Eclesiastes 5

Eclesiastes 5

Hughes - Once one of the richest men in the world, Hughes died a recluse, mentally unstable, and physically deteriorated. Despite his wealth, he was tormented by fear, isolation, and paranoia. His life is often used to illustrate Ecclesiastes 5:10 – “He who loves money will not be satisfied with money…” Jay Gould - A 19th-century railroad magnate who amassed great wealth. On his deathbed, he reportedly said, “I suppose I am the most miserable man on earth.” His story echoes 1 Timothy 6:10, where the love of money leads to grief and ruin. A FEW "RICHISM'S" Naismith has written, “Where is happiness found? John D. Rockefeller, a Christian millionaire, said, “I have made many millions, but they have brought me no happiness. I would barter them all for the days I sat on an office stool in Cleveland and counted myself rich on three dollars a week.” Broken in health, he employed an armed guard. There are two ways in which a Christian may view his money—‘How much of my money shall I use for God?’ or ‘How much of God’s money shall I use for myself?’ W. Graham Scroggie Money, in truth, is one of the most unsatisfying of possessions. It takes away some cares, no doubt; but it brings with it quite as many cares as it takes away. There is the trouble in the getting of it. There is anxiety in the keeping of it. There are temptations in the use of it. There is guilt in the abuse of it. There is sorrow in the losing of it. There is perplexity in the disposing of it. J. C. Ryle Two-thirds of all the strifes, quarrels and lawsuits in the world arise from one simple cause—money! J. C. Ryle How we use our money demonstrates the reality of our love for God. In some ways it proves our love more conclusively than depth of knowledge, length of prayers or prominence of service. Charles Caldwell Ryrie W. H. Vanderbilt said, “The care of 200 million dollars is too great a load for any brain or back to bear. It is enough to kill anyone. There is no pleasure in it.” When I have any money I get rid of it as quickly as possible, least it find a way into my heart. John Wesley John Jacob Astor left five million, but had been martyr to dyspepsia and melancholy. He said, “I am the most miserable man on earth.” Henry Ford, the automobile king, said, “Work is the only pleasure. It is only work that keeps me alive and makes life worth living. I was happier when doing a mechanic’s job.” Andrew Carnegie, the multi-millionaire, said, “Millionaires seldom smile.”” The two great tests of character are wealth and poverty. Wealth can do us no good unless it help us toward heaven. Thomas Adams The greater our wealth, the greater our dangers. Aristotle Whenever wealth keeps a man from thinking about God it is not a blessing but a curse. John Blanchard Worldlings make gold their god; saints make God their gold. Matthew Henry Gold will be slave or master. Horace The real measure of our wealth is how much we’d be worth if we lost all our money. John Henry Jowett Few people have the spiritual resources to be both wealthy and godly. Erwin W. Lutzer God gave us wealth, not that we should be hoarders but dispensers. Thomas Manton Wealth often ends in pride. Thomas Manton Wealth is no mark of God’s favour. Poverty is no mark of God’s displeasure. J. C. Ryle Wealth ruins far more souls than poverty. J. C. Ryle The wealthiest man is he who is contented with least. Socrates Many a man’s gold has lost him his God. George Swinnock The streets of gold do not have too great an appeal for those who pile up gold here on earth. A. W. Tozer Money is like sea-water; the more a man drinks, the more thirsty he becomes Money often unmakes the man who makes it. There are no pockets in a shroud. You can blot out the sun if you hold a penny close enough to your eye. Money is like muck, no good unless it is spread. Francis Bacon Nearly half the parables Jesus told have the use of money as their main subject. It is sometimes said that we should give until it hurts. But Jesus teaches that it should hurt when we cease to give! Ian Barclay Few things test a person’s spirituality more accurately than the way he uses money. John Blanchard We cannot serve God and mammon, for as the thoughts of the one rise up, the other goes down. Donald Cargill Lust and lucre follow one another as closely akin, both seducing the heart from the Creator to the creature. A. R. Fausset Make money your god, it will plague you like the devil. Henry Fielding Time and money are the heaviest burdens of life, and the unhappiest of all mortals are those who have more of either than they know how to use. Samuel Johnson If a man’s religion does not affect his use of money, that man’s religion is vain. Hugh Martin The poorest man I know is the man who has nothing but money. John D. Rockefeller By doing good with his money a man, as it were, stamps the image of God upon it, and makes it pass current for the merchandise of heaven. John Rutledge It is possible to love money without having it, and it is possible to have it without loving it. J. C. Ryle The late Robert Horton once said the greatest lesson he learned from life was that people who set their minds and hearts on money are equally disappointed whether they get it or whether they don’t. Upon the statue of Joseph Brotherton, the English church reformer and political activist of the early 1800’s, is the inscription, “A man’s riches consist not in the amount of his wealth, but in the fewness of his wants.” God's Presence "When you have closed your doors, and darkened your room, remember never to say that you are alone, for you are not alone; God is within, and your genius is within—what need have they of light to see what you are doing."—Epictetus SEE: DEUTERONOMY 31:6-8; MATTHEW 6:6; JOHN 8:12; HEBREWS 13:5 There is a mild southerly wind in Europe called the foehn. It blows up from the Mediterranean Sea bringing spring-like weather right in the midst of winter. So, too, even in the dark winters of the soul, it is possible to feel the gentle warmth of the presence of God and the blessed influence of the Holy Spirit. SEE: DEUTERONOMY 31:6-8; PSALMS 42; PSALMS 62:7-8; MATTHEW 6:6; JOHN 8:12; HEBREWS 13:5 Three years ago a slum in Manila was called "Poor Walang Dios," the place without God. Impoverished peasants coming to the city were squatters there. There was no sewage disposal, no garbage disposal. The sewers and drains were open and diseases rampant. The place has now been cleaned up and given a new name, "Bagong Paraiso," which means New Paradise. Paradise it isn't but it is proof that there really is no such thing as a place without God. ILLUSTRATION OF THE RICH MAN'S INDIFFERENCE TO ETERNAL MATTERS - When Henry David Thoreau was on his deathbed, he was visited by a minister who urged his dying friend to be ready for death: “Do you know where you’re going in the next world?” Thoreau waved him away with the words, “One world at a time.” His attitude has caused humanists to uphold him as a man of moral courage, resisting a cowardly flight to religion. He was, in fact, the model of a fool. Imagine a man in Florida boarding a plane to Alaska in mid-winter with no baggage, who answers the question, “Do you know where you’re going?” with “One city at a time, my friend.” Only a fool fails to plan ahead for the inevitable. Ecclesiastes 5:11 When good things increase, those who consume them increase. So what is the advantage to their owners except to look on? those who consume them: Ge 12:16 13:2,5-7 1Ki 4:22,23 5:13-16 Ne 5:17,18 Ps 119:36,37 So what good: Ec 6:9, Ec 11:9 Jos 7:21-25 Pr 23:5 Jer 17:11 Hab 2:13 1Jn 2:16 RICHES ATTRACT "ROACHES!" When good things (prosperity) increase, those who consume them increase. So what is the advantage to their owners except to look on? NLT - The more you have, the more people come to help you spend it. So what is the advantage of wealth--except perhaps to watch it run through your fingers!" William Barrick - Salary raises and bonuses produce more income, but increased income draws the attention of family and friends who wish to help spend it (Eccl 5:11). The more the income, the bigger the celebration and list of invitees—thus, the increase in spending. Of course, as long as government levies taxes, an increase in income also results in an increase in taxes. In addition, the increase in wealth can cause increased responsibility in growing the business—channeling the profits back into the growth of the business by adding equipment, employees, employee benefits, increased marketing, building expansion, etc. The truth is, we always manage to live up to our income—and beyond. It is never enough. So what is the advantage to their owners except to look on? is a rhetorical question, an example of negative affirmation, expecting a negative answer. NET has "so what does its owner gain, except that he gets to see it with his eyes?" That's not much of an advantage!!! He won't see it in Sheol that's for sure!