Ecclesiastes 5:8-17 8 If you see the oppression of the poor, and the violent perversion of justice and righteousness in a province, do not marvel at the matter; for high official watches over high official, and higher officials are over them. 9 Moreover the profit of the land is for all; even the king is served from the field. 10 He who loves silver will not be satisfied with silver; Nor he who loves abundance, with increase. This also is vanity. 11 When goods increase, They increase who eat them; So what profit have the owners Except to see them with their eyes?12 The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, Whether he eats little or much; But the abundance of the rich will not permit him to sleep. 13 There is a severe evil which I have seen under the sun: Riches kept for their owner to his hurt. 14 But those riches perish through misfortune; When he begets a son, there is nothing in his hand. 15 As he came from his mother’s womb, naked shall he return, To go as he came; And he shall take nothing from his labor Which he may carry away in his hand. 16 And this also is a severe evil— Just exactly as he came, so shall he go. And what profit has he who has labored for the wind? 17 All his days he also eats in darkness, And he has much sorrow and sickness and anger.
SOAP – Ecclesiastes 5:10-12 Solomon describes his experience with wealth. He states that riches do not fully satisfy and fulfill the desires of man. As our wealth and possessions increase, so does our desire for more. He also states that the wealth brings its own anxieties and troubles. He reminds us that riches are perishable and the loss of which can lead to even more anxiety. Money itself is not the evil. It is the gluttonous love of money and the desire for more which causes the anxiety and trouble. When believers place material possessions above our spiritual gifts and eternal inheritance, we will always be left dissatisfied and unfulfilled.