Troublesome Topic: The Proper Attitude toward Material Things

It almost sounds like Solomon has taken a look at his life of great wealth, and looked at a hard-working common man, and said, “That guy is more content and more satisfied than I am.”

As a missionary kid and then a missionary I have seen this very thing happen many times. People who go on short term mission trips to parts of the world where true poverty abounds will comment to the effect that the people with very little are often more content and satisfied than the Americans who have so much by comparison. It is an accurate observation. I have also seen the same thing as I have compared the attitudes of various people groups throughout Central America and Mexico; those who have a bit more than others are not as content in life because they always want more.

The more “toys” we have, the more headaches we have in taking care of them. All our material “stuff” requires some sort of maintenance and a place to store it, so if you acquire lots of toys, you will have lots of things to take care of. Consider the things Americans surround themselves with and then have to take care of: a bigger TV and the cable bill to go with it, a swimming pool, a motorcycle, a snowmobile, a hobby or sport and the equipment required to do it. Consider something as simple as a trampoline; we don’t think of it as requiring much maintenance because it lasts for a while before we have to get a new one. But the person who has to weed-eat around it considers it a big hassle, you hope there are no injuries associated with it, and when it does wear out it takes a few hundred bucks to replace it.

Many of the people I have met in other countries who are eking out an existence about half a notch above survival mode are much happier than most Americans I know. They have accepted their fate in life, they work hard and are trusting God to fill the gaps. They place a big priority on their families, and they have time for other people. Many of them are very generous with what they do have.

My point here is that Solomon looked at people like that and said, “Wow, they are more content in life than I am. God’s plan for our lives must be more about relationships than about accumulating stuff or making a name for ourselves.”

The next lesson is: Our Attitude about the Future