Daily Devotions

Ecclesiastes

Ecclesiastes 
Day 
Day 66

"Riches perish through misfortune"

Text: Ecclesiastes 5:14

THE UNCERTAINTY OF RICHES

Many assume that riches are forever. The sad reality is that riches may perish!

“But those riches perish through misfortune;
When he begets a son, there is nothing in his hand.”
Ecclesiastes 5:14

1. “But those riches perish through misfortune”

a) Riches may perish for a number of reasons.
b) One of which was highlighted: “misfortune”.

2. Misfortune may occur in different forms

a) Misfortune suggests that:
i) It is unplanned.
ii) Unforeseen

Nobody plans for misfortune but that can happen.

b) Misfortune
i) Diseases
ii) Natural disaster
iii) War
iv) Inexplicable circumstances

3. “When he begets a son, there is nothing in his hand”

a) The rich man plans to give a significant inheritance to his son.
b) But because of misfortune, he has lost everything.
c) He has nothing in hand to give to his son.
i) This is a grim reality.
ii) This is seen in real life, time and again.

4. The world wars (WW1 and WW2)

a) Many countries lost great wealth.
b) Rich people became poor overnight.
c) Riches are never certain!

Our trust must not be in uncertain riches, but in the Lord our God.