Ecclesiastes 5:10 He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.
Context: Ecclesiastes 5:11 When goods increase, they increase who eat them, and what advantage has their owner but to see them with his eyes? Matthew 6:19-21 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
From the lexicon: Love=have strong desire for. Silver=money. Not be satisfied=not filled. Abundance=great quantity (of wealth).
Pulling it together: Ecclesiastes warns us that there is more to living than gathering wealth. No matter how much one gains it is never enough. We see it in the world around us. The poor do anything to gain wealth. The rich never strive to have more. Neither is satisfied. Politicians promise to distribute wealth, but they miss the point that Jesus stated in Matthew 6:19-21. The earth’s treasures only fade, decay, or are taken from us. But what is done for God stores up treasure that lasts for eternity.
Preachers long have used the illustration that there are no U-hauls following a hearse. Trite. But so true. You can’t take your earthly treasures with you, but you can send heavenly treasures ahead.
This doesn’t imply that doing good works saves us. First we need to know our Savior by receiving Him into our hearts. He then makes us fit for good works (Ephesians 2:10). How tragic is the life spent on gaining wealth on this earth to lose it all in eternity.
Lord, I pray for grace to keep a right perspective–to be a good steward of what You give me and to do Your will.