ECCLESIASTES 5
- We were blessed to have Derrick Sekamalira, our partner from Kampala, Uganda, lead us in teaching Sunday. In Ecclesiastes 5 the teacher starts the chapter establishing the sovereignty and seriousness of God. He is the holy, powerful creator God, and our words before him should be careful and honest. If we vow something to God, it should not be flippant. We should be diligent in fulfilling our word to the Lord in everything we do. God is sovereign, reigning in power, and our relationship with him is based on his incredible mercy and grace. He has never broken a promise to us and we should be mindful of our words to him.
- Have we made promises to God that we never fulfilled? What vows or promises have I made to God in hard times that I forgot when things got better?
“Mankind, he has told each of you what is good and what it is the Lord requires of you: to act justly, to love faithfulness, and to walk humbly with your God.” – Micah 6:8
- The middle portion of the chapter deals with money and satisfaction. Those who love money can never have enough, and those who have money can’t sleep for their abundance. Those who hoard money or lose it foolishly don’t understand that they will take nothing with them to the grave. In contrast, the laborer sleeps well, not troubled by the pursuit of money. Money is a frequent topic in scriptures. Jesus taught on it frequently. Around the world, the gospel of prosperity has worked its way into churches and theology. There is a sometimes overt, sometimes subtle, message that God will reward his followers with worldly riches because of their faithfulness or piety. This flies in the face of the the teachings of Jesus himself. Jesus tells us that no one can serve both money and God, that your treasure reveals your heart, that it is harder for the rich to enter heaven, and that life doesn’t consist of an abundance of possessions. Money is a tool we can use to serve the Lord, but it can also be the idol that keeps us from realizing God’s sufficiency.
- If I had to choose between money or God, which way would I go? Does that decision change the way I handle money or wealth?
“Don’t store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves don’t break in and steal.” – Matthew 6:19-20
- Verses 18-20 reveal to us how gracious God is to us. Although money can be a stumbling block, God did not intend us to live in misery. He blesses us with his exceedingly great gifts even in this world, and we should enjoy them. Everything we have is a gift from God, and as we appreciate the things in our life, we can turn our praise from the created to the creator. Look around you right now and see the many gifts we have been given. God gave you those things. Look outside at the flowers and nature and understand that these things speak to the glory of God. When we lie down in our comfy beds or work hard at our jobs, we should understand that our ability to rest and work are gifts from the creator. We should truly enjoy the blessings we have been given instead of always looking for the bigger and better.
- Who gave me everything I have? How can I praise the Lord for his provision and kindness to me?
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” – James 1:17
Life Application: Understanding that the sovereign and all-powerful God is our Lord is key to our relationship with him. He gives us everything we have and we should look to him for our sustenance and enjoyment.
For Prayer: Pray for Derrick and Rae Sekalamira as they look to welcoming their second child. Pray for their continued ministry in Uganda.