Sunday, April 10, 2016

Ecclesiastes 5:10-12 - Money and Satisfaction

Ecclesiastes 5:10-12 He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves abundance with its income. This too is vanity. When good things increase, those who consume them increase. So what is the advantage to their owners except to look on? The sleep of the working man is pleasant, whether he eats little or much; but the full stomach of the rich man does not allow him to sleep.

Message: Money and Satisfaction

Time: Solomon's authorship is not stated. Solomon's reign as king of Israel lasted from around 970 B.C. to around 930 B.C. The Book of Ecclesiastes was likely written towards the end of his reign, approximately 935 B.C.

What the Lord is Saying:

I'm noticing that as I age, my perception of things changes. Money is one of those things that I notice is changing in my life. I am 48 now and have noticed over the past 10 years or so that as our family income grows, our expenses grow as well. It would seem that through this process life would get easier and better and we would have more money for things, but in reality, our spending habits simply shift and our needs expand. It is sort of depressing to notice. It is only recently, as the older kids leave the house that I am starting to, at times, see less expenditures. I have been more focused and disciplined this year on tithing 10% consistently. That is good. But, I also admit that has been a hard thing to prioritize. I also notice that every year, about May or June I get in this pinch where we can't pay all of the bills and have to take a one-year no interest loan out with the credit cards. Last year, it was the largest it has ever been. Life would just be easier if I didn't have to do that, but graduation expenses and summer camps are tough on expenses.

As I look at this verse 10 from Ecclesiastes 5, it rings true: He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves abundance with its income. Our desire for money will never be satisfied with money. There is always something more that we think that we need. It's an interesting thing. If you love food, food can satisfy you. If you love your wife, her love can satisfy you. If you love to go hiking, then when you go hiking, you will be satisfied, but the love of money is not satisfied with money. That's the danger because we often assume it will satisfy us.

Even though Jesus plainly said that no man can serve two masters (Matthew 6:24), many people seem bent on trying to prove Him wrong. - Mark Dunagan

This too is vanity. This too is vanity or striving after wind. There is no lasting joy in the pursuit of money.

When good things increase, those who consume them increase. As money increases in our life, our proportion for more money increases. Millionaires often have millionaire valued houses. Isn't it interesting that as we age, the desire seems to be to travel and go many places? All of these things take a lot of money.

It amazes me that these ballplayers making millions sign contracts in which they make more millions. And I often will read about the people they then have in their life. I heard the other day about a millionaire golfer that hired an old friend to be his accountant. Like one person can support one person as an accountant for all his money. There is a growing need for legitimate and necessary help such as personal accountants, lawyers, body guards, managers, gardeners, drivers, cooks, maids, etc.

So what is the advantage to their owners except to look on? I saw this: This may mean: 1. In the end the wealthy man outside of Christ only gets to look at more than the poor man. 2. Solomon argued that the only results of increased wealth for a covetous person are increased anxiety and increased vigilance, not increased enjoyment (Bible Knowledge Comm. p. 989).

The sleep of the working man is pleasant, whether he eats little or much; but the full stomach of the rich man does not allow him to sleep. It is interesting, but in this verse the contrast is a working man and a rich man. It is interesting that what is often the aim of people is play, entertainment, time off. Yet, what is mentioned here is good sleep comes to those that work hard. It is through working hard that we sleep well and are well rested. It is not through having a lot that makes us content. I saw this commentary: 
"One of the human absurdities is we pour out money and effort on exercise-machines and health clubs to undo the damage of money and ease."
We sit around and entertain ourselves, enjoying the couch when there is work to be done and accomplished. 

I find that I worry to much about money and how we are going to pay for things. See, my focus is on having things and then thinking this is what we will bring joy. I cannot even enjoy myself completely unless I have a bunch of things. My focus is not on the right things. This message is a wake-up call for that.  

Promise:  It is perplexing that many people remain discontent even when they can afford any comfort they desire. Keep using my money to fund the Gospel.

Wednesday, April 6, 2016

Psalm 72:12-20 - The Enduring Name of the King

Psalm 72:12-20

For he will deliver the needy when he cries for help, the afflicted also, and him who has no helper. He will have compassion on the poor and needy, and the lives of the needy he will save. He will rescue their life from oppression and violence, and their blood will be precious in his sight; so may he live, and may the gold of Sheba be given to him; and let them pray for him continually; let them bless him all day long. May there be abundance of grain in the earth on top of the mountains; its fruit will wave like the cedars of Lebanon; and may those from the city flourish like vegetation of the earth. May his name endure forever; may his name increase as long as the sun shines; and let men bless themselves by him; let all nations call him blessed. Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel,
Who alone works wonders. And blessed be His glorious name forever; and may the whole earth be filled with His glory. Amen, and Amen.


The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended.


Message: The Enduring Name of the King

Time: The psalms were written by many different people across a period of a thousand years in Israel's history. They are thought to have been compiled and put together in their present form by some unknown editor shortly after the captivity ended about 537 B.C.

What the Lord is Saying:

We need to intercede for all of our rulers. 

Rescuing the helpless
Verse 12 presents ideas from previous Psalm 72 verses, but now as if the requests had already been carried out. In those verses the prayer was that the king would defend the cause of the helpless and now Solomon speaks as if these requests have been fulfilled. For he will deliver the needy when he cries for help, the afflicted also, and him who has no helper. He will have compassion on the poor and needy, and the lives of the needy he will save. He will rescue their life from oppression and violence, and their blood will be precious in his sight. Or it could be that he is still praying, but praying with much more confidence now.

A life of praise and gratitude
so may he live, and may the gold of Sheba be given to him; and let them pray for him continually; let them bless him all day long. So may he live. Those are amazing words. The cry of the forgiven, the saved, the redeemed -- it is a glorious thing. I think of that song by Mylon LeFevre, Stranger to Danger that I have always loved. It speaks of a life that was being lived, but then was found, new life in Christ. "I'm finally free." Lord, my prayers are rarely for the oppressed. Instead, I am often praying the comfortable would be more comfortable or the safe would be more safe.

Everyone is valuable. The gold of Sheba is obviously something of great value that can now be offered to God. and let them pray for him continually; I am to pray that this leader, who has this power, would have a great reign and be able to protect and keep safe the oppressed. let them bless him all day long. From Albert Barnes - "Their lives are lives of praise and gratitude. From their dwellings daily praise ascends to him; from their hearts praise is constant; praise uttered in the closet and in the family; praise breathed forth from the heart, whether on the farm, in the workshop, on a journey, or in the busy marts of commerce. The time will come when this shall be universal; when he who can take in at a glance the condition of the world, will see it to be a world of praise; when he who looks on all hearts at the same moment will see a world full of thankfulness." It is interesting how wonderful and contagious is praise time. And yet, we have lives to live and so we must live those lives. I struggle sometimes living in this praise because it does feel segmented from the other ways of life. And then I struggle thinking what it could be live for eternity. Yet, maybe eternity will be praising God. And that experience may be eternal, but actually feel momentary. We will be caught up in blessing God all day long. But, also here is the idea that the leader is blessed for saving his people. 
Abundance of vegetation
I move to verse 16 and continue to break this down: May there be abundance of grain in the earth on top of the mountains; its fruit will wave like the cedars of Lebanon; and may those from the city flourish like vegetation of the earth. As he continues to pray, he remarks that the grain and produce of the world will be abundant. He mentions that vegetation will produce. He prays that life will be healthy.

His name endures forever
May his name endure forever; may his name increase as long as the sun shines; and let men bless themselves by him; let all nations call him blessed. I dream of a day when God's name is cherished more. I can't help but see more and more as I walk around in life and how the name of God is just not praised and blessed more. God is an afterthought or something that is just a part of our lives, but not our entire lives. It is sad to see. But, one day "his name endure forever." Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, who alone works wonders. And blessed be His glorious name forever; and may the whole earth be filled with His glory. Amen, and Amen.

Promise: Even the best rulers do not fulfill the task of peace and justice. The failure of earthly leaders point us to to the only king who will never fail -- Jesus Christ.