Pastor Rob Wheeler

July 4, 2010

Wisdom Concerning Our Finances

Various passages

I. Perspective on wealth

A. Wealth that prospers us is from the Lord (3:9-10; 8:18-21; 10:22)

B. Wealth has fleeting security (10:15&16; 18:10-12; 23:4-5; 27:23-24; Ecc 5:15)

Eccl 5:15 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. NIV

C. Wealth is never the end all, be all (11:4; 16:8; 22:1-2; 30:8-9)

II. Practices that manage our wealth biblically

A. Be careful how you loan and borrow money (11:15; 17:18; 22:7; 26-27)

B. Be patient in acquiring money (10:4; 12:11; 13:11)

2 Thess 3:10 For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "If a man will not work, he shall not eat." 11 We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies. 12 Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat. NIV

C. Benefit others with your wealth (11:25; 28:8, 22)

III. Problems that can come with wealth

A. Riches tempt us to abandon our values (1:10-19)

B. Riches tempt us to be selfish (11:24, 26; Ecc 5:13-14)

Eccl 5:13 I have seen a grievous evil under the sun: wealth hoarded to the harm of its owner, 14 or wealth lost through some misfortune, so that when he has a sonthere is nothing left for him. NIV

C. Riches bring turmoil and difficulty (15:16; Ecc 5:10-12)

Eccl 5:10 Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless. 11 As goods increase, so do those who consume them. And what benefit are they to the owner except to feast his eyes on them? 12 The sleep of a laborer is sweet, whether he eats little or much, but the abundance of a rich man permits him no sleep. NIV