Ecclesiastes 5:8-20 The Curse of More
Teaching Pastor: Rob Sweet
Accumulating more is not always a good thing.
There are two "Seas" in Israel: The Dead Sea and The Sea of Galilee
The Jordan River feeds both Seas, but the Seas could not be more different. The Dead Sea does not sustain life, and The Sea of Galilee is a lushes green full of the vibrant colors of life.
Why the difference? The Dead Sea accumulates, The Sea of Galilee gives.
The Dead Sea has no outlet, so as the water evaporates the salt builds up and has created a space where life is not sustained. The Dead Sea has gained "more and more" salt, not giving, creating an environment of death.
The same river, The Jordan feeds The Sea of Galilee, however The Sea of Galilee has an outlet, it gives of itself so that there is no accumulation.
Like the seas in Israel, Giving your life over to accumulation will not give life. There is not life in "more."
THE CURSE OF MORE v. 8-12
vs. 8-9 "If you see oppression of the poor and perversion of justice and righteousness in the province, don't be astonished at the situation, because on official protects another official, and higher officials protect them. The profit from the land is taken by all; the king is served by the field."
Society has a tendency to develop tiers based on what we have. We should not be surprised when those on a higher tier take advantage of us, this is true of life in a fallen world. In vs.9 the NIV translates that the king profits from the field. We all step on those below us on our way to the top. As Christians, God has called us to help those with less. Much like he did with us. He came to serve, not to be served.
PROBLEMS WITH MORE:
- MORE IS NEVER SATISFIED
You never achieve enough...The more is never satisfied, the love of more creates a desire that cannot be met.
2. MORE COLLECTION CREATES MORE CONSUMPTION
vs. 11 "When good things increase, the ones who consume them multiply; what, then, is the profit to the owner, except to gaze at them with his eyes?"
The more we have it seems the more we need.
3.THE MORE YOU HAVE THE LESS YOU REST
vs. 12 "The sleep of the worker is sweet, whether he eats little or much, but the abundance of the rich permits him no sleep."
Right now in the US as the standard of living has increased, our sleep has decreased. The CDC reports that sleep issues are on the rise.
When you go after "more" you never get what you want.
vs. 13-17 tell us of the tragedy of a wasted life. In this story of a man who gives his life to accumulating riches, we learn that in the end, regardless of what we have collected, we die and lose it all.
THE SOLUTION TO MORE
vs. 18-20 "Here is what I have seen to be good: It is appropriate to eat, drink and experience good in all the labor one does under the sun during the few days of his life God has given him, because that is his reward. Furthermore, everyone to whom God has given riches and wealth, he has also allowed him to enjoy them, take his reward, and rejoice in his labor. This is a gift of God, for he does not often consider the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with joy in his heart."
The solution is to eat drink and be merry. We are to receive the life we have as a gift from God. The 1st solution is that life is gift, not gain. We are to open our eyes and see gifts from God and enjoy them. We must stop looking at what has not been given to us, and be thankful and enjoy the abundant gifts in our life. Even if that is only the gift of salvation. The second solution "more" is to give not grasp at our blessings. Even Jesus, our example, came to serve, not to be served.
We are to be conduits, not containers.
The blessings of God are given to flow through us to bless others. Not to be hoarded.
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