Don't Be Shocked (Part Three): Ecclesiastes 5 by Dr. Rod Mattoon

Scripture

• Ecclesiastes 5

About this sermon

In this portion, Solomon told us to not be shocked if your money perishes. Those who are wealthy, worry about losing their riches. Wealth can perish from evil travail which may include risky or careless investments or catastrophes such as floods, fires, fierce storms, famines, and fatal earthquakes. The devastating losses from such events drain bank accounts, leaving nothing to care for sons and daughters or to pass on to them an inheritance. They say, "Money talks." One man replied to this and said, "Yep, that's true. All it says to me is 'Good-bye." A magazine cartoon showed a dismal looking man walking out of a bank manager's office with the manager saying to his secretary, "He suffers from back problems: back taxes, back rent, and back alimony." Many people today suffer from similar "back problems." They refuse to heed the warning Bill Earle gave many years ago: "When your outgo exceeds your income, your upkeep will be your downfall." Dr. Swindoll points out that on the back of a dollar bill is an eagle with its wings spread out wide. That seems to be the nature and destiny of the dollar for many folks. They tend to fly away, especially when your money is used for evil or you are careless with it. So don’t be shocked when this happens. If you desire to try to safeguard your savings, be sure to seek God’s direction in spending it. Put God first in your finances, too. Give Him tithes and offerings. Solomon made it clear that life is not all about money. Depending on it for satisfaction is meaningless. He listed several reasons why it won’t make you happy if it is first in your life. 1. It Leaves you Longing for More. (5:10) 2. Leeches will be Attracted to Your Money (5:11) 3. Loss of Sleep (5:12) 4. Your Life will Lay Waste (5:13) 5. You will Lack Security (5:14) 6. You will Leave it Behind (5:15-16) 7. You will have Lousy Feelings (5:17) When you live your life for Christ and serve Him, you labor and life is not a waste. You are not wasting your time, nor your money. What you do for Christ matters for eternity. The souls that you had a part in reaching for Jesus Christ will live for eternity. Such labor and expense matter to God. Glorifying God is important to the Lord. Paul encouraged all of us about our labor for Christ. He said, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58). This message was preached at on Wednesday night, March 17, 2021 at Lincoln Land Baptist Church.