Money Possessions and Eternity (Part 1)

Wealth. Money. Riches. How often do we think to ourselves, "If I only had a million dollars!" Or... "If only I could have more money!" I know I have many, many times. If I had a money tree in my backyard life would be SO much easier! Pay bills, buy food, purchase a car, move on. Not have to worry about finances at all. In my mind I see this as an absolute plus. If I don't have to think about money then I can think about other things.

I've been reading a book that you should definitely read, and I'll be using it to talk about the Biblical response to Wealth/Money.

The book is: "Money Possessions and Eternity" by Randy Alcorn

The words he wrote down in this book really convicted me but also allowed my entire perspective on money to change. Hopefully I can do the same for you:

"What follows are Solomon's statements in Ecclesiastes 5:10-15. The italicized paraphrases after each statement are mine.

'Whoever loves money never has money enough.'

The more you have, the more you want.

'Whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income.'

The more you have, the less you're satisfied.

'As goods increase, so do those who consume them.'

The more you have, the more people (including the government) come after it.

'And what benefit are they to the owner except to feast his eyes on them?'

The more you have, the more you realize it doesn't meet your real needs.

'The sleep of a laborer is sweet, whether he eats little or much, but the abundance of a rich man permits him no sleep.'

The more you have, the more you have to worry about.

'I have seen a grievous evil under the sun: wealth hoarded to the harm of its owner.'

The more you have, the more you can hurt yourself by holding onto it.

'Or wealth lost through some misfortune.'

The more you have, the more you have to lose.

'Naked a man comes from his mother's womb, and as he comes, so he departs. He takes nothing from his labor that he can carry in his hand.'

The more you have, the more you'll leave behind.

After his years as the world's richest man, Solomon said, 'When I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun' (Ecclesiastes 2:11). The more Solomon had, the more meaningless his life became. Most people chase their mirages with money, but they run out of money before they run out of mirages. So they still believe the lie that 'If only I had more money, then I'd be happy.' But Solomon had it all. He had more money than he could possibly spend. He chased down every mirage. He ran out of mirages before he ran out of money."

-- Money Possessions and Eternity (Page 49)

Randy Alcorn

I plan to post much more in the future from this book, and my thoughts on Alcorn's words. Here is simply a taste, an introduction. That wasn't even a full page.

Go get the book.

In conclusion think about these questions today:

Do I seek money over God?

Do I consider money as an "idol" rather than tool?

Look ahead to some of my posts being additional parts to this concept of wealth and money. Alcorn has a lot to say on the topic and so do I.

God bless!