Who is the wealthiest person in the world? How you answer this question depends on how you define wealth. Is wealth purely a number? Or is it much more than that? Most people are aware that money does not equal happiness. So then what is the value of riches and fame? In Ecclesiastes 5-6 Solomon considers the value of riches, fame, and possessions in his quest for the meaning of life. Once again, he finds that these things are bitterly disappointing. I believe Solomon turned back to these common pursuits because he knew his own heart, and he knew that most people would think that these things would satisfy. Many of us believe- “If I only had more… then I’d be happy.” But King Solomon, the man who literally had it all, says otherwise. In Ecclesiastes 5:8-6:12 Solomon gives three facts about wealth and honor:

The first fact is wealth and honor are vanity because people are corrupted by sin (Eccl. 5:8-17). Because of sin, every level of man’s authority is corrupt. The wealthy and powerful are wicked. Powerful people violate justice and righteousness. Although a good king is very beneficial, they are few and far between. Because of sin, man has an insatiable desire for more. Possessions and money are temporary. Often the more money you have, the more problems you experience. Money is fleeting. Solomon is reminding us that the wealth of this world will never satisfy your soul. The wealthy have no peace, so therefore they cannot rest. Because of sin, death ruins the promise of wealth. All riches are lost in the grave. You came into this world with nothing, and you’ll take nothing with you when you die. Living for wealth is striving after the wind.

Next, the second fact is wealth and honor can be enjoyed with God (Eccl. 5:18-20). Solomon takes a sudden turn in this discussion. After explaining the vanity of worldly wealth, he turns to the positive side. The things of this world can be enjoyed but they must be enjoyed with God. To enjoy our possessions, we must recognize that the common things in life are from God. Life itself is a gift from God, so we need to give Him the glory for all we have. So, when we sit down for a delicious meal, we praise God in prayer because food is a gift from God. We also need to recognize that the riches and blessings of this life are from God. Our money, houses, cars, clothes, jobs, intelligence, and abilities are gifts from God. We must accept these things as gifts and rejoice in God’s graciousness. This is why God desires us to be content and humble. Solomon is showing us that life with God is enjoyable. When we have a relationship with our Creator, we find true satisfaction.

And finally, the third fact is wealth and honor without God are vanity (Eccl. 6:1-12). In contrast to the one who walks with God, someone who has great wealth, but doesn’t have the God-given ability to enjoy it, is miserable. Wealth and honor without God’s blessing are vanity. This shows us God’s sovereignty even over the feelings and emotions of mankind. God controls everything and that includes our emotions and desires. If someone tries to find joy without Him, they will fail. A long and wealthy life without joy is vanity. Solomon says in verse 3 that if someone lives a long life with children, possessions, and wealth but has no joy, then they’re worse off than the stillborn child.

Furthermore, without God, man’s labors are vanity. We toil to fill our belly, but our appetite is never satisfied. No matter how much we eat, we will still get hungry. Both the fool and the wise cannot find satisfaction in this world. Solomon says it’s better to be content with what you have, than to constantly desire more. And finally, Solomon concludes this discussion with the reality that man cannot help himself. Man is weak and powerless. We can’t change the past and we have no power over the future. We can’t fix our greatest problem. 

Wealth and honor will never satisfy your soul. But God can! Solomon is pointing us to God. Only God can give you true joy and meaning in life. The good news is, we can have a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. If we trust in Christ for salvation, then we are reconciled to God. We can enjoy this life when our sins are forgiven by the blood of Jesus at the moment we put our faith in Him alone. As Christians, we can trust God with our money, possessions, and abilities because He’s in control. God knows what’s good for us. He knows what tomorrow will bring. He can fix our problems. So, we should submit to God, acknowledge our weaknesses, and trust our Creator.