Does Money
Answer All Things?
By Anthony Coleman
Recently there has been exaggerated use of the scripture in Ecclesiastes which states;
Ecclesiastes 10:19 A
feast is made for laughter, and wine makes merry; but money answers everything.
What
I find interesting with many who emphasize prosperity beyond reasonable balance, is that they seem unable to resist turning
a scripture such as this into something it doesn’t mean.
This passage has warped into the idea that
money is the answer for all things. It then justifies excessive time and energy spent obtaining it.
Many Christians have taken it to mean that they should focus on money. Is that what this really
means?
Here are some things to consider.
The
author himself, Solomon did not believe that money answers everything and he was certainly in a position to determine if it
was true. The statement itself is rooted in cynicism; suggesting
that the attitude that money is a “cure all” or that it is the solution to everything is absurd.
Solomon
began his leadership not by asking for money but for wisdom; something he knew
could not be bought or in any way secured by money. The primary theme of the book of Ecclesiastes is vanity. He builds a case that nothing in this world is capable of bringing
true joy, peace, and happiness. Without God as our centerpiece life will be lived with substitutes incapable of fulfilling us.
In one sense and as a wealthy man, Solomon
is saying, ‘yes, money to an extent can answer the necessities of natural life but it can’t answer all things.’
If money could answer all things it would naturally become our focus, however Solomon speaks against this very notion
by saying the following:
Ecc 5:10
Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loveswealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless.
Solomon seemed to advocate a position that one must first understand relationship
with God and purpose before he can truly understand how to approach all other subjects including money. Thus,
money is a tool a conduit. To view it as the answer for all things is misplaced. This is precisely the point (the cynicism) of
the statement and it agrees with other scripture.
In
reference to redemption Isaiah 52:3 states that;…you
shall be redeemed without money. Also Isaiah 55:1-2
goes further by saying;
Everyone who thirsts come to the waters (new birth). And you who have no money,
come, buy and eat (by faith). Yes, come, buy wine and milk without
money and without price. Why do you spend money for what is not bread (not the true bread of life),
and your wages (money) for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good, and let
your soul delight itself in abundance.
Peter made it very clear when he said;
I Pet 1:18-19
Know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold (money), ….but with the precious blood of Christ,…..
When it comes to matters
of the heart, money is not considered. Things such as love, friendship, peace, wisdom, forgiveness, contentment,
loyalty; these are some of the essential things that money cannot answer. As I said, Solomon understood
this, which we must then conclude; he didn’t mean literally that money answers everything.
This is a case
where continued saturation of the give-to-get message forces preachers to come up with new material. So
the scripture twisting tool is used and of course this is one that is hard to pass up.
