Lesson 20

Ecclesiastes

The Things That Don't Work!

Oppression of the Bureaucracy

The fruit of your labor may be lost to corrupt officials.

5:8-9 If you see oppression of the poor and denial of justice and righteousness in the province, do not be shocked at the sight; for one official watches over another official, and there are higher officials over them. After all, a king who cultivates the field is an advantage to the land.

The picture that Solomon paints here is of gov't officials scrambling for power - wealth while most of the population is bled dry thru unfair taxation.

One of the very real problems that accompanies a tightly controlled bureaucracy, almost an inherent part of it is unaccountability and insensitivity.

All that one produced - the potential of all that one labors for - here the increase of the land (now at one's job - profession) could be taken and extorted from him by corrupt officials.

What is interesting is that Samuel warned the people that this is what they would eventually encounter if they had a king. 1 Sam 8:10-18

Samuel also told them that when it occurred it was too late to complain, they would reap the consequences of their decision.

- There must be authority - but it must be exercised with justice and righteousness (4:1)

- God works through authority, properly established and exercised.

The emptiness of materialism as the motivator and pursuit of life 5:10-20

5:10 He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves abundance with its income. This too is vanity.

One historian writing about Solomon's wealth says:

All of Solomon's drinking vessels were of gold, and those of his house were of pure gold. The shields of his mighty men were made of beaten gold, and his great throne was made of ivory and overlaid with the finest gold. Silver in Jerusalem became as common as stones.

So when Solomon writes on the subject of money we should pay attention, take notes.

- Notice it says the one who loves money ('ahabh) not possesses it ONE DOESN'T HAVE TO HAVE IT TO OPERATE UNDER GREED.

Money is a good slave but a terrible taskmaster.

Observations:

1. Greed and materialism have no built in safeguards or satisfaction limits.

- They can quickly become a form of idolatry as can anything put ahead of one's relationship with God.

2. Money can buy comforts but not contentment and happiness.

3. The temporal will never satisfy, that's why he says this too is vainity (hebel - emptiness - futility)

5:11 When good things increase, those who consume them increase. So what is the advantage to their owners except to look on?

- as ones wealth increases they quickly find that there is an increase in those who consume that increase.

- The only advantage Solomon says satirically is that you get to watch what you have accumulated be devoured by the parasites.

MORE MONEY = MORE PEOPLE = MORE WORRIES = LESS SLEEP

5:12 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.

- For the one who has put in an honest days labor no matter how extensive his diet is, they are ready for sleep at the end of the day.

- His rich diet minus the exercise of the working man leaves him sleepless.

- Couple this with the anxiety - fear that he may make a blunder that will result in the loss of everything.

From the outside looking in we are impressed with the wealthy - we would have been easily impressed with Solomon if we were viewing him.

Observations:

1. Increased wealth means increased responsibility.

2. God is not impressed with one's wealth. Prov. 11:4

3. What we must constantly guard against is the occupation - the strong desire for wealth at the expense of all else. (MA - motivation)

- if we trust in riches we will fall. Prov. 11:28

- 1 Tim 6:9-10 also applies

4. One of the great deceptions of today is that money can buy love, or happiness, or tranquility and even ones eternal destiny (Salv).

- What His justice does condemn is false gain, wrong motivation, lack of compassion or generosity by the wealthy when they forget where the source of their wealth comes.

Misuse of wealth is no advantage under the sun

5:13 There is a grievous evil which I have seen under the sun: riches being hoarded by their owner to his hurt.

- Solomon's observation here is just the opposite, a wealthy individual who hoards their wealth he describes it as a grievous evil - chabal - mental agony, to be under great mental strain and results in their own hurt - ra'ah misfortune, destruction even wickedness.

5:14 When those riches were lost through a bad investment and he had fathered a son, then there was nothing to support him.

- a bad investment - lit. an evil task; could describe any ill advised investment or any misfortune that resulted in him loosing his fortune.

- In this case the love of money is seen in that he showed a greater concern for the increasing of his wealth than for raising his son.

- Paul gives us the exhortation in 1 Tim 5:8 re. the responsibility of taking care of our family.