19. Understanding Riches (1)
Hymns: 344 The Lord Is My Shepherd, 346 Be Still, My Soul, 354 God Leads Us Alone
Study of the Book of Ecclesiastes
(Remember Now Thy Creator)
– Understanding Riches (1)
Ecclesiastes 5:8-17
8 If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for he that is higher than the highest regardeth; and there be higher than they. 9 Moreover the profit of the earth is for all: the king himself is served by the field. 10 He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity. 11 When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes? 12 The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep. 13 There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt. 14 But those riches perish by evil travail: and he begetteth a son, and there is nothing in his hand. 15 As he came forth of his mother’s womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand. 16 And this also is a sore evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit hath he that hath laboured for the wind? 17 All his days also he eateth in darkness, and he hath much sorrow and wrath with his sickness.
OUTLINE
- The Snare of Riches (v8-17)
- Oppressive Tendencies (v8-9)
- Limited Satisfaction (v10-11)
- Sleep Robber (v12)
- Hurt Its Owners (v13)
- Has Wings (v14)
- Temporal (v15-16)
- Utilised in Sorrow, Sickness and Anger (v17)
INTRODUCTION
Worship of the living and true God is the mother of all virtues. When a man is connected with His Creator, he receives life and strength for living, peace and joy follow. Solomon has been speaking about the futility of life without God. He seeks to turn his readers away from the futility of life under the sun to a life above the sun. He patiently encourages his readers to pursue godliness in contrast the futile godless life with the fruitful life with God.
He instructs us to be willing to listen to God’s Word and be still before Him. Through quiet meditation in the fear of God he hopes that we find true wisdom for life. He is speaking from experience, not empty talk. His admonition is that we be not rash in hastening along life’s pathway till you have received proper bearing for the journey. He brings to us for the rest of this chapter the snare of those who went on life’s journey pursuing riches and materialism.
He provides for us an analysis of actions and outcomes. Solomon was very rich. His wealth surpasses the wealthiest in his lifetime. He was king in Jerusalem during the golden age of Israel. The queen of Sheba testified what she saw of Solomon wealth and wisdom:
1 Kings 10:1-7 And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to prove him with hard questions. 2 And she came to Jerusalem with a very great train, with camels that bare spices, and very much gold, and precious stones: and when she was come to Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart. 3 And Solomon told her all her questions: there was not any thing hid from the king, which he told her not. 4 And when the queen of Sheba had seen all Solomon’s wisdom, and the house that he had built, 5 And the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their apparel, and his cupbearers, and his ascent by which he went up unto the house of the LORD; there was no more spirit in her. 6 And she said to the king, It was a true report that I heard in mine own land of thy acts and of thy wisdom. 7 Howbeit I believed not the words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it: and, behold, the half was not told me: thy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard.
Ancient Israel during the time of Solomon is the Qartar of today. Singapore are ranked third. Interesting statistics. Let’s apply these observations of Solomon to what we see here in Singapore.
| Rank | Country | Per Capita Income |
| 1 | Qatar | 146,000 |
| 2 | Luxembourg | 94,000 |
| 3 | Singapore | 85,000 |
| 4 | Brunei | 80,000 |
| 5 | Kuwait | 72,000 |
| 6 | Norway | 68,000 |
| 7 | United Arab Emirates | 68,000 |
| 8 | United States of America | 57,000 |
| 9 | Switzerland | 56,000 |
| 10 | Saudi Arabia | 56,000 |
The pastor John MacArthur calls this materialistic society, the “society of things”, where it is observed, its people are consumed with things, they were thing – oriented, greedy, covetous and manipulative.[1]
There is this analysis, he cited:
“Mr. and Mrs. Thing are a very pleasant and successful couple. At least, that’s the verdict of most people who tend to measure success with a ‘thing-o-meter.’ And when the ‘thing-o-meter’ is put to work in the life of Mr. and Mrs. Thing, the result is startling.
There he is, sitting down on a luxurious and very expensive thing, almost hidden by a large number of [other] things…Things to sit on, things to sit at, things to cook on, things to eat from, all shining and new…things on four wheels, things to pull behind the four wheels, things to add to the interior of thing on four wheels… Things, things, things.
Things to clean with, things to wash with…Things, things, things, and there in the middle of Mr. and Mrs. Thing, smiling, pleased themselves, thinking of more things to add to their collection…Security of things.
Well, Mr. Thing, I’ve bad news for you. What that? You can’t hear me? The things are in the way?…But then, that’s the problem with things. Look at that thing standing outside your house. Whatever its value to the secondhand dealer, it means a lot to you. But then, an error of judgment, a temporary loss of concentration, and that thing can be a mass of mangled metal being towed off to the junk yard.
And what about those things in your house? Are they any more secure? Yes time for bed. Put out the cat, but also make sure you lock the door, and don’ forget the windows. Watch out! There’s a thief about…”
Solomon has no lack of “things” in his kingdom. He tells us the limitation of them all. The words he used to describe these things or “riches” are vanity, not satisfying, sore evil, evil travail. The very opposite of what the majority of people would think. And he gave us the reasons. We can see seven of them. I call it the snare of riches. Let us take time to consider.
- The Snare of Riches (v8-17)
- Oppressive Tendencies (v8-9)
- Limited Satisfaction (v10-11)
- Sleep Robber (v12)
- Hurt Its Owners (v13)
- Has Wings (v14)
- Temporal (v15-16)
- Utilised in Sorrow, Sickness and Anger (v17)
We shall look at the first two tonight.
(1) The Snare of Riches
1. Oppressive Tendencies (v8-9)
8 If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for he that is higher than the highest regardeth; and there be higher than they.
The rich is observed to have the tendency to oppress the poor, where judgment and justice are perverted as a result of civil corruption. Because they are poor and cannot defend themselves, therefore they are bullied. Do not be discouraged (marvel not at the matter) for God is not mocked. His eyes are upon the earth. He knows what is going on and He will certainly bring justice.
The psalmist cried to God in prayer:
Psalm 10:11-14 He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: he hideth his face; he will never see it. 12 Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up thine hand: forget not the humble. 13 Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God? he hath said in his heart, Thou wilt not require it. 14 Thou hast seen it; for thou beholdest mischief and spite, to requite it with thy hand: the poor committeth himself unto thee; thou art the helper of the fatherless.
I could think of Ahab’s forced acquisition of Naboth’s vineyard. False witnesses were brought through the wicked plot of Jezebel, Ahab’s wife. God judged both Ahab and Jezebel.
1 Kings 21:13 And there came in two men, children of Belial, and sat before him: and the men of Belial witnessed against him, even against Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying, Naboth did blaspheme God and the king. Then they carried him forth out of the city, and stoned him with stones, that he died.
Through God’s prophet, judgment was pronounced upon Ahab and Jezebel.
1 Kings 21:19 And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith the LORD, Hast thou killed, and also taken possession? And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith the LORD, In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick thy blood, even thine.
2 Kings 9:26 Surely I have seen yesterday the blood of Naboth, and the blood of his sons, saith the LORD; and I will requite thee in this plat, saith the LORD. Now therefore take and cast him into the plat of ground, according to the word of the LORD.
When Israel was oppressed in Egypt, they cried out to God. God heard their cry and send Moses to deliver them.
Exodus 2:23-25 And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage. 24 And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. 25 And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect unto them.
In God’s timing, He called Moses (Exodus 3) to deliver Israel. We observe how God prepared this man 80 years ago when he first flowed down the Nile river as a baby to be picked up by Pharaoh’s daughter and how he will spend 40 years in the wilderness to familiarise himself with the topography of the wilderness to lead God’s people out of Egypt through the wilderness en route to the Promised Land.
9 Moreover the profit of the earth is for all: the king himself is served by the field.
The king who oppressed the farmers eats the produce of the farmers. There is a limit how far he can go to oppress the farmers without them rebelling and backfiring on himself.
Bridges said well, “The King himself is served by the field. He is more dependent upon the labourer than the labourer is on him. He has more need of the labouerer’s strength than the labourers has of his royal crown…In their dependence on the field, all are equal. The prince and the peasant are alike served of it. Humility, therefore, is the lesson for the rich; contentment for the poor…The highest cannot say to the lowest – “I have no need of thee” (1 Cor. 7:21). No man lives for himself, but for the body. Mutual helpfulness contributes to the increase and prosperity of the whole.”
Ephesians 4:15-16 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
2. Limited Satisfaction (v11-12)
10 He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity. 11 When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes?
Jesus gave this story of the regretful rich man when He said in Luke 12:16-21 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: 17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? 18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. 20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? 21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
He tells us that the abundance is good to the sight but truthfully he cannot consume it by himself. Solomon is saying that a man’s life, his real comfort of life consisteth not in the abundance of things which he possesses (Luke 12:15).
Bridges commented well, “Silver can weight give peace, nor make up for the loss of it…Abraham had abundance of it, but with a heavenly heart.
Genesis 13:2 And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold.
Hebrews 11:9-10 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: 10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
David’s treasures were almost countless. Yet they were not his portion – he always felt not his own – laid up joyfully for God.
1 Chronicles 28:10-19 Take heed now; for the LORD hath chosen thee to build an house for the sanctuary: be strong, and do it. 11 Then David gave to Solomon his son the pattern of the porch, and of the houses thereof, and of the treasuries thereof, and of the upper chambers thereof, and of the inner parlours thereof, and of the place of the mercy seat, 12 And the pattern of all that he had by the spirit, of the courts of the house of the LORD, and of all the chambers round about, of the treasuries of the house of God, and of the treasuries of the dedicated things: 13 Also for the courses of the priests and the Levites, and for all the work of the service of the house of the LORD, and for all the vessels of service in the house of the LORD. 14 He gave of gold by weight for things of gold, for all instruments of all manner of service; silver also for all instruments of silver by weight, for all instruments of every kind of service: 15 Even the weight for the candlesticks of gold, and for their lamps of gold, by weight for every candlestick, and for the lamps thereof: and for the candlesticks of silver by weight, both for the candlestick, and also for the lamps thereof, according to the use of every candlestick. 16 And by weight he gave gold for the tables of shewbread, for every table; and likewise silver for the tables of silver: 17 Also pure gold for the fleshhooks, and the bowls, and the cups: and for the golden basons he gave gold by weight for every bason; and likewise silver by weight for every bason of silver: 18 And for the altar of incense refined gold by weight; and gold for the pattern of the chariot of the cherubims, that spread out their wings, and covered the ark of the covenant of the LORD. 19 All this, said David, the LORD made me understand in writing by his hand upon me, even all the works of this pattern.
Lot was not satisfied with the lush plains that he inherited from Abraham. He was attracted by gain, bringing his family to live in Sodom, ruining his family.
3. Sleep Robber
12 The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.
The rich is afraid that the thief might come to steal his riches. He has to employ guards, locks and live with fear. Sleep is robbed from him.
Testimony of the secret society leader!
– but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep; either the abundance of food which he eats, which loads his stomach, and fills his head with vapours, and makes him restless, so that he can get no sleep, or what he does get is very uncomfortable: or the abundance of his riches fills him with cares, what he shall do with them, and how to keep and increase them; and with fears, lest thieves should break in and take them away from him, so that he cannot sleep quietly. [Gill]
CONCLUSION
Let us pay attention and take heed to these admonitions. Amen.
[1] John MacArthur, Mastering Materialism Part 1, Grace to You, 7.