Straight Talk to the Money-Mad
Those who love money will never have enough. How meaningless to think that wealth brings true happiness! The more you have, the more people come to help you spend it. So what good is wealth—except perhaps to watch it slip through your fingers! People who work hard sleep well, whether they eat little or much. But the rich seldom get a good night’s sleep. (Ecclesiastes 5:10–12)
I find no less than three principles written between the lines of these verses. Each relates directly to money matters. The first has to do with oppression, or the influence and control the rich have over the poor. The rich, simply because they have money, tend to take charge of territory, even of a continent. The rich tend to be leaders. They are often the best educated, the most influential, and because they run with the rich, they gain control of the money, the land, the political arena. They become the officials who run the government.
Solomon’s concern is the untouchable and often corrupt power that occurs when those with money gain total control. Does this mean that there is no need for any kind of leadership? No, leadership is essential, biblical, in fact. But wealthy kings must guard against being oppressive because money has a way of dulling the senses of a powerful leader.
The second principle relates to dissatisfaction. To the money-hungry, enough is never enough. He who loves money will never reach the level of personal satisfaction. He who loves the abundance that comes with that kind of income will never know the day when he will lean back, smile contentedly and sigh, “That’s plenty. I have enough.”
The third principle relates to frustration. More money, more people. More people, more worries. More worries, less sleep.
The rich man has more than enough food. What’s missing? Peace of mind. A relaxed mentality. He lacks people who love him just for who he is. And he is forever preoccupied with pursuits that have financial entanglements. When he finally drops into bed by two in the morning, he tosses and turns as he wonders, “Is that deal gonna pay off? Is it too big a risk?” Around and around he turns and over he twists.
From the outside looking in, we are so impressed with Solomon’s wealthy world. But that’s only half the story. The other half is not usually seen by the public. It’s the lack of contentment, the frustration, the awful lonely nightmare of a life that leaves the greedy clutching for more and more.
These aren’t the words of some young author hoping to write a best-seller. No. This is a middle-aged, brilliant, rich king who knows what he’s talking about.
