Read Ecclesiastes 2:12–23
I hated all the things I had toiled for under the sun, because I must
leave them to the one who comes after me. And who knows whether he
will be a wise man or a fool? Ecclesiastes 2:18–19
Solomon was born wealthy, and great wealth came to him because he was the king. But he was looking at life “under the sun” and speaking for the common people. The day would come when Solomon would die and leave everything to his successor. This reminds us of our Lord’s warning in the parable of the rich fool (Luke 12:13–21) and Paul’s words in 1 Timothy 6:7–10. A Jewish proverb says, “There are no pockets in shrouds.”
A writer in the Wall Street Journal called money an article that may be
used as a universal passport to everywhere except heaven and as a universal provider of everything except happiness.
Of course, you and I are stewards of our wealth; God is the Provider
(Deut. 8:18) and the Owner, and we have the privilege of enjoying it and
using it for His glory. One day we will have to give an account of what we
have done with His generous gifts. While we cannot take wealth with us
when we die, we can send it ahead as we use it today according to God’s
will (Matt. 6:19–34; 1 Tim. 6:17–19).
Something to Ponder
What does it mean to you to be a steward of your wealth?