Frustration Vs. Contentment

Ecclesiastes 5:13-20: "I have seen a grievous evil under the sun: wealth hoarded to the harm of its owner, or wealth lost through some misfortune, so that when he has a son there is nothing left for him. Naked a man comes from his mother's womb, and as he comes, so he departs. He takes nothing from his labor that he can carry in his hand. This too is a grievous evil: As a man comes, so he departs, and what does he gain, since he toils for the wind? All his days he eats in darkness, with great frustration, affliction and anger. Then I realized that it is good and proper for a man to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in his toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has give him-for this is his lot. Moreover, 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."

Whether one hoards or loses all of his money, both are seen as a great evil to the writer of Ecclesiastes. Whereas we might understand the egregiousness of one squandering his wealth away frivolously through gambling or irresponsible spending on luxury, we may be somewhat pressed to see the reasoning in the evil of "hoarding." After all, aren't we to save for the "rainy days" ahead? One might even quote Proverbs 13:11 in defense: "Dishonest money dwindles away, but he who gathers money little by little makes it grow."

Whereas we are called to be responsible with the money that God has entrusted to us, never are we called to hoard it. Hoarding is the behavior of those who crave the acclamation and security that wealth presents. In effect, the hoarder collects his money so that it can bring him the status and security that his soul craves. People who hoard money are saying, "I like how others respond to me because of my accumulated wealth, and I must collect more to impress more . . . to be praised more. I also don't trust that God will take care of me . . . Although I know I am called to use my resources to be a blessing to others, I must take care of ME first."

Again, the hoarder feasts upon the attention and power that is acquired through wealth; he is not about to release his "golden idol" to bless others, for he would lose the very thing that helps him assert his own lordship. Of course, the Scripture tells us not to be impressed with the accumulated wealth of a man, for his assets are a temporal possession: (Psalm 49:16-17): "Do not be over-awed when a man grows rich, when the splendor of his house increases; for he will take nothing with him when he dies, his splendor will not descend with him."

The tragedy with hoarding wealth is in its inability to provide the satisfaction and fulfillment that the acquirer presumes. Ecclesiastes 5 tells us that the man consumed with the collection of money "eats in darkness (i.e. doleful gloom) with great frustration, affliction and anger." As this man passionately pursues the "Almighty Dollar," he lives a life of misery; and in the end, he leaves it all for someone else. I Timothy 6:10 reinforces this truth, when it says that those who are consumed with money "pierce themselves with many griefs."

This same chapter of I Timothy also tells us that "Godliness with contentment is great gain." The greatest fulfillment is found in one who is willing to put his faith and trust first in the Lord . . . serving Him above everything else, including asset accumulation. In his contentment, this man is able to enjoy the path of life, unencumbered by the toils and fears of collecting and losing what he has. The writer of Ecclesiastes tells us that ultimately it is God who gives wealth, and His gracious gift to us is the ability to be content with what we have, without the restless spirit of acquiring more. The person who is able to enjoy what God has given to him lives a life "occupied with gladness of heart." He does not feel the compulsion to acquire more to impress others; rather he feasts upon God's assurance that He "will never leave (him) nor forsake (him)" (Hebrews 13:5).

May we strive to seek the Lord first in our lives, not the pursuit of wealth. Wealth is fleeting, and in the end it will be lost; what we must do is work hard, provide for our necessities, and enjoy the few days that the Lord has willed for us to live on this earth, as we prepare for His glorious eternal Kingdom. We must remember that this contentment is a gift of God, to give us the ability to enjoy the life that He has entrusted to us.