READ: Ecclesiastes 5 (Focus vs. 13-20)
MEMORY VERSE
“I have seen a grievous evil under the sun: wealth hoarded to the harm of its owners.” Ecclesiastes 5:13
BACKGROUND
In the classic film Citizen Kane, Charles Foster Kane amasses wealth and power by building a newspaper empire. In a story reminiscent of Ecclesiastes 2:4-11, Kane spares himself no pleasure, building a castle with grand gardens full of artistic treasures.
Like other tycoons, what Kane really wants is adulation. He bankrolls his own political career and, when it fails, he blames the defeat on voter “fraud” to save face. He builds his wife an opera house and forces her into an ill-suited singing career to make him look good.
Here too Kane’s story echoes Ecclesiastes, where wealth is found to harm those who chase and hoard it (5:10-15), leaving them eating “in darkness, with great frustration” (5:17). By the end of his life, Charlie Kane lives in that castle alone, isolated and angry.
Citizen Kane ends with the revelation that Charlie’s pursuits have been driven to fill a void in his heart—the parental love he lost as a child. I can imagine the author of Ecclesiastes agreeing. Our Father God has “set eternity in the human heart” (3:11), and life can only be enjoyed with Him (2:25).
Charlie Kane’s cautionary tale speaks to us all: Don’t seek spiritual fulfilment through wealth and power, but through the one who pours His love into our hearts (Romans 5:5).
Sheridan Voysey
INSIGHT
In Ecclesiastes, Solomon seeks to answer the perplexing question of the meaning of life. He shows that life without God is futile, unfulfilling, miserable, and meaningless “under the sun” (see 1:3, 13-14; 12:8).
Then he explains how and why God must fit into our lives (2:24-26; 3:11-14; 5:7, 18-20). He examines human accomplishments, pleasures, and intellectual pursuits (chs. 1-2); the repetitive mundane existential/experiential life (ch. 3); and social interactions and community (ch. 4).
Though accumulating wealth through hard work in itself isn’t wrong, pursuing materialism for its own sake brings disillusionment and despair (chs. 5-6). But the person who reverently worships and fears God (5:1-7) will see and enjoy the fruit of his labor as a gift from God (vv. 18-20).
Solomon offers us this recipe for a fulfilled life: “Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind” (12:13).
APPLICATION
How do you see yourself imitating Charlie Kane? What spiritual need does God need to meet in you today?
PR’s (Pastor Richard) RE-EMPHASIS (From Today’s Post)
“Don’t seek spiritual fulfilment through wealth and power, but through the one who pours His love into our hearts.”
PR’s TAKE
“Thou hast formed us for Thyself, and our hearts are restless till they find rest in Thee.” St. Augustine
“God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him”.
John Piper
“Life is too precious to squander on trivial things”. John Piper
PRAYER
“Loving God, please forgive my attempts to feel important through buying things or seeking praise. My spiritual need can only be met by You!”
TODAY’S HYMN/WORSHIP/PRAISE/GOSPEL SONG
“JESUS YOU ARE THE CENTER OF MY JOY”
Jesus, You’re the center of my joy
All that’s good and perfect comes from You
You’re the heart of my contentment
Hope for all I do
Jesus, You’re the center of my joy
When I’ve lost my direction
You’re the compass for my way
You’re the fire and light
When nights are long and cold
In sadness, You are the laughter
That shadows all my fears
When am all alone, Your hand is there to hold, oh
Jesus, You’re the center of my joy
All that’s good and perfect comes from You
You’re the heart of my contentment
Hope for all I do
Jesus, You’re the center of my joy
You are why I find pleasure in the simple things in life
You are the music in the meadows and the stream
The voices of the children, my family, and my home
You’re the source and finish of my highest dreams, oh
Jesus, You’re the center of my joy
All that’s good and perfect
(All that’s good and perfect comes from You)
You’re the heart of my contentment
(You’re the heart of my contentment)
Hope for all I do
Jesus (Jesus) You are (You are)
The center (the center) of my joy (of my joy)
Jesus (Jesus) You are (You are) the center…
You are everything (Jesus) everything
(You are) everything (the center) everything…
You my joy (Jesus) in my sorrow
(You are) You’re my hope
(the center) for tomorrow (of my joy)
When am lonely (Jesus) feeling sad (You are)
You are the lifter (the center) of my head…
You’re my music (Jesus)
You’re my song (You are)
You’re my joy (the center) all day long (of my joy)
Oh Jesus (Jesus)
You’re the center of my joy (joy, joy)
My joy
My joy
