#12 A Lego Death Star for Christmas (Ecclesiastes 5:8-20)
Notes
This week Aidan examines the wisdom of Ecclesiastes 5:8-20, focusing on the vanity of pursuing wealth and the reality of earthly injustice. He argues that while we should expect to see corruption and oppression in this world, our ultimate trust must remain in God rather than fallible human rulers. He highlights how the love of money often leads to restlessness and stress, contrasting the unfulfilling nature of material gain with the satisfaction of finding joy in our daily toil, which he identifies as a gracious gift from God. By reflecting on the truth that we enter and depart this life with nothing, the sermon points us beyond temporary worldly treasures and place our hope in Jesus Christ, who provides the lasting righteousness and satisfaction that the world cannot offer.
If you see in a province the oppression of the poor and the violation of justice and righteousness, do not be amazed at the matter, for the high official is watched by a higher, and there are yet higher ones over them. But this is gain for a land in every way: a king committed to cultivated fields.
He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity. When goods increase, they increase who eat them, and what advantage has their owner but to see them with his eyes? Sweet is the sleep of a laborer, whether he eats little or much, but the full stomach of the rich will not let him sleep.
There is a grievous evil that I have seen under the sun: riches were kept by their owner to his hurt, and those riches were lost in a bad venture. And he is father of a son, but he has nothing in his hand. As he came from his mother’s womb he shall go again, naked as he came, and shall take nothing for his toil that he may carry away in his hand. This also is a grievous evil: just as he came, so shall he go, and what gain is there to him who toils for the wind? Moreover, all his days he eats in darkness in much vexation and sickness and anger.
Behold, what I have seen to be good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life that God has given him, for this is his lot. Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil—this is the gift of God. For he will not much remember the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with joy in his heart (Ec 5:8–20).
