends in the world;
• Material stuff cannot bring real meaning to life.

The Teacher warns against being centered selfishly on the gaining of worldly wealth. The love of wealth leads to many errors in life. The most serious errors in regard to wealth are those that center on using wealth for self, thinking one alone produces wealth, and thinking one can hold wealth. One who seeks wealth for self is like one grasping the wind; the struggle is futile and meaningless.


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