An NFL player once said that after getting a massive contract and a signing bonus, that with each passing year, he would have one more mouth to feed, not necessarily his immediate family either, it was often a distant cousin that would need to be care for.

That insight is very relevant to today’s scripture:

Ecc 5:11  When 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?

Solomon tells us that temporal wealth, like money, is often gone as quickly as it is gained, other than being eye candy, Solomon asks, what good is it?  The owner doesn’t enjoy it for themself, because more often than not, they end up using it to support others.

We should certainly not horde on our riches, and ought to definitely use them to serve others.  But, another point Solomon is making is that, many times our riches become our god.  Apart from the fact that money should not be an idol that we covet, he also suggests that even when you do amass wealth, it’s not really you enjoying it, but those who are around you, and more often than not, it can be very divisive.  Rich folks are always looking over their shoulder and on guard for those they think are might scam them.

As Christ reminds us, better to store up treasures in heaven that are eternal versus treasures on earth that whither and fade and can often cause conflict.