Jesus warned about the deceitfulness of wealth. (Mark 4:19).

Perhaps he was thinking about the harmful effects of wealth on Solomon.

As a young man, Solomon asked God to give him “a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong.” (1 Kings 3:9).

But as an old man, Solomon is depicted in Ecclesiastes as led astray by his wealth.

According to tradition, Ecclesiastes was written by Solomon, but it probably consists of writings collected by someone else called “the Teacher” to convey the traditional beliefs of Solomon as an old man.

However that may be, Ecclesiastes shows the deceitfulness of wealth. There is no yearning to do justice. There is a yearning for riches, and other meaningless things.

Occasionally, there is a brief comment urging obedience to God. But this obedience flows from duty to God, not from love for God.

For example, the book ends with this exhortation:

Now all has been heard;

     here is the conclusion of the matter:

Fear God and keep his commandments.

     for this is the duty of all mankind.

For God will bring every deed into judgment,

     including every hidden thing,

     whether it is good or evil. (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14).

Among these hidden, evil things is the deceitfulness of wealth.

Solomon revealed his priorities when building a temple for the LORD compared to building a palace for himself.

Solomon spent seven years building the Temple, but thirteen years building his palace! (1 Kings 6:38; 7:1).

As the wisdom of Jesus tells us in his Sermon on the Mount:

“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” (Matthew 6:24).

Do not be devoted to money.

If you do, you will be foolishly building the “house” of your life and of our civilization on a foundation of sand because you did not put into practice the words of Jesus. Therefore, when “rains” come down, “streams” rise, and “winds” blow and beat against that house, it will fall “with a great crash”.  (Matthew 7:26-27)

Be devoted to loving the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. Be devoted to loving your neighbor as yourself. (Matthew 22:37-34).

If you do, you will be wisely building the “house” of your life and of our civilization on a foundation of rock because you put into practice the words of Jesus . Therefore, when “rains” come down, “streams” rise, and “winds” blow and beat against that “house”, it will not fall. (Matthew 7:24-25).

THINGS TO THINK ABOUT

Which words of Jesus do you not put into practice? How? Why?

Which words of Jesus does our civilization not put into practice? How? Why?

Which words of Jesus do you put into practice? How? Why?

Which words of Jesus does our civilization put into practice? How? Why?

Do you put the words of Jesus into practice because it is your duty? Why?

Do you put the words of Jesus into practice because you love Jesus? Why?

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For related thoughts, please read my blogs “Building Houses on Rock: Mission Impossible?”; “Building Houses on Rock: Mercy and Forgiveness”; “Building Houses on Rock: Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness”; and “Building Houses on Sand: Specks and Planks”.

For my blogs condemning Christian Nationalism, please read my blogs “Nationalism Is the New Polytheism” and “Nationalism Is Patriotism Gone Astray”.

For a comparison between David and Solomon, please read my book Healing the Promised Land, at pages 135-194.