Riches

Whoever loves money never has money enough;
   whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income.
   This too is meaningless.

As goods increase,
   so do those who consume them.
And what benefit are they to the owner
   except to feast his eyes on them?

The sleep of a laborer is sweet,
   whether he eats little or much,
but the abundance of a rich man
   permits him no sleep. (Ec 5:10-12)

Another selection from Ecclesiastes chapter 5 draws my attention to wealth.  Wealth is a double edged sword.  Our Daniel Fast small group meetings with Sarah Stout on Tuesday nights have made this abundantly clear.  We are driven by the achievement of wealth in this country.  We are wealthier than most people on the planet, most people in history. And our dining choices are affecting our health.

I live comfortably. I always have.  My parents raised me in comfort. We knew how to work and how to save and spend.  I bought my first car with cash because I worked and saved up for it.  But since my graduation from college, I have lived differently.  The 1980's were a time of immense prosperity. Some have called it the "greed" decade.  I adopted the mentality of the culture, "pay somebody else to do it."  I left behind manual tasks around the house after a while.  I lost my confidence in figuring out how to fix things that break. The frustration is too great.  In addition since Michele and I both work. We don't really cook that often.  We heat and serve or we munch on snacks or we go out.

What I am pointing to is that we've adapted to the culture of convenience.  We have the means to pay someone else so we can do what we do...work and create wealth.  The pursuit of wealth is not the goal of life for either one of us.  It never has been.  We've never worked to amass a fortune.  If we make more we tend to spend more just like the good little consumers the market trains us to be.  A Dave Ramsey course would say we should be good stewards and set aside 10% for God, 10% for savings and the rest on expenses.  We haven't practiced exactly that discipline. We give a set amount to the church and other charities as our tithe.  We are generous to others when called upon. And we do not worry about money.  I sleep at night.  We've always been cared for.  So it makes it easy to stay in a culture of convenience.

The writer of Ecclesiastes causes me to think about my relationship to God and the wealth He has entrusted to me.  I am grateful. I am happy that I am not restless or anxious over money and possessions.  Yet I know I could be a better steward.  I am trying not to feel guilt over the comfortable life I enjoy. I am trying to hear God through this look at wealth.

"Sweet is the sleep of laborers, whether they eat little or much." (Ec 5:12a) 

On this fast I have been eating much good food.  I am grateful for the bounteous nature of this country. And I aspire not to riches, but to joy in the Lord and joy in the good things He showers upon me and mine.  And so I find goodness in creation and in my life as a creature of God.  I can say "Amen" to the closing verses of chapter 5 of Ecclesiastes.

"When God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work—this is a gift of God. He seldom reflects on the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart. (Ec 5:19-20)

Lord, I am so aware of the gifts You shower upon my life.  I am keenly aware of the want and need of others, especially those who live in underdeveloped nations and live in poverty their whole life long.  Yet they share the joy of living in Your love just as we wealthy ones in America.  Thanks be to You for occupying our hearts with joy in living.  I praise You for family, friends, health and wealth.  Teach me to be a good steward and live openhandedly to my neighbor.  In the name of the One who surrendered all, Jesus Christ. Amen.