Sufficient Self's Bible Study Group

[Beekissed]

18 This is what I have observed to be good: that it is appropriate for a person to eat, to drink and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given themfor this is their lot. 19 Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toilthis is a gift of God. 20 They seldom reflect on the days of their life, because God keeps them occupied with gladness of heart.

I simply LOVE these verses and have pretty much lived my life in this manner....I learned early on that money is easy come, easy go and all one really has left is the satisfaction of being here, being healthy enough to work and do a good job unto the Lord and just enjoy all life has to offer in the short time I am here!

 

[BarredBuff]

I like those verses to Bee!

 

[sheaviance1]

10He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.11When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes?

How do you guys see these verses? I am not sure if

beholding of them

is referring to the ones who eat the increase or to the goods themselves. It almost seems that he is speaking of the joy the owner has from sharing his goods, because in v. 10, he says that

10He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver

I know that when I have an abundance of zucchini, it does my heart good to give them away, LOL.

 

[Beekissed]

I think it's talking about people like some of my relatives....they work and save money just to have the money. They always are striving to just get more money. There is never and will never be enough money to them and until their dying day they will still be trying to accumulate more money. They say it is so they can leave their family some security....but their kids are rich in their own right and are living in just the same way. Always accumulating more and more money.

When will they have "enough" to feel "secure"? I've often wondered. I've also wondered about people who win the lotto and state, "Well, my family will never have to worry about money again....ever!" And then you hear on the news about how horrible their lives are trying to actually keep the money, or with what they are doing with the money or that they spent all the money and are now worried about their debts.

Where in the world does that all end?

10He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver

 

[rebecca100]

Dh is unfortunately going through this right now. He is working himself almost sick. He got a raise and it seemed to fuel it even more. We are making more than we need. We have always been poor, but we have never depended on others or handouts and we have lived just fine. I saw it as making things interesting. LOL
Now he is worried about iphones and laptops and x-boxes and such. Even the bills aren't as important and take a 2nd to toys and more STUFF and more MONEY. He has worked over his 40 hours in 3 days this week already and he works 6 -7 days a week with times he only gets one or two days off a MONTH.

Thanks Bee for that translation. I was having a hard time understanding that scripture in my bible for some reason, but after I read yours and reread mine it made sense to me. I am also having trouble with the first verse. What is the "sacrifice of fools"?

 

[Beekissed]

I don't really know about that one either, as I have little knowledge about acceptable sacrifice, but Matt Henry's commentary says this about it:

We should avoid vain repetitions; copious prayers are not here condemned, but those that are unmeaning. How often our wandering thoughts render attendance on Divine ordinances little better than the sacrifice of fools! Many words and hasty ones, used in prayer, show folly in the heart, low thoughts of God, and careless thoughts of our own souls.

 

[Farmfresh]

10He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.11When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes?

How do you guys see these verses? I am not sure if

beholding of them

is referring to the ones who eat the increase or to the goods themselves. It almost seems that he is speaking of the joy the owner has from sharing his goods, because in v. 10, he says that

10He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver

I know that when I have an abundance of zucchini, it does my heart good to give them away, LOL.

I think it is talking about people who have money, and more money and are not satisfied with all they have, but want more and more. They work, save and strive, but all the joy they truly get from their horde is to "behold" it or "look" at their money pile. The more they have the less it satisfies them.

Think of all the things that the rich have for appearance sake. Designer clothes ... basically a shirt is a shirt, but for the sake of "behold me I am rich" they pay $100's. Rolex watches (still only tell time), fancy cars (still just transportation - won't get you from place to place any faster or safer yet can cost 10's of thousands more) HUGE homes that are so big and coldly impersonal that many have private "apartments" within them so the rich can actually have a comfort zone. Yes, piles of silver and lots of increase is a good way to keep up appearances so you and others can see the wealth. But it won't make you happy.

If you don't believe it, just look at the rate of drug and alcohol abuse and the suicide rates of the very wealthy. Most of them are miserable.

 

[Beekissed]

Agreed!

I was reading more of my little book on heaven and it explained why Earthly riches won't be the same as heavenly ones. Heavenly riches increase in joy and excitement, whereas Earthly riches seem to cause ever increasing boredom when the joy wears off....until they get another item in which to delight...and then the joy wears off and they become bored once again.

The Bible says we will be ever joyful and will delight in what Jesus has prepared for us.

 

[Farmfresh]

Agreed!

I was reading more of my little book on heaven and it explained why Earthly riches won't be the same as heavenly ones. Heavenly riches increase in joy and excitement, whereas Earthly riches seem to cause ever increasing boredom when the joy wears off....until they get another item in which to delight...and then the joy wears off and they become bored once again.

The Bible says we will be ever joyful and will delight in what Jesus has prepared for us.

If you think about it that is true here on Earth as well.

I can sit out in the middle of a prairie, beside a lake, in a wood or by a stream ... ALL things that Jesus has prepared for us ... and I continually delight!

I can spend time walking with, playing with or just observing animals ... that Jesus prepared for us .... and I continually delight.

Who has ever gotten tired and bored looking at the stars, a thunderstorm, or a sunset??

 

[FarmerJamie]

Agreed!

I was reading more of my little book on heaven and it explained why Earthly riches won't be the same as heavenly ones. Heavenly riches increase in joy and excitement, whereas Earthly riches seem to cause ever increasing boredom when the joy wears off....until they get another item in which to delight...and then the joy wears off and they become bored once again.

The Bible says we will be ever joyful and will delight in what Jesus has prepared for us.

If you think about it that is true here on Earth as well.

I can sit out in the middle of a prairie, beside a lake, in a wood or by a stream ... ALL things that Jesus has prepared for us ... and I continually delight!

I can spend time walking with, playing with or just observing animals ... that Jesus prepared for us .... and I continually delight.

Who has ever gotten tired and bored looking at the stars, a thunderstorm, or a sunset??

Amen. How great Thou art!