What Will You Do for Gain?
Scripture: Ecclesiastes 2:26Devotional Series: Rich and Righteous
Teaching: Rich And Righteous pt. 2 (SUN_PM 2021-03-21) by Pastor Star R Scott
Jeremiah 17 says, “As the partridge sitteth on the eggs, and hatcheth them not; so he that getteth riches, and not by right, shall leave them in the midst of his days, and at his end shall be a fool” (verse 11). So, we see the Scripture telling us not to trust in uncertain riches (1 Timothy 6:17).
Now, none of us are going to have to struggle with these problems of billionaires. For many of us, it’s not six-figure increases. What a change a thousand dollars would do to our lives at any given moment, and that’s a lot of money. And we search our hearts and we say, “Am I content?” What am I willing to do for that extra thousand dollars? The pursuit of gain and prosperity and prestige should never take us out of the establishing of His covenant, our responsibility to our homes, our responsibility to the community. I’m not talking about the fact that you have to take a business trip every once in a while, but to have this gain, what if you go into it knowing that you’re going to be away six weeks of the year, ten weeks of the year traveling and having to run all about. What does that do to you, overseeing your homes? What does that have to do with you bringing up your children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord? How big of a hole is that putting into the body of Christ? How well does that home function without its head being present? Are you ready to take that gamble for x-number of dollars? Those are the things that we’re facing on a practical basis here as the church—it’s not billions of dollars. It’s amazing how many of us are influenced more by prestige, by self-fulfillment even than we are by the money. So, in this hour, let’s be prayerful, let’s make sure that we’re not being seduced, because the Scripture makes it very clear that in the last days, the church will be destroyed by their prosperity (Proverbs 1:32, Job 15:21). People are running to and fro for a few bucks. He talks about accumulating wealth, and in Ecclesiastes 2, verse 26, it says, “For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God.” “The wealth of the wicked, the Scripture says, is laid up for the just” (Proverbs 13:22); amen? But as we see it can become vanity. How many of you have ever had peace, sustainable joy, happiness come from a material thing as opposed to having led a soul to Jesus or ministered to a brother or sister in need (Ecclesiastes 2:1-2)? It’s vanity, it’s vexation.
God gives us the ability to enjoy the good of our labor. “Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God” (verse 19). Hallelujah! That’s a powerful verse; isn’t it? Don’t feel guilty for being blessed! Enjoy what God has given you! The wisdom that He’s given, the knowledge, the fact that He’s the source of this. Enjoy the blessings of the Lord that make rich and add no sorrow, Proverbs 10 tells us.
Now, none of us are going to have to struggle with these problems of billionaires. For many of us, it’s not six-figure increases. What a change a thousand dollars would do to our lives at any given moment, and that’s a lot of money. And we search our hearts and we say, “Am I content?” What am I willing to do for that extra thousand dollars? The pursuit of gain and prosperity and prestige should never take us out of the establishing of His covenant, our responsibility to our homes, our responsibility to the community. I’m not talking about the fact that you have to take a business trip every once in a while, but to have this gain, what if you go into it knowing that you’re going to be away six weeks of the year, ten weeks of the year traveling and having to run all about. What does that do to you, overseeing your homes? What does that have to do with you bringing up your children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord? How big of a hole is that putting into the body of Christ? How well does that home function without its head being present? Are you ready to take that gamble for x-number of dollars? Those are the things that we’re facing on a practical basis here as the church—it’s not billions of dollars. It’s amazing how many of us are influenced more by prestige, by self-fulfillment even than we are by the money. So, in this hour, let’s be prayerful, let’s make sure that we’re not being seduced, because the Scripture makes it very clear that in the last days, the church will be destroyed by their prosperity (Proverbs 1:32, Job 15:21). People are running to and fro for a few bucks. He talks about accumulating wealth, and in Ecclesiastes 2, verse 26, it says, “For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God.” “The wealth of the wicked, the Scripture says, is laid up for the just” (Proverbs 13:22); amen? But as we see it can become vanity. How many of you have ever had peace, sustainable joy, happiness come from a material thing as opposed to having led a soul to Jesus or ministered to a brother or sister in need (Ecclesiastes 2:1-2)? It’s vanity, it’s vexation.
God gives us the ability to enjoy the good of our labor. “Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God” (verse 19). Hallelujah! That’s a powerful verse; isn’t it? Don’t feel guilty for being blessed! Enjoy what God has given you! The wisdom that He’s given, the knowledge, the fact that He’s the source of this. Enjoy the blessings of the Lord that make rich and add no sorrow, Proverbs 10 tells us.