The emptiness that comes from discontentment

I’d be happy if only I just had…

How would you complete that sentence?  “A wife?”  “A better job?”  “More money?”

The problem is that if you’re discontent now, you’re probably never going to be content no matter what you have.  And that’s the point Solomon makes here.

Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income.  This too is meaningless.

As goods increase, so do those who consume them. And what benefit are they to the owner except to feast his eyes on them? (Ecclesiastes 5:10-11)

So many people want more money, but how much money is enough?  So many people want things, but how many things is enough?  For most people it’s never enough.

And so they keep stepping on others to get higher positions and higher salaries (5:8-9), but to no avail.  Sure they get more things, but somehow it never satisfies.

How often do you buy clothes that you never wear?  How often do you buy other things that you never use?

The amount of things you have increase, but as Solomon said in verse 11, all they are is eye candy.  They look good, but you never use them.

Not only that, but when wealth becomes your main goal, you start to worry about maintaining the wealth you have, and you start losing sleep over it. (5:12)

Other people hoard their money for fear of losing it, but in doing so, they never really enjoy life.  Still others waste it on bad investments, or foolish spending, and they lose it all.  (5:13-14)

Even those that are wise with their money can’t take it with them when they die.  It goes to someone else, and who knows what they’ll do with what you leave behind.  It could easily be squandered away in far less time than it took for you to accumulate it.

And so Solomon wrote,

This too is a grievous evil:   As a man comes, so he departs, and what does he gain, since he toils for the wind?  All his days he eats in darkness, with great frustration, affliction and anger.  (16-17)

In other words, a life based on seeking to accumulate money and things is doomed to emptiness because while you’re alive, it will never bring satisfaction.  You’ll always be wanting more and afraid to lose what you have.

And when you’re dead, you’ll lose everything anyway.

How then can we be happy?

Solomon wrote,

The sleep of a laborer is sweet, whether he eats little or much…

Then I realized that it is good and proper for a man to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in his toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given him–for this is his lot.

Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work–this is a gift of God.

He seldom reflects on the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart.  (5:12, 18-20)

And again,

Better what the eye sees than the roving of the appetite. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.  (6:9)

In other words, stop seeking things.  They will never bring you peace and joy in your life.  Instead, be content with what you have.

How about you?  Are your eyes always roving around to find things that will satisfy you?  Or are you satisfied with the things God has already given you?

When we are content with what we have, our sleep is sweet, and our life enjoyable.  Isn’t that what we really want?

How do we be content?  Paul found the secret.  He wrote,

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty.

I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.  (Philippians 4:12)

What is the secret?

I can do everything through him who gives me strength.  (Philippians 4:13)

The secret of being content lies not in things.  It lies not in trusting in things to make you happy.

Rather, it lies in placing your trust in Christ.  Making him your joy.  Making him the one thing you pursue above all else.

And when you do, you’ll find that you can handle being rich or poor, having many things or few, or even being single or married.  You will find that you can live with joy and peace through whatever situation you’re in.

And with that contentment comes a full life, regardless of what you have or don’t have.

Are you content?