We may think of consumerism as a sickness that corrupts the world. That is true. However, there is a rise in literature that accuses the church of ‘selling’ Christianity in such a way that we create ‘consumers’ rather than believers. The ‘easy believism’ of the 20th century has become the ‘consumer Christianity’ of the twenty-first. It used to be that people would go about their business in the week and give to God’s cause on a Sunday. this dichotomy was not healthy, we should be looking toserve others throughout the week. However, I would now argue that many people are paying pastors for ‘services rendered’. The Bible says that we are all ministers, but we now have a professional few who we pay to minister on our behalf. Also, we expect a quality of service in our facilities, programs, and preaching. If a pastor offends us with too much truth, we can withdraw our investment and start paying weekly payments at another church. Actually, the people of God are contributing less and less financially to the church – few people give the recommended 10% of their earnings.
How does a Christian message address the capitalist consumerism that we have bought into? Ecclesiastes points out the meaninglessness of developing glossy pamphlets and polished deliveries whilst the poor in our neighborhoods are untouched. There is corruption in amassing wealth and gathering possessions whether it is in church governement or state government. A well-thought-through redistribution of resources is needed in the world – whilst we are afraid taht sounds like communism we are probably trying to create comfort and security in all the wrong places.
Ecclesiastes 5:8-6:12
8 If you see the poor oppressed in a district, and justice and rights denied, do not be surprised at such things; for one official is eyed by a higher one, and over them both are others higher still. 9The increase from the land is taken by all; the king himself profits from the fields.
10 Whoever loves money never has enough;
whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income.
This too is meaningless.
11 As goods increase,
so do those who consume them.
And what benefit are they to the owners
except to feast their eyes on them?
12 The sleep of a laborer is sweet,
whether they eat little or much,
but as for the rich, their abundance
permits them no sleep.
13I have seen a grievous evil under the sun:
wealth hoarded to the harm of its owners,
14 or wealth lost through some misfortune,
so that when they have children
there is nothing left for them to inherit.
15 Everyone comes naked from their mother’s womb,
and as everyone comes, so they depart.
They take nothing from their toil
that they can carry in their hands.
16This too is a grievous evil:
As everyone comes, so they depart,
and what do they gain,
since they toil for the wind?
17 All their days they eat in darkness,
with great frustration, affliction and anger.
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 them—for 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 toil—this is a gift of God. 20 They seldom reflect on the days of their life, because God keeps them occupied with gladness of heart.
1 I have seen another evil under the sun, and it weighs heavily on mankind: 2God gives some people wealth, possessions and honor, so that they lack nothing their hearts desire, but God does not grant them the ability to enjoy them, and strangers enjoy them instead. This is meaningless, a grievous evil.
3 A man may have a hundred children and live many years; yet no matter how long he lives, if he cannot enjoy his prosperity and does not receive proper burial, I say that a stillborn child is better off than he. 4 It comes without meaning, it departs in darkness, and in darkness its name is shrouded. 5 Though it never saw the sun or knew anything, it has more rest than does that man— 6even if he lives a thousand years twice over but fails to enjoy his prosperity. Do not all go to the same place?
7 Everyone’s toil is for their mouth,
yet their appetite is never satisfied.
8 What advantage have the wise over fools?
What do the poor gain
by knowing how to conduct themselves before others?
9 Better what the eye sees
than the roving of the appetite.
This too is meaningless,
a chasing after the wind.
10 Whatever exists has already been named,
and what humanity is has been known;
no one can contend
with someone who is stronger.
11 The more the words,
the less the meaning,
and how does that profit anyone?
12 For who knows what is good for a person in life, during the few and meaningless days they pass through like a shadow? Who can tell them what will happen under the sun after they are gone?
Questions
- Where does wealth go in the monarchy Ecclesiastes imagines?
- Where does wealth go in a modern economy?
- What does wealth promise?
- How does wealth lead people to sleep through life?
- Why do you think some authors are trying to wake the church up to consumerism?
Going Deeper
Here is an article condemning consumer Christianity:
http://www.thebereancall.org/node/2576
Here is a Christian response to the triumph of consumerism.
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/1996/october7/6tb018.html
Plymothian 
1. In the monarchy Ecclesiastes imagines, wealth goes to people who God has chosen to give it to, whether they appreciate it or not,
2. In a modern economy, wealth goes to people who work hard for it, or to people who’s parents worked hard for it and they just inherit the wealth.
3. Wealth promises meaninglessness to those who are obsessed and can’t get enough of it. It also promises blessing to those who do appreciate it.
4. Wealth leads people to sleep through life by becoming the main object of their focus, which causes them to not really pay attention to the other things going on around them.
5. Some authors are trying to wake the church up to consumerism because they feel like the church has become too consumeristic and has gone too far from the ‘Biblical’ way of reaching people. Some authors feel that the church should tailor to the people of today’s consumerist society in order to reach out to unbelievers.
1.Where does wealth go in the monarchy Ecclesiastes imagines? To those simply have more power.
2. Where does wealth go in a modern economy? Well, wealth can either go to very hard working individuals, or to people who take advantage of others and make their money based on their work.
3. What does wealth promise? Wealth can either bring a desire for more money or the opportunity for people who know how to handle their money to appreciate it and share their wealth for the needy.
4.How does wealth lead people to sleep through life? They won’t really focus on anything else but matters of wealth.They will let important events in their lives slip by and they will be burdened by the ‘need’ to become more wealthy.
5. Why do you think some authors are trying to wake the church up to consumerism? Because too many churches are trying to be the perfect church. They care more about having modern technology than feeding the poor, and they don’t focus on serving the community, rather they do the most to help themselves.
1) Ecclesiastes reminds us in this passage that wealth does not stay with us after death, rather it “goes to the wind”.
2) In a modern economy, it goes into our bank accounts, taxes, pays our debts, ect, but in the end, a lot of our money is wasted, and it never brings satisfaction.
3) Although wealth promises happiness and sucess, we are never satisfied no matter how much we have.
4) If you gain enough wealth you may think that you have it made, and you don’t need to work at all.
5) I think we need to remind people of those in other countries that have so much less, and also of the fact that what we spend our money on, shows the condition of our heart.
The Lord wants us to work for our families and those who cannot work for themselves or their own families. So it can be said that the money in Ecclesiastes and the money of this modern world is given to those who earn it or inherit it. Whether people are contented or not is not a question of money, but is a question of who or what they put first in their lives. If a person fully gave their life to the Lord and live day to day by His grace and mercy, with His strength in them, it follows they will be fulfilled because of Him. If not, they will inevitably have a longing that cannot be satisfied. The most sad cases are those of people trying to fulfill their longings so much so that they forget even that they are trying to fill something and get caught into a cycle or habit of living, being chained to that habit without really even noticing.
The point about people being worried about becoming communistic is interesting. I’ve discussed this a few times with older and wiser Christians than myself. When I was younger I thought communism was the worst thing ever and that in a democracy was the only way to live. After those conversations I saw that really the Bible presents a way of living that really is “perfect communism”- working for your family, while sharing with those who cannot work for themselves. Communism today, I would say, is unable to work, as we have seen throughout history, because of man’s corrupt nature, selfish desires.
These were just some thoughts that came to mind after reading the post.
1. It goes to those in power, who are constantly gaining more because they are never satisfied with what they have.
2. In our modern economy the wealth usually with the rich or else is used to bay bills or taxes.
3. Wealth promises comfortability, power, status, and contentment, although those who have it are usually not content with what they have.
4. Because their own life is comfortable, they are blinded to the hurts and struggles of those around them. They can comfortably “sleep” their way through life if they are only concerned about their own needs being met.
5. We as the church are the hands and feet of Jesus to the world we live in. If we are only concerned about making money so that our lives are comfortable, we are not living out the message of Jesus Christ. I think these authors write in order to bring us back to the way the church was in the beginning of Acts, where all the believers had everything in common. These early believers used their wealth to bless those around them, just as we, the church today, should be doing.
1.In the monarchy that Ecclesiastes imagines, wealth only goes to those who are rather high up on the chain of command, and specifically to the King.
2.In a mondern ecomony, most of the wealth will go to big corporations and business leaders.
3.Wealth does not really promise anything, but it can provide a house, food, and many temporary luxuries.
4.When you do not work hard for something, then you don’t truly appreciate it. If you do not work for anything in life, then you will not truly enjoy life as it was made to be lived. Man was made to work.
5.I think that consumerism is very much not the sacrificial giving that we are called to do as the church. When we think of “services rendered” it is much less all give, but a half-and-half. It goes against the very thread of the Gospel.
1. In the monarchy that Ecclesiastes imagines, i think that wealth goes to the people who have a higher rank or authority such as the king, etc…
2. In the modern economy, the wealth also goes to people who are most successful or the people with lots of money.
3. I believe that wealth does not promise anything. According to this passage, whoever is wealthy will never be satisfied with their income or anything. If they are not satisfied, it is all meaningless.
4. If a person is wealthy, they know that they do not need to do anything because everything is done for them. They have everything that they want. Therefore, they will do nothing, or in other terms, just sleep through life.
5. I believe that some authors are trying to wake the church up to consumerism because they do not want us to go in that direction. Consuming too much of anything is a bad thing and I believe that is what the authors are trying to help us realize because each generation becomes more and more selfish.
1.) In the monarchy that the writer describes, wealth goes to the highest up person, the one who rules over all the others, specifically the king.
2.) In the modern economy wealth goes to the people who own major companies and people who are in rich industries such as the Hollywood crowd.
3.) Wealth promises short term satisfaction, but complete emptiness in the end, becuase as the writer says, you can’t take any of your riches with you when you die, what you come into the world with you will leave the world with, so in the long hall wealth promises nothing.
4.) The wealthy cannot appreciate sleep as well becuase they have not worked hard for their rest, and also with wealth comes a hunger for more, and a never ending desire to gain more and more, which leads a person unsatisfied and discontent, and the unsatisfied heart is hard to quiet enough to sleep.
5.) I think some authors are trying to wake the church up to consumerism becuase they see that just as addressed in Ecclesiastes, seeking our own selfish desires can be an endless pursuit of chasing after the wind, and it is meaningless, where as seeking the Kingdom is never a meaningless task.
1.Where does wealth go in the monarchy Ecclesiastes imagines?
– Wealth goes in the monarchy to those who possesses a great military and political power.
2.Where does wealth go in a modern economy?
– To those who own a power in industry, mega-corporations, and politians as well
3.What does wealth promise?
– a comfortable and convenient life, fame, pride, people(who want to be around you but indeed they want to be around one’s possession).
4.How does wealth lead people to sleep through life?
– When people own valuable and a great amount of possesssion, it brings about anxious and concerns to them in order to keep it safely while people with less possession are free from worries.
5.Why do you think some authors are trying to wake the church up to consumerism?
– Because they are well aware of the truth that wealth is the one of Satan’s powerful tools to entice christians in making them fall down.
1. The wealth goes to people that dont have, even though kings have worked to gain these riches, just as the wealth of the wicked is stored up for the righteous.
2. In a modern economy, similar to the one that we live in today, wealth goes to those who already have it. Hence, the rich get richer, while the poor get poorer.
3. on the surface, wealth promises a long life of comfort, joy, and bliss, but in reality, it’s just an open pit!
4. it makes you ignorant because you are just enjoying life and adding more riches to yourself, just as the rich man in Luke 12 figured out himself at the end of his life.
5. In today’s day and age, consumerism has so permeated the society that it is hard to recognize it when you see it, especially those who are in the church. I say this because consumerism has also reached the church doors.
1.Where does wealth go in the monarchy Ecclesiastes imagines?
– I think the wealth Ecclesiastes imagines goes to those who are in high positions, or have power and authority
2.Where does wealth go in a modern economy?
– In modern economy, wealth goes to those who are clever, high educated.
3.What does wealth promise?
– Convenient life, stable financial status.
4.How does wealth lead people to sleep through life?
Wealth makes life easier
5.Why do you think some authors are trying to wake the church up to consumerism?
– Churches can make economic cycles more active by becoming a consumer and using money from the offerings
1. Where does wealth go in the monarchy Ecclesiastes imagines?
In the monarchy in Ecclesiastes, wealth goes to those that are higher ranking and closer to the king.
2. Where does wealth go in a modern economy?
The wealth in our modern economy goes to those that are higher ranking and close to the top.
3. What does wealth promise?
At first glance, a wealthy life implies a taken care of life. Comforts will be possible and all the things you desire will be attainable. However, if used only to gain pleasure, it will soon become meaningless and unfulfilling.
4. How does wealth lead people to sleep through life?
They can become immune to the problems of the world and no longer see the needs that people have. They can also become lethargic in their lives because they have all their needs taken care off.
5. Why do you think some authors are trying to wake the church up to consumerism?
Consumerism has snuck into the church and many people are so consumed in it that they have become immune to it.
1.Where does wealth go in the monarchy Ecclesiastes imagines?
in the monarchy Ecclesiastes imagines the wealth goes to high position people or the king of the nation
2.Where does wealth go in a modern economy?
even in free market big money (wealth) goes to large productive companies such as multinational corporations or governments
3.What does wealth promise?
temporal satisfaction
4.How does wealth lead people to sleep through life?
“whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. “(5:10b), “but as for the rich, their abundance permits them no sleep.”(5:12b)
5.Why do you think some authors are trying to wake the church up to consumerism?
consumerism can manipulate people that all satisfaction and joy basically come from wealth and the wealth gives better lives.
1. It goes to people who have more power than everyone else.
2. In the modern economy it goes to large businesses and to people who are educated.
3. Wealth promises physical comfort on earth but no long term satisfaction.
4. We “sleep” through the call to live to the glory of God and for what he is passionate about- other people. Instead, we live for self and self gain.
5. Because it should not be a problem of the church…the church should be people looking to serve rather than consume resources and only self benefiting ministries.
1. God decides who becomes wealthy
2. wealth goes to those who earn it by means of hard labor
3. nothing really. it cant make you totally happy and it never seems to be enough
4. people who are wealthy “sleep” by making wealth their god and forgetting an eternal perspective of whats important
5. because the Bible (especially this passage) clearly talks about making earthly treasures more important than giving to God and serving Him.