First published on April 1, 2024 as part of the Enjoy Life: from meaningless to meaningful series
Ecclesiastes Five Part One
About four years ago a few friends and I gathered together to start a new Bible study group. We selected the book, Becoming the Woman God Wants Me to Be, by Donna Partow. It was a 90-day study on the Proverbs 31 woman. After tackling such topics as meditating on God’s Word, creating healthy, godly habits, and family relationships we were asked to declutter our lives. The scriptures for Day 31 were from Luke 3:11; 6:38
“And he answered them, “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.”… (Jesus said) give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”
It was the beginning of a journey toward freedom. Freedom from clutter, freedom from hoarding, and freedom from stuff. We were to sit in each room of our house and quietly meditate and pray about what the room spoke to us. Was it chaos? Was it peaceful? Was it full of stuff that brought us joy or shame?
“The key to minimizing clutter and keeping an orderly home is a resolute commitment to give away everything you can. Give, give, give! Give until it hurts.” Donna Partow, Becoming the Woman God Wants Me to Be
This sentiment is echoed by John Wesley’s sage advice to “Make all you can, save all you can, give all you can.” Why? Because as King Solomon reminds us all in Ecclesiastes 5, you can’t take it with you.
“As he came from his mother’s womb he shall go again, naked as he came, and shall take nothing for his toil that he may carry away in his hand.” Ecclesiastes 5:15
And we can’t forget from Ecclesiastes 3, there’s “a time to keep and a time to throw away…” (v 6)
According to Pew Research, in 2013 the average global annual household income was $9,733. In the United States that number was $51,939. Poor Americans were actually classified as global middle class. And only 2% of all Americans could classify as “globally poor.” The good news in 2019 however, was that the United States, according to the World Giving Index, ranks first in charitable giving. But who ranked second? It was Myanmar, considered to be on the lower-middle income scale. Researchers surmise this stark difference in income to charitable giving is due to the large population of Theravada Buddhists for whom frequent acts of giving are the norm.
So yes, the majority of Americans are wealthy from a global perspective and we give and give. But we also hoard. About 10% of US households are currently renting a storage unit filled with stuff. In 2019, a survey found the average American spent $18,000 per year on non-essential goods. That’s twice the annual income on average globally! One often-repeated but unconfirmed statistic claims the average American home contains 300,000 items.
That’s a lot of stuff. And you have to ask, why?
“But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” 1 Timothy 6: 6-10
And while many of our bank accounts don’t show a lot of money, our homes sure do. So, when we were asked to sit in each room and evaluate the atmosphere, it brought out a number of uncomfortable feelings. The stuff that had accumulated was embarrassing and not bringing my family much enjoyment. It reminded me of when I would visit my husband’s grandmother’s house and think, “When she’s gone who is going to have to go through all this stuff?” She hoarded all manner of paper goods and supplies. When my mother-in-law was in her last days, I truly appreciated one of her last requests of me and my eldest daughter – to start cleaning out clothes closets and freezers before she was gone. She didn’t want her husband to have to deal with it all later.
“There is more than one way to be rich and more than one way to be poor. f we accept His gifts, but complain about them we are guilty of ingratitude. If we hoard His gifts and will not share them with others, we are guilty of indulgence. But if we yield to His will and use what He gives us for His glory, then we can enjoy life and be satisfied.” Warren Wiersbe, Be Satisfied
Our ability to earn an income, and even have disposable income, is a gift from God. We turn so much of what we buy into “needs.” I’m just as guilty. Because even though I did a great job decluttering my home during that study I’ve noticed the stuff has gathered steam again in my house.
What is this need we have, especially those of us in wealthy western countries, to turn to stuff to satisfy? To find our joy in hoarding money and possessions? To build up bank accounts for the distant future? We need to feel secure that the nest egg is the right size – even though the right size never seems big enough. We want full refrigerators, stuffed closets, and overflowing garages. Enough never seems quite enough. We need, we need. Once while driving through our neighborhood my eldest daughter, who was about 8 years old, commented on an open, three-car garage. “I’m glad we don’t have two garage doors,” she said. And I asked, “Why?” “Because that would mean we would need more junk,” she sagely replied. Oh, the wisdom of innocence.
“I believe one reason so many Christians in America are apathetic is they don’t really believe they need God. They have replaced Him with their estate planner and retirement fund. I’m not implying we should ignore planning for the future and, in effect, presume on God. But when you cling to your possessions and live in fear of not having them, you ignore the Holy Spirit’s leading and put your confidence in your wealth instead of God.”
John MacArthur
Ouch! Imagine if you would, before buying anything — and I mean anything – we have a short chat with the Lord. “Do I truly need this?” “Will this help me live in the fruit of the Spirit?” “Am I buying this because I think I deserve it?” “Is this financial decision made in trusting You?” I would probably buy less potato chips and therefore be treating my body as a better steward! I believe this is what it means to pray without ceasing. We are in constant contact with the Lord even in the grocery store, but especially when it comes to bigger wants and needs. A prayer life rich in listening and trusting God so that we can be good stewards of our blessings and gifts. Asking God to help us truly enjoy the riches He bestows on us — that’s what I want to seek each and every day.
Part Two of our look at Ecclesiastes 5, Enjoying The Gifted Life! Click here for part two.
