The Cloud Prt 2
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Those who love money will never have enough. How meaningless to think that wealth brings true happiness! The more you have, the more people come to help you spend it. So what good is wealth—except perhaps to watch it slip through your fingers!
People who work hard sleep well, whether they eat little or much. But the rich seldom get a good night’s sleep.
There is another serious problem I have seen under the sun. Hoarding riches harms the saver. Money is put into risky investments that turn sour, and everything is lost. In the end, there is nothing left to pass on to one’s children. We all come to the end of our lives as naked and empty-handed as on the day we were born. We can’t take our riches with us.
And this, too, is a very serious problem. People leave this world no better off than when they came. All their hard work is for nothing—like working for the wind. Throughout their lives, they live under a cloud—frustrated, discouraged, and angry.
This was written by one of the richest kings in all history…Solomon
One word is significant here: Love
For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.
Love is reserved for 2 things:
The love of God
The love of other people
(family, neighbor, enemy)
This kind of love elevates God and people as our highest priority
What God wants and people need are our highest priorities
Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.
Philippians
This is very hard if we love money
We will do what it requires
Hebrews
When money is elevated to the same priority as God....God always becomes less important and money more important
Example: Christians who choose to work an extra shift on Sundays to get more money…and miss church
Christians who say they do not have enough money to honor God with something
(Widow who put in the penny)
Christians who believe money makes them secure
Christians who only see what they need/want, instead of being thankful for what they have
Their Pension ($400,000)
Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.”
Opening Up Ecclesiastes Dissatisfaction (v. 11)
Someone asked John D. Rockefeller, ‘How much money does it take to satisfy a man?’ Rockefeller replied, ‘Just a little bit more than he has.’
society (Christians) needs to understand the meaning of one word...... ENOUGH!
A study done about how much income is required for us to be happy
Robert Glatter, MD Forbes Magazine Tech July 27, 2012 @ 02:08 AM
Here in the US, the standard falls around $75,000.
However, the positive effects of money had no effect on people's happiness and moods after a level of $ 75,000.00 was attained.
Here in the US, according to Dunn and Norton, the standard falls around $75,000. Researchers at Princeton examined Gallup poll data from nearly 500,000 US households and found that higher family incomes were related to better moods on a day to day basis. However, the positive effects of money had no effect on people's happiness and moods after a level of $ 75,000.00 was attained.
However, the positive effects of money had no effect on people's happiness and moods after a level of $ 75,000.00 was attained.
Because all our needs can be met by $75,000
After this our language goes from
We need
to
I want
Having things we want is not a sin
unless
We ignore our Christian principles and priorities to get them
Have we been generous towards God and people first
Have we stolen time and attention from our families, our friends and God to work the hours to get our wants
Under-indulgance findings from study
Dunn and Norton refer to the concept of “underindulgence”- indulging a little less than you typically do- may lead you to a place where you achieve more happiness for your money.
The concept is that by denying yourself the excess that you may ultimately desire may allow you to savor and appreciate the finer things in life.
Dunn gives the example of indulging in chocolate sparingly -instead of in excess- may actually make you appreciate the taste and texture much more.
More happiness
A more extreme but scientifically proven means of increasing the happiness you derive from your money is a bit more radical-not spending it on yourself.
It turns out that people who spend money on others rather than themselves are actually happier in the long run.
They derive a greater feeling of reward and satisfaction and this helps to enrich their inner feelings of sharing and contentment.
Opening Up Ecclesiastes Anxiety (vv. 13–14)
The hoarder has already lost his wealth in his mind. He always thinks that other hoarders are after it
There is another serious problem I have seen under the sun. Hoarding riches harms the saver. Money is put into risky investments that turn sour, and everything is lost. In the end, there is nothing left to pass on to one’s children.
Ecclesiastes
Key word here is RISKY!
Risky Investments promise to give LARGE and quick returns for your small investment
Wealth from get-rich-quick schemes quickly disappears; wealth from hard work grows over time.
Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.
Who believes gambling is wrong?
Who believes gambling is wrong?
McGill University defines Gambling as:
Gambling is taking part in any game or activity in which you risk money or a valuable object in order to win money.
Investing in the stock market through mutual funds, RRSP’s is a form of gambling
There is a difference though
in a casino…someone looses their money and it goes to you
The Casino is set up that the Casino wins more than you do
People go to the Casino to win fast!!
In the Stock Market.....you are a part owner of a company (shares)
You are betting that what that company produces will grow in value
Choosing what company you want to work for is a gamble too
You want to work for a company that is going to be successful and not fail
If you truly feel the stock market is gambling
You can put it in your mattress
Enron investors sure wished they did.
Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.
Honor- We give to God because we are honoring him, showing our faith, trust and commitment
First fruits- God is to be honored not with what is left over after everything else has been taken care of
Barns filled- Giving to God does not guarantee riches
It guarantees your needs will be met
It guarantees treasures in heaven
Don’t wear yourself out trying to get rich. Be wise enough to know when to quit. In the blink of an eye wealth disappears, for it will sprout wings and fly away like an eagle.
When we die we take only two things with us:
Our Character and our dignity
Reflected in how we handled everything God gave us
Mouth-words
Body - actions
Wealth- resources
Brain - wisdom
Opening Up Ecclesiastes Futility (v. 15–17)
for we do not leave this world empty, but carry with us our character and integrity
Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others.
Some people who used their money for good
Joseph Rank (28 March 1854 - 13 November 1943)
Britain's largest Flour milling and bakery companies
His Trust still funds Methodist Church missions and home missions work
We are an independent Christian grant-maker and work with all Christian denominations. The principal object of the Trust is "to advance the Christian Faith" - to further the Kingdom of God.
2017 they have $3,598,598.40 to various churches in Britain
The Cadbury Brothers (Quakers)
Bournville Village
Rockefeller
He was a devout Christian who taught in Sunday school and supported many church-based projects throughout his life.
He was a devout Christian who taught in Sunday school and supported many church-based projects throughout his life. Rockefeller was quoted as saying “God gave me money”, and he did not apologise for it. He followed John Wesley’s principle of “gain all you can, save all you can, and give all you can.”
Rockefeller was quoted as saying “God gave me money”, and he did not apologize for it.
He followed John Wesley’s principle of “gain all you can, save all you can, and give all you can.”
From his very first paycheck, Rockefeller tithed ten percent of his earnings to his church.
As Rockefeller’s wealth grew, his giving also increased, with most of his giving going towards educational and public health causes, as well as basic science and the art.
Heinz
Henry Heinz was a Christian businessman who founded the Heinz company 1869.
Heinz based his business on Christian principles and proclaimed that his success was a direct result of his faith in God.
Heinz was credited for its fair treatment of workers and for pioneering safe and clean food preparation.
Today the Heinz company is worth around $12 billion.
It’s most famous product is tomato ketchup, with 650 million bottles of Ketchup being sold every year.
The last will and testament of H. J. Heinz sums it up well:
‘Looking forward to the time when my earthly career shall end, I desire to set forth at the very beginning of this will, as the most important thing in it, a confession of my faith in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour;
I also desire to bear witness to the fact that throughout my life, in which were the usual joys and sorrows, I have been wonderfully sustained by my faith in God. To him I attribute any success I may have obtained during my lifetime.’
Cher-Wang HTC phones
Wang is a devout Christian who was quoted as saying that the Bible is “the best book about management practice”. One of the most important things she has learned from the Bible is that a person must have a vision, otherwise he or she will be destroyed.
Forbes ranked her and her husband’s as Taiwan’s 13th richest people with a combined net worth of US$2.5 billion in 2013.
In May 2011, Forbes ranked her and her husband Wen Chi Chen as the richest people in Taiwan. Following some challenges with HTC’s sales dropping in recent months, Forbes ranked her and her husband’s as Taiwan’s 13th richest people with a combined net worth of US$2.5 billion in 2013.
. Folorunsho Alakija
Folorunsho Alakija is the founder of the Rose of Sharon foundation, a Christian-based charity which gives out small grants to widows. In 2013, she replaced Oprah Winfrey to become the richest black woman in the world with a $1.88b net-worth
Strive Masiyiwa
Strive Masiyiwa is a Zimbabwean born businessman who founded Econet Wireless.
a global telecommunications group with operations, investments and offices in more than 15 countries.
A born again Christian, he is quoted as saying that he reads his bible for at least 4 hours a day – if he’s busy!
He tithes 10% of his annual income to his church.
Together with his wife, he personally pays the school fees for over 22,000 Zimbabwean orphans.
According to Forbes, 2015, he has an estimated net worth of US$600 million.
David Green
He is a 70 year old billionaire and founder of Hobby Lobby, an arts and crafts chain with 520 superstores in 42 states.
an estimated net worth of $4.5 billion.
He was quoted saying;
“If you have anything or if I have anything, it’s because it’s been given to us by our Creator, so I have learned to say, ‘Look, this is yours, God. It’s all yours. I’m going to give it to you.’”
estimated his total lifetime giving at above $500million, making him the largest individual financier of evangelical causes in America.
Green sponsors the YouVersion Bible app for mobile phones which has already been downloaded over 50 million times.
He also plans to give 90% of his wealth to ministry work when he dies.
He is the owner of the largest private collection of biblical antiquities in the world and plans to open the Museum of the Bible within three years.
Green recalls the memory of his parents’ putting their last dime on the collection plate. His father was a poor preacher yet despite their financial state, Green’s mother stepped out in faith and regularly gave to the church. He attributes his blessing to his mother’s giving and the fact that he continues to give today.
Henry Parsons Crowell
Henry Parsons Crowell was an extraordinary Christian business man and founder of the Quaker Oats Company.
He brought oatmeal to the mainstream, and advanced the Gospel through the Henry Parsons and Susan Coleman Crowell Trust.
The Trust states that its purpose is to fund the teaching and active extension of the doctrines of evangelical Christianity.
At a time when the Quaker Oats Company was struggling, he brought his business problems to the Lord. An idea soon came to him to package the oats in individual cardboard containers. The idea was a success and demand soared.
Many business people and corporate giants came to Christ as a result of their association with Henry and his wife.
The more money Henry gave to Christian causes, the more he prospered.
Many business people and corporate giants came to Christ as a result of their association with Henry and his wife. The more money Henry gave to Christiancauses, the more he prospered. He became hugely wealthy in various other businesses. He believed that all things were a stewardship from God. Towards the end of his life, Henry had given away 70% of his wealth. He went to be with the Lord at the age of 82, while riding the commuter train back to his house with a Bible in his hand.
He believed that all things were a stewardship from God.
Towards the end of his life, Henry had given away 70% of his wealth.
He went to be with the Lord at the age of 82, while riding the commuter train back to his house with a Bible in his hand.
Opening Up Ecclesiastes The Correction of Man (vv. 18–20)
In 1831, Cyrus McCormick, an American farmer, invented a mechanical harvester. Six years later he went bankrupt. He lost his farm and everything he owned was put up for sale, with the exception of one item—his recent invention—which was deemed to be worthless by his creditors. In 1840 it went on sale, making him a multi-millionaire! But McCormick saw the need for a greater harvest and used part of his fortune to promote the evangelistic ministry of D. L. Moody.
Opening Up Ecclesiastes The Correction of Man (vv. 18–20)
The last will and testament of H. J. Heinz sums it up well: ‘Looking forward to the time when my earthly career shall end, I desire to set forth at the very beginning of this will, as the most important thing in it, a confession of my faith in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour; I also desire to bear witness to the fact that throughout my life, in which were the usual joys and sorrows, I have been wonderfully sustained by my faith in God. To him I attribute any success I may have obtained during my lifetime.’
Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.” So we can say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?”