Seeking True Riches

The author of the book of Ecclesiastes pulls no punches. He tells it like it is. For this we ought to be thankful, because his honesty can awaken us from our sleep. In today's reading in chapter 4, the author speaks again of the vanity of all our toil and work. We work and work and work, never satisfied with the riches we gain. So we work all the harder to gain more, but in trying to gain more we find we now have no time to enjoy what we have earned. Our labor for more keeps us from finding joy in what we have. So for who are we really laboring? That's a question the writer says those who strive after earthly riches rarely ask themselves, for if they did they might change their life pursuits. In 1 Timothy 6 Paul offers Timothy some important counsel regarding wealth. He reminds young Timothy that earthly riches are not permanent. Verse 7 says that we entered the world with nothing, and we will leave the world with nothing. All the mummies who were buried with their riches are gone; but their riches still remain. Earthly riches are momentary and we must not cling too tightly to them. Besides loosing them at our death, they can be lost in an instant while we still live as many rich persons have found out. Earthly wealth is at best an "uncertain" hope (vs. 17) Paul also warns Timothy of the danger of earthly riches. He mentions those who have a desire to be rich - how many times this pursuit plunged the pursuer into ruin and destruction. He warns Timothy that the love of money (I take this to mean the inordinate desire for money) is the pathway to all sorts of evil, the worst being that it often leads a man to wander away from his faith. Instead a man should be content with food and clothing and seek the gain of godliness with contentment. Such a man should pursue true riches. As Paul advises he should set his hope on God or we could say pursue the riches of God by "doing good, being rich in good works, being generous and ready to share." Such a pursuit actually stores up riches for the future and enables a man to experience in this life what is truly life (vs 19). Today it would do us all a lot of good to step back and evaluate our work. Ask yourself, "What am I pursuing?" Am I locked into a treadmill that is taking me nowhere? Am I pursuing riches that are uncertain and will not last? Or am I pursing the riches that cannot be taken away from me - the riches that come when I cease the human tendency to be self-grasping, and begin to release all the blessings the Lord has poured on me for the good of others? This is the way to fullness of life in the present, and offers a great foundation and reward for the future. May God help us to pursue true riches.