“The sleep of a laborer is sweet, whether he eats little or much, but the abundance of a rich man permits him no sleep.” (Ecclesiastes 5:12)
Maybe you read this verse and think, “I don’t really need all that much sleep; I wouldn’t mind some more abundance to keep me up at night.” Most of us would sell our sleep for dollars. Eventually, many of us do.
But Solomon’s point here is that money and cool stuff fails in another way: Taking care of it all takes time, attention, energy, and often worry. It’s not just that we lose sleep; wealth can also steal our peace of mind.
When we’re hungry for money or the stuff it can buy, we’re hoping for exactly the opposite of that, aren’t we? “If I just had [fill in blank], then I’d be content.” Solomon shows us the lie: “Having” often swipes the contentment we thought we were buying and gives us a maintenance list instead.
Is your next purchase worth it?
Think: Have you ever heard anyone talk about having lots of stuff as though it were a burden? Have you ever heard anyone talk about being happier back in the day when they were more broke? Why would anyone say those things?
Pray: Ask God to help you to trust him, not stuff, to bring you peace of mind. Ask him to give you the courage not to expect money or things to bring you contentment.
Do: Do you have an abundance? Take a quick inventory of everything you personally own. Put a check mark next to anything you have to continue to take care of or replace or protect.