07 Money, Meaning and the Good Life

In Ecclesiastes 5:8–6:12, the Preacher gently but relentlessly exposes two powerful illusions: the illusion of control and the illusion of sufficiency. We cannot control the systems we live in. We cannot out-argue our creaturely limits. And we cannot accumulate enough money to quiet the restless appetite of the heart. Wealth complicates life. Security evaporates. The appetite always asks for more. But Ecclesiastes is not cynical—it is compassionate. It dismantles false saviors so they don’t collapse on top of us. And in the middle of the unraveling comes a surprising gift: enjoyment itself. The ability to receive your work, your portion, your day—this is the gift of God.