Get ready to start a journey…a journey through the pages of the Bible and the pages of your life.
A wealthy believer never has to downplay God’s blessings. Wealth should be viewed as a reward for honest hard work. A believer should “accept his lot.” Don’t apologize for God’s gift. We should enjoy the vocation he has called us to do and the rewards we achieve for doing it.
Solomon is not trying to leave us hopeless; he’s trying to wake us up. He is not saying that you live a few miserable years and die. God is the giver of life. Jesus said that he came so that we could “have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10). Life on earth matters! What we do counts! What a privilege it is to live for Jesus!
Solomon didn’t take a survey, but as he observed wealthy people, he noticed that some held tight to their money, sharing it with no one. Others squandered their money on risky business schemes. Both left shallow legacies.
This passage drives home two truths about money: The Rockefeller Principle and the Heart Principle. One addresses amounts, and the other addresses our attitude. Let’s look at them one at a time.
When I read Solomon’s statement, “And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I kept my heart from no pleasure…” it makes me pause. That is one audacious statement! Solomon described an unrestrained pursuit of pleasure. Whatever he wanted to have, he took. Whatever he wanted to do, he did. Yes, I realize Solomon may be using hyperbole. But still, this statement puts him as a leading candidate for the Hedonism trophy.
Sexual intimacy is a gift from God. He invented sex and ordained it to be enjoyed between a man and a woman committed to each other for life. God beautifully described this act as a man and woman becoming one—in body and soul. Sex was never meant to be a physical hook up. God intended it to be an experience of the whole person coming together in a loving and intimate union.