praying effectively: Enjoy God's Rewards (Ecc.5:10-20)

(Ecclesiastes 5:10-20)  He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves abundance with its income. This too is vanity. 11 When good things increase, those who consume them increase. So what is the advantage to their owners except to look on? 12 The sleep of the working man is pleasant, whether he eats little or much; but the full stomach of the rich man does not allow him to sleep.

13 There is a grievous evil which I have seen under the sun: riches being hoarded by their owner to his hurt. 14 When those riches were lost through a bad investment and he had fathered a son, then there was nothing to support him. 15 As he had come naked from his mother’s womb, so will he return as he came. He will take nothing from the fruit of his labor that he can carry in his hand. 16 This also is a grievous evil—exactly as a man is born, thus will he die. So what is the advantage to him who toils for the wind? 17 Throughout his life he also eats in darkness with great vexation, sickness and anger.

18 Here is what I have seen to be good and fitting: to eat, to drink and enjoy oneself in all one’s labor in which he toils under the sun during the few years of his life which God has given him; for this is his reward. 19 Furthermore, as for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, He has also empowered him to eat from them and to receive his reward and rejoice in his labor; this is the gift of God. 20 For he will not often consider the years of his life, because God keeps him occupied with the gladness of his heart.

Reminder:  "praying effectively" involves knowing God's will.  When we pray in His will (in His name), He may choose to not answer those prayers in the time period that we would like, or HOW we would like - but He will answer those prayers!

It is God's will:
- that we enjoy the fruits of our labor which is a reward from God (5:18)
- that if God has blessed us with a lot of wealth, realize that we can enjoy this, which is a reward from God (5:19)
- that we do not hoard our money and neglect supporting and nurturing our family (5:13-14)

Today's prayer:

Dear heavenly Father, You have blessed us with so much.  When we work, may it not be for the love of money;  but that we love You, and we are representing You, no matter where we are... at work, at home or at play...

Help us never to feel guilty when You reward us with more.  Let us realize that it is more than okay to enjoy the gifts that You have given to us.  And out of great thankfulness and appreciation, let us be generous in our giving to You, as well as to those who are in need, while never neglecting our own families.  Give us wisdom in knowing how to appropriately use and invest the resources which You have blessed us.  Amen.