How much money would you need to live a comfortable life if you won the lottery? That’s what researchers asked 8,000 people in 33 countries around the world.  According to an article from Forbes, 86% of people said they could “achieve their absolutely ideal lives” with $10 million. But there was one exception. Most participants in the United States said that they would need at least $100 million to have the ideal life, and 31.7% said that they would need $100 billion! In other words, an unlimited amount. The study found that “limited and unlimited wealth ideals were not related to country differences in economic development—instead, the people who wanted more or unlimited amounts tended to be younger, city-dwelling people who valued power, success, and independence.”¹

In Solomon’s journal, the wealthiest man who ever lived reflected on the short and elusive days spent on this earth. He reminds us that death is the great equalizer. Here’s what Solomon wrote. 

Ecclesiastes 5:15-16
As he came from his mother’s womb he shall go again, naked as he came, and shall take nothing for his toil that he may carry away in his hand. This also is a grievous evil: just as he came, so shall he go, and what gain is there to him who toils for the wind?

You can’t argue with Solomon’s point, can you? We came into this world as naked babies needing help to make our entrance. For the next several months, someone had to bathe, clothe, feed, and care for us. We show up naked and dependent, and we exit the same way. Someone famously coined the question: Have you ever seen a hearse pulling a U-Haul? All that we have worked for, dreamed about, shopped for, sacrificed to buy, and couldn’t wait to have is left behind. Then comes Solomon’s punch, “What gain is there to him who toils for the wind?”

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! Large amounts of money will not deliver the ideal life. Only Jesus does that. 

It’s true that when we close our eyes in death, we take nothing with us. BUT—when we open our eyes the second after, we will be in heaven! We will be home! That’s the life Jesus came to give us all along. 

Father, as we enjoy abundant life on earth with Jesus, keep our eyes on the life we will have with him through eternity. Remind us often that there is no word in our language to describe our eternity with you. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

¹ https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexledsom/2022/07/20/how-much-money-is-enough-new-study-says-not-as-much-as-you-think-except-for-americans/?sh=14ad38bf2281