Ecclesiastes 5:8-12 says,...Bible reading week 4, day 1

Today's verses are Ecclesiastes 5:8-12, which read,

v.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.

Our devotion starts with a common solution to our daily problems in society.  Let us let government solve it for us.  Let us leave up to the officials who are watching over the officials to set the moral compass of the country.  We should not be shocked when we allowed those away from the situation to solve what is on our front door step.  It is hard to have compassion from afar and apply more than just money thrown at the issue.  Collected money away from where it originated tends to line pockets along the way instead of getting to the need.  It is a fact that corruption is deep in government and our government that feeds this "oppression of the poor and denial of justice and righteousness in the province."

If we are looking at the government to bring fulfillment then Solomon says this too is vanity and fails miserably at the task.  He seems to say that the king, the top dog, if he cultivates the land, if he keeps in touch with those who live on the land, then the land and those on the land have an advantage.  When the government keeps in touch with what is happening in Small Town, USA then Small Town, USA receives some benefit from it.

What about us?  Can we do the same?  Can we foster "oppression of the poor and denial of justice and righteousness in the province" because we are thinking about putting more into our pockets when some pockets are empty?  Can we get out of touch with the land or the people around us and stop cultivating that soil to see others come to an advantage physically and spiritually.  Could we keep our witness so silent that others never hear the message of the gospel from our lips when given the Spirit-led opportunity?  Christians and churches can fall into the same trap of a government that thinks nothing but of itself.  We can fall into the same trap of padding our pockets of comfort when we should be using our God-given resources to solve some of the needs right around us.

v.10-12 -  He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves abundance with its income.  This too is vanity.  When good things increase, those who consume them increase.  So what is the advantage to their owners except to look on?  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.

Solomon knows that money and abundance will have a hold on society.  It is an idol to be contented with.  Jesus said, "You can not serve both God and money."  Money and abundance just lead to the solution that more is needed to be fulfilled or to be happy.  As long as that fulfillment is focused on self centeredness then it is going to fall short.  With more resources comes more responsibilities to use those resources for the good of others.  Instead of building more barns to keep them in for ourselves, they are more of an advantage to the owner to "look on" as they are used for the need.  This keeps the owner working which is one of those good things that Solomon has identified along with a keeping of justice and a compassion for the poor.  A love of money hinders these three to fulfill its role in being used fully for God's purposes.  It has become a god to be fed rather than a God who feeds others.

Solomon ends with another word picture for us to understand.  We have a working man who eats either little or much but he sleeps well at night.  He has been working so his physical metabolism has been increased because of activity.  That increased metabolism helps to digest the food he has eaten so that he can get a restful sleep and be ready to work for the next day.

The rich man has not been working or it seems not because of the contrast here.  The rich man has not been exerting himself and he eats a full meal before bed.  All night long his body is going to be working with a slow rate of metabolism to digest the food in his full stomach.  He is going to be uncomfortable all night and will rise the next morning feeling sickly and wanting to stay in bed because his body has fully rested.

Which man is at the advantage here?  The rich man with the full stomach but unable to sleep because of his inactivity or the working man who had something to eat but provided the physical activity to break it down more quickly so he could have a restful sleep and ready to work again in the morning?  The rich man has the "dough" or the "goods" but the working man has the ability to readily help others and be content with what he has if it is "little or much."  

Sometimes our society gets values mixed up and sells us a bill of goods to line their own pockets when what we need is to keep looking at God and others and how we can serve them and not ourselves.  We are here to work in a way that allows us to be content with what we have and sleep well at night so that we can rise to a new day and show compassion to others so justice and righteousness reign in the province.  Do you need an adjustment at what is driving you?  Are you sleeping well at night because you are content with what God has provided whether little or much to be used for His glory?  Let us pray.

"Lord, may our values be Yours and not of this world.  May we be so thankful for what is in our pockets but not hold so tightly to it that we wouldn't see how You can use it.  Help us to be those kings cultivating the land around us so the advantage can be seen through the work You have given us to attend to.  Amen."

Pastor Adam