The
theme continues. Oppressors are usually driven by a lust for money,
but their lot is not always a happy one, as Solomon seems to be pointing
out here.
Although
there are oppressive ruling powers at work in the world, men may also
be ruled over by their own insatiable desires – by the love
of money and silver and other
possessions in abundance, a compelling desire
to store up far more than they will ever need, perhaps in search of
an elusive feeling of security. Although, such individuals would probably
deny it, their success is often empty and yields little sense of satisfaction.
Most
probably, however, Solomon is not referring to wealthy entrepreneurs
who strive to create new and better products and do so for the sheer
joy of creative achievement, but to those individuals who are dominated
and driven by nothing more than a burning lust for money for its own
sake – for whom sufficiency is never enough and moderation a sign
of weakness.
Perhaps
Jesus has these verses in mind when he counsels a young man involved
in a dispute with his brother over an inheritance, Quote: “Be
on your guard against all kind of greed; a man’s life does
not consist of the abundance of his possessions”
(Luke 12:15). Knowing the facts of the situation, Jesus probably saw
that the man was greedy and had no practical need for the money that
had gone to his brother.
After
the manner of Solomon, Jesus then, once again, reminds those who are
consumed by the need to Acquire, Accumulate and Amass money of their
folly -- of the brevity of human life, the mortality of all men, of
eternity, and the need to be rich in good works and towards God (Luke
12:20-21).
If
life does not consist of possessions, of what does it consist? A simple
answer might be the intelligent and altruistic use of time, talent,
energy and other resources towards the achievement of worthwhile goals
and the good of all mankind.
Perhaps
Solomon is suggesting that instead of loving
money, as if in love with a cold, hard and manipulative woman, a man
should find a love that will bring him real satisfaction, a creative
purpose, a service will that will enable him to love his neighbour as
he loves himself. Unfortunately, human nature, acquire in Eden, draws
us in the opposite direction.
Also
echoing Solomon’s words in these very verses, Paul warns, Quote:
“People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap,
and into many foolish and harmful desires” (1 Timothy 6:9) --
adding in the next verse that: “The love of money
is a root of all kinds of evil”. Notice that the correct rendering
of this verse has Paul saying that the love of money is “a”
root of all evil, a common causal factor, but not the only one.
Many
people have lied, cheated and even fought and murdered their fellow
man for the sake of money, and even committed Christians can be susceptible
to the same desires, as Paul confirms, saying, Quote: “Some people,
eager for money, have wandered far from the faith and pieced themselves
with many griefs”.
Ecclesiastes
appears, in fact, to provide the theme of the whole last chapter of
Paul’s letter to the young evangelist, Timothy – where he
continues by reminding Christians of the goals they should be pursuing,
saying, Quote: “But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue
righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness”
(1 Timothy 6:11).
By
so doing, he says, they can take firm hold of “life that is truly
life” (1 Timothy 6:19), real life, eternal life, rather than the
fleeting shadow with its passing pleasures..
In
the last verse, Solomon contrasts the greedy Amasser and Accumulator
of money with the lowly laboring man. Solomon’s
words are chosen with great care, which is why he speaks not of any
old working man, but a laboring man -- one
who’s physical work helps keeps him fit by providing regular exercise
that relieves stress and facilitates peaceful sleep at might.