Riches that Devour the Soul of Man
Written by Jimmie Burroughs
“Solomon, God’s greatest example of how riches without God devour the soul.”
I want to clarify in the beginning that it is not riches of themselves that is harmful; it is the attitude toward them that devours the soul of man. The Bible is clear on that: “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows,” 1 Timothy 6:10.
Never before or after has there been a man like King Solomon, king over Israel from 965 to 925 BC, and the son of King David and Bathsheba. No one has had the wealth, notoriety, glory and honor that God gave Solomon. He was the first and last Trillionaire in all of history, said to be the wisest man who ever lived. Apparently, among other things, Solomon collected women: “But King Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites,” I Kings 11:3. Solomon followed the lust of the flesh and wanted every beautiful woman he saw. He took 700 wives and 300 concubines in all, I Kings 11:1.
I Kings 4:26-27.“And Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen. And Solomon reigned over all kingdoms from the river unto the land of the Philistines, and unto the border of Egypt:”
Israel enjoyed its largest borders during the time of Solomon, even then it did not include all that God promised Abraham. That probably won’t occur until the Millennial age. It is amazing the number of horses and horsemen that Solomon had. Other than his pleasure, this was also a business; Solomon trained horses and sold them to other nations. Solomon’s ships traveled the known world buying and trading in all types of merchandise. He sought after everything in hope it would satisfy the lust of the eyes.
Solomon spared nothing on building his mansion. He sent to Lebanon, to King Hiram, to acquire the needed cedar and fir. It took 153,000 forced laborers to build Solomon’s Temple and 7 years to complete compared to 13 years to build his mansion; though the number of workers is not mentioned, it was for sure he had all the workers he wanted because they were slaves. In comparison, there is what I call a mansion being built not far from where I live that probably will be completed in a year with a few dozen workers.
He also built houses for his wives. I recently read of a wealthy man. in one of those countries that allow multiple wives, who built a house for his wives further down the road because he could not deal with the complications of living with so many women. I imagine that one man living with 700 wives and 300 concubines would be very complicated. Apparently, Solomon thought so. Solomon was wealthy enough to even build entire cities. Perhaps some of his wives lived in those cities.
The fame of his accomplishments, wisdom and wealth spread abroad. Even the Queen of Sheba traveled long distance to see and talk to Solomon. Even she, who also was accustomed to the finer things of life, was amazed at the riches of Solomon and all his possessions: “And when the Queen of Sheba had seen all Solomon’s wisdom, and the house that he had built, and the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their apparel, and his cupbearers, and his ascent by which he went up unto the house of the Lord: there was no more spirit in her,” I Kings 10:4-5. Apparently, she fainted at the sight of it.
Just one source of Solomon’s income was enormous: Each year he received six hundred and sixty-six talents of gold. This in today’s currency is over a billion dollars. This was in addition to his income from other things. The utensils Solomon ate from and the cups he drank from were solid gold. I imagine his home would have put Donald Trump’s penthouse in New York City to shame.
Solomon had all a person could ever wish for, and yet he was unhappy. Why do you suppose this was? You see, the same God who gives wealth also gives the ability to enjoy that wealth. Solomon started out right with God. He prayed for wisdom to lead the people, and God said because he only asked for wisdom that He would not only give him wisdom but also wealth. What went wrong? Instead of continuing to serve God, Solomon’s downfall was he yielded to the three deadly sins mentioned in the Bible, the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life. Not only that but as time went by Solomon completely turned away from God:
I Kings 11:4-6 – “For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father. For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. And Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and went not fully after the Lord, as did David his father.”
Towards the end of his life, Solomon realized the futility of a life lived apart from God. He wrote it down in the book of Ecclesiastes. Let’s take a look at what he said:
Ecclesiastes 1:2 – “Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.” That is the verse that started the book of Ecclesiastes and the one it ended with.
Solomon was not a preacher in the truest sense of the word, but he took on the form of a preacher as he proclaimed the results of a life devoured by riches. This word vanity occurs over and over throughout the book. The definition of vanity is the quality of being worthless or futile, which includes useless, no purpose and without profit.
Solomon longed to find a life with meaning and real purpose and he expresses this often in the words “vexation of spirit.” In the world’s view, Solomon accomplished more than just about any person who ever lived, but to Solomon there was no satisfaction only vexation of spirit, forever striving and longing for something he could never find. That is much of the world today, trying to find that one thing that will fill the emptiness of their heart; Solomon expresses this:
Ecclesiastes 1:13-14 – “And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith. I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.”
Sore Travail is speaking of a person’s job or career. In Tony Robin’s book, “Unshakeable,” he said he had interviewed a lot of billionaires and had discovered that some of them were the loneliest, unhappiest and unfulfilled, people he ever met. Billy Graham, in his book on “The Secret of Happiness,” gave a list of some of the most wealthy and prosperous men who ever lived, who died alone, broke or in prison. These spent their entire lives building a business and missed the joy of living and spending time with their family. How sad it is that many spend their lives climbing the ladder of success to discover at the top there is nothing but loneliness. They often have failed their family and their marriage is broken and their life is wasted.
Ecclesiastes 1:16-17 – “I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem: yea, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge. And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.”
Solomon searched his heart and realized that even though he had more wisdom than anyone before him, it was all vanity when used outside of God’s will. Instead of serving God and doing that which was good for the people he ruled, he placed heavy tax burdens on them and made their life miserable. He collected the gain and lived in luxury and spent his life in madness, folly and foolishness, while the people of his kingdom lived in poverty. No wonder his life was spent in “vanity and vexation of spirit.” Ironically Solomon’s wisdom failed him because he could not understand why he had so much and still suffered vexation of spirit, and was unfulfilled and unsatisfied.
Ecclesiastes 2:1 – “I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity.”
Regardless how hard Solomon tried, he could not find pleasure or fulfilment in anything. He tried Mirth, which means “joy, gladness, and pleasure,” but even that did not work. Billy Graham told of a man who went to see a psychiatrist because he was so sad. The psychiatrist recommended a comedian who was in town that might lift his spirits, and the man said “I am that comedian.”
Robin Williams was a comedian we all loved. He had an uncanny way of making us laugh, while he lived in depression, taking drugs to alleviate his sadness and finally ended it all by hanging himself in his own beautiful home. A square peg will not fit a round hole no more than the things of this world will fill the emptiness of a heart separated from God’s love.
Ecclesiastes 2:3 – “I sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting mine heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was that good for the sons of men, which they should do under the heaven all the days of their life.”
Today, in America, we have a drug and alcohol problem. Millions try to drown their pain and sadness through drugs that only worsen them. So, Solomon says he turned to wine to see if he could fine good. The queen of Sheba noticed how happy Solomon’s servants were, “And she said to the king, It was a true report that I heard in mine own land of thy acts and of thy wisdom. Happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and that hear thy wisdom,” I Kings 10:6 & 8. Perhaps Solomom noticed that the slaves that served him seemed to be happy and he wondered if it was the wine they drank. So, he thought he would try that to see if he could be like them.
Ecclesiastes 2:4-6 – “I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards: I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all kind of fruits: I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees:”
I visited Biltmore Mansion in Ashville, South Carolina a couple of times. It is the largest private home ever built in America, 179,000 square feet, with 250 rooms. George Vanderbilt spent his adult life traveling the world to find the rare antique furnishings for the mansion. It was completed in 1895, and George only lived for a few years to enjoy it before his death from a ruptured appendix. With all those rooms, I wonder how often George got around to visiting them. In my small home, my wife and I spend most of our awakening hours in one room. The average size of homes has greatly increased since I was growing up. I remember my mother being so amazed by a relative who spent $20,000 on his new home. I recently read about a home in California that sold for $150 million. From my own experience, I don’t believe the size or the beauty of a home adds anything to one’s state of happiness. Yet, Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived thought that it would. So, he built houses, plural, planted trees, and beautiful gardens only to find that it also was vanity.
Ecclesiastes 2:7 & 8 – “I got me servants and maidens, and had servants born in my house; also I had great possessions of great and small cattle above all that were in Jerusalem before me: I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces: I gat me men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, as musical instruments, and that of all sorts.”
I’ve often wondered how it would be to have others do all the things for me that I didn’t want to do. That is what Solomon had. He only did what he wanted to do, and assigned all those menial, boring jobs to others.
Ecclesiastes 2:9-10 – “So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me. And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour.”
There are people in this world who have great riches and live in luxury, but I doubt if they come near to what Solomon had and what he accomplished. There was no one in the world in his day who had what he had and accomplished what he did. What did he think of all this?
Ecclesiastes 2:11- “Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.”
I saw Elvis Presley in concert in Memphis in 1956. He was just beginning to be famous at that time. He announced that he had signed a contract for his first movie, “Love me tender” and sung “You ain’t nothing but a hound dog” before it was recorded. Elvis went on to become rich and known around the world. As the story goes, one day Elvis was depressed and sad. Colonel Parker asked him what the problem was. The colonel said, “you wanted to be popular singer and now you are. You wanted to be a movie star and now you are. Why aren’t you happy?” Elvis replied, “I don’t know.” I suppose Elvis was experiencing a little of what Solomon spoke of. Sadly Solomon, even with all his wealth, accomplishments, women and song, with it all, he declared they were all vanity and vexation of spirit:
Ecclesiastes 2:17 – “Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit.”
Those around Elvis said he was an unhappy person who thought being Elvis Presley was too much for him to bear. Solomon hated his life. All that he had accomplished left him unhappy, cold and unfulfilled. His works were grievous unto him, and he felt that everything was vanity and vexation of spirit. How in the world could this man who had everything his heart desired come to such a conclusion?
Ecclesiastes 2:18-19 – “Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me. And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? Yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun. This is also vanity.”
Solomon realized that he had spent a lifetime amassing things, and he would die and leave all of it to someone else who may be a fool with no wisdom or appreciation for all the things he had worked so hard to accomplish. We see that today among the rich and famous whose children grow up disillusioned with life and live a foolish life of drugs and degradation, and some wind up in prison.
Ecclesiastes 2:23 – “For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity.”
Neither could Solomon sleep, from the worry, sorrow, travail, and grief he experienced over his inability to find any comfort in all he had and accomplished. It was all just senseless, empty, and worthless and total vanity.
Ecclesiastes 2:24 – “There is nothing better for a man than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw that it was from the hand of God.”
Finally, we come to Solomon’s first positive statement. He is speaking of contentment in what a person has or accomplishes. The Apostle Paul knew the secret of contentment. He said, in Philippians 4:11, “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” Notice, Paul said, “I have learned to be content.” Apparently, with all his wisdom, Solomon could never learn to be content. No matter what a person accomplishes or the amount of wealth they gain, without the peace with God, they shall never know the joy that one has in Christ who said, “I am come that ye may have life and have it more abundantly,” John 10:10. To have the peace and joy God gives is the greatest accomplishment on earth.
Ecclesiastes 2:26 – “For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.”
Solomon realized that God is the one who gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy to the man who is good in His sight. But to the sinner, God gives travail to gather, to heap up. No matter how hard the sinner tries, it winds up being vanity and vexation of spirit.
What good are riches if you can’t enjoy them? It is not the riches that is the problem; it is man’s attitude toward riches. If a person searches for great wealth and is uninterested in godliness, they will never be able to fully enjoy their wealth. “But godliness with contentment is great gain.” I Timothy 6:6. The Apostle Paul learned the secret of contentment: “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content,” Philippians 4:11.
Riches joined to an incorrect attitude toward them devours the soul of man. “For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them,” Proverbs 1:32.
You would think that anyone who took the time to read the history of this man Solomon would learn the message concerning riches and a life lived apart from God and not make the same mistakes; nevertheless, some stumble through life never learning and never finding contentment. John the Baptist knew the secret of contentment. He by choice lived a simple life and told others to be content with what they had. John was a wise man who knew the secret to happiness.
Ecclesiastes 5:12 – “The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.”
Michel Jackson became one of the most celebrated entertainers of the twentieth century. With all his wealth and accomplishments in the world of entertainment, he could not lay down and get a good night’s rest without being drugged at the hand of a doctor. One night the drug took his life.
Solomon never had to labor; he had thousands of servants and slaves to do his ever bidding. The poorest man can lie down and sleep with no cost. What thing that money can buy equals the ability to get a good night’s sleep and awake in the morning rested?
In a Psalm, attributed to Solomon, he writes: “It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so He giveth His beloved sleep,” Psalm 127:2. Solomon in all of his riches knew that all good things come from God including the ability to sleep, but for him it was his sorrows that kept him awake. Actually, it was because the things of the world had distanced him from God.
Ecclesiastes 7:18 – “It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from this withdraw not thine hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth of them all.”
Solomon, started out right but eventually turned his back on God who had given him everything he had. In his wisdom he realized that he had not respected God who had given him so much. He knew he had not enjoyed that which was most important in life and that is a sweet relationship with God, basking in peace, and joy in the wonder of God’s love.
Ecclesiastes 7:14 – “In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also hath set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him.”
Prosperity was once the American dream, but adversity has stolen it away leaving many feeling that there is nothing to place their hope in. The Bible says, “What does it prophet a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul.” That verse means to chase after a dream and accomplish all your desires financially just to find you have not lived at all but only wasted a lifetime seeking that which is temporary. What can a man accomplish that is more important than enjoying his life and knowing that his soul is safe in the arms of a loving God. If only every person could know what Solomon is saying to those whose whole life is spent trying to gain the whole world. Read it for yourself in the next verse:
Ecclesiastes 12:7 – “Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.” Also consider the Psalm, which says, “Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased; For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him.” Psalm 49:16-17
At the end of this life man will die and stand in judgement before God: “And as it is appointed unto man once to die, but after this the judgement,” Hebrews 9:27. The man who came from dust of which he was created shall go back to dust, and his spirit will go back to God who created it. To stand in judgement before God without the salvation Jesus offers to all who will trust in Him, means a judgement of the second death, eternal separation from God and His love for all eternity. Nothing compares to the severity of that.
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 – “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.”
It is my belief that Solomon wrote this entire book of Ecclesiastes to sum it all up in the very last verses. It no doubt was at the end of his life when he realized how vain his life had been and what sorrow it was to realize he had missed the mark, the whole duty of life is to respect God for who He is and to obey the commandments of His Word, which above all is to receive the salvation He offers through the shed blood of His only Begotten Son, Jesus the Lord. “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul, or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Mark 8:36. Solomon gained the whole world but lost his own soul.That means he lost the joy of living a life of obedience to God. Solomon did not lose his eternal soul. This whole book of Ecclesiastes is evidence of his repentance towards God.His soul was safe with God from the beginning but he lost the peace and joy of living in obedience to God. Everything he gained in life, his riches, his material gain, his fame and his wisdom was for ought, meaningless and in vain. At the end, in his own words, he proclaims the results of his life:
Ecclesiastes 12:8 – “Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity,”
Have you heard? Have you seen what a life apart from God is? Has the wisest man who ever lived awakened you? Are you ready to change the course of your life? If you have, and you are, click on “More information” below for the next step?