Finding Joy in Money Ecclesiastes 5:8-6:9. A Chiastic Outline 1. Wealth never satisfies. 2. It’s hard to enjoy wealth. 3. God gives us life, work, and

Finding Joy in MoneyFinding Joy in MoneyEcclesiastes 5:8-6:9Ecclesiastes 5:8-6:9

A Chiastic OutlineA Chiastic Outline

1. Wealth never satisfies.1. Wealth never satisfies.2. It’s hard to enjoy wealth.2. It’s hard to enjoy wealth.

3. God gives us life, work, and wealth.3. God gives us life, work, and wealth.4. Enjoying wealth is a gift from God 4. Enjoying wealth is a gift from God

3b. God can take away the enjoyment of 3b. God can take away the enjoyment of wealthwealth2b. What a pity if you don’t enjoy wealth2b. What a pity if you don’t enjoy wealth

1b. Appetites are never satisfied. 1b. Appetites are never satisfied.

A Chiastic OutlineA Chiastic OutlineEcclesiastes 5:8-6:9Ecclesiastes 5:8-6:9

1. Wealth never satisfies. (5:8-12)1. Wealth never satisfies. (5:8-12)2. It’s hard to enjoy wealth. (5:13-17)2. It’s hard to enjoy wealth. (5:13-17)

3. God gives us life, work, and wealth. (5:18)3. God gives us life, work, and wealth. (5:18)4. Enjoying wealth is a gift from God (5:19-20)4. Enjoying wealth is a gift from God (5:19-20)

3b. God can take away the enjoyment of wealth (6:1-3b. God can take away the enjoyment of wealth (6:1-2)2)2b. What a pity if you don’t enjoy wealth (6:3-6) 2b. What a pity if you don’t enjoy wealth (6:3-6)

1b. Appetites are never satisfied. (6:7-9)1b. Appetites are never satisfied. (6:7-9)

• Money is neither Money is neither goodgood nor nor evilevil..

• The problem is that we The problem is that we worship money.worship money.

9595 Q.Q. What is idolatry?What is idolatry?A.A. Idolatry is having or inventing Idolatry is having or inventing

something in which one trustssomething in which one trustsin place of or alongside of in place of or alongside of the only true God,the only true God,who has revealed himself in his Word.who has revealed himself in his Word.

• Money is neither Money is neither goodgood nor nor evilevil..

• The problem is that we The problem is that we worship moneyworship money..

Matthew 6:24 “No one can serve two masters. Matthew 6:24 “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.”You cannot serve both God and Money.”

The The LimitationsLimitations of Money of Money

Ecclesiastes 5:8-9 “If you see the poor oppressed in Ecclesiastes 5:8-9 “If you see the poor oppressed in a district, and justice and rights denied, do not be a district, and justice and rights denied, do not be surprised at such things; for one official is eyed by a surprised at such things; for one official is eyed by a higher one, and over them both are others higher higher one, and over them both are others higher still. still. 99 The increase from the land is taken by all; the The increase from the land is taken by all; the king himself profits from the fields.”king himself profits from the fields.”


• Money alone never Money alone never satisfiessatisfies..

Ecclesiastes 5:10 “Whoever loves money never has Ecclesiastes 5:10 “Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless.”satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless.”



• It can’t buy real It can’t buy real friendsfriends. .

Ecclesiastes 5:11 “As goods increase, so do those Ecclesiastes 5:11 “As goods increase, so do those who consume them. And what benefit are they to who consume them. And what benefit are they to the owner except to feast his eyes on them?”the owner except to feast his eyes on them?”



• It can’t buy real It can’t buy real friendsfriends. .

• More money produces less More money produces less peacepeace..

Ecclesiastes 5:12 “The sleep of a laborer is sweet, Ecclesiastes 5:12 “The sleep of a laborer is sweet, whether he eats little or much, but the abundance whether he eats little or much, but the abundance of a rich man permits him no sleep.”of a rich man permits him no sleep.”

Ecclesiastes 5:13-14 “I have seen a grievous evil Ecclesiastes 5:13-14 “I have seen a grievous evil under the sun: wealth hoarded to the harm of its under the sun: wealth hoarded to the harm of its owner, owner, 1414 or wealth lost through some misfortune, or wealth lost through some misfortune, so that when he has a son there is nothing left for so that when he has a son there is nothing left for him.”him.”


• Financial security is Financial security is a mytha myth. .

• You can’t You can’t take it withtake it with you. you.

Ecclesiastes 5:15-16 “Naked a man comes from his Ecclesiastes 5:15-16 “Naked a man comes from his mother's womb, and as he comes, so he departs. He mother's womb, and as he comes, so he departs. He takes nothing from his labor that he can carry in his takes nothing from his labor that he can carry in his hand. hand. 1616 This too is a grievous evil: As a man comes, This too is a grievous evil: As a man comes, so he departs, and what does he gain, since he toils so he departs, and what does he gain, since he toils for the wind?”for the wind?”


• Financial security is Financial security is a mytha myth. .

• You can’t You can’t take it withtake it with you you

• If you make money your If you make money your godgod, , it will make you its it will make you its foolfool..

Ecclesiastes 5:17 “All his days he eats in darkness, Ecclesiastes 5:17 “All his days he eats in darkness, with great frustration, affliction and anger.” with great frustration, affliction and anger.”

Ecclesiastes 5:18-20Ecclesiastes 5:18-20

““Then I realized that it is good and proper for a man Then I realized that it is good and proper for a man to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in his to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in his toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given him — for this is his lot. life God has given him — for this is his lot. 1919 Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work — this is a accept his lot and be happy in his work — this is a gift of God. gift of God. 2020 He seldom reflects on the days of his He seldom reflects on the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with gladness life, because God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart.” of heart.”

The The BlessingsBlessings of Money of Money

• EnjoyEnjoy wealth as a wealth as a giftgift from God. from God.

• God God distributesdistributes money. money.

Ecclesiastes 6:1-2 Ecclesiastes 6:1-2

““I have seen another evil under the sun, and it I have seen another evil under the sun, and it weighs heavily on men: weighs heavily on men: 22 God gives a man wealth, God gives a man wealth, possessions and honor, so that he lacks nothing his possessions and honor, so that he lacks nothing his heart desires, but God does not enable him to enjoy heart desires, but God does not enable him to enjoy them, and a stranger enjoys them instead. This is them, and a stranger enjoys them instead. This is meaningless, a grievous evil.”meaningless, a grievous evil.”


““A man may have a hundred children and live many A man may have a hundred children and live many years; yet no matter how long he lives, if he cannot years; yet no matter how long he lives, if he cannot enjoy his prosperity and does not receive proper enjoy his prosperity and does not receive proper burial, I say that a stillborn child is better off than burial, I say that a stillborn child is better off than he. he. 44 It comes without meaning, it departs in It comes without meaning, it departs in darkness, and in darkness its name is shrouded. darkness, and in darkness its name is shrouded. 55 Though it never saw the sun or knew anything, it Though it never saw the sun or knew anything, it has more rest than does that man— has more rest than does that man— 66 even if he even if he lives a thousand years twice over but fails to enjoy lives a thousand years twice over but fails to enjoy his prosperity. Do not all go to the same place?”his prosperity. Do not all go to the same place?”




• Find Find satisfactionsatisfaction in what you have. in what you have.


““All man’s efforts are for his mouth, yet his appetite All man’s efforts are for his mouth, yet his appetite is never satisfied. is never satisfied. 88 What advantage has a wise man What advantage has a wise man over a fool? What does a poor man gain by knowing over a fool? What does a poor man gain by knowing how to conduct himself before others? how to conduct himself before others? 99 Better Better what the eye sees than the roving of the appetite. what the eye sees than the roving of the appetite. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.”This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.”

Matthew 6:31-33 Matthew 6:31-33

““So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 3232 For the pagans run after all these things, and your For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 33 But But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”these things will be given to you as well.”




• Find Find satisfactionsatisfaction in what you have. in what you have.

• How do you find How do you find joyjoy in your money? in your money?

1 Peter 1:18-211 Peter 1:18-21

For you know that it was not with perishable For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, down to you from your forefathers, 1919 but with but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. blemish or defect. 2020 He was chosen before the He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. last times for your sake. 2121 Through him you Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God. are in God.

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Finding Joy in Money Ecclesiastes 5:8-6:9. A Chiastic Outline 1. Wealth never satisfies. 2. It’s hard to enjoy wealth. 3. God gives us life, work, and