King Solomon was given the gift of being the wisest man in the world (1 Kings 3:12), and yet he still made many poor choices. The book of Ecclesiastes reflects his return to God, as he looks back on his life and recognizes how meaningless the things of this world were compared to the depth and fulfillment found in God. In Ecclesiastes 5:10, he writes, “He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity.” Solomon realized that money is a never-ending pursuit. It promises satisfaction but never delivers. No matter how much we gain, it always feels like it’s not enough. In the end, it often brings more anxiety than peace as if it’s a massive statue we bow down to every day.
I once heard an illustration about money that stuck with me. Someone asked, “If I gave you a million dollars, would you take it?” Most of us would quickly say yes before hearing anything else. Then he added, “What if I gave you a million dollars, but in return you couldn’t breathe?” Suddenly, the offer loses all its appeal. No amount of money is worth more than the simple, free gift of breath that God gives us. Yet, we spend so many of those breaths chasing more and more money. As we do, God’s voice can seem quieter and less recognizable, until we eventually find ourselves asking, “Where is God?”
Take a moment to consider your last month’s bank statement. Where is your money going? Does it reflect someone who is simply doing, constantly chasing more, or someone who is truly living? Money is a subtle idol. It doesn’t just sit on a shelf in our homes, it travels with us in our pockets, shaping our decisions every day. So live today remembering that your next breath is worth more than any amount of money. If it ever came down to choosing between money and life, the answer would be obvious. The question is, are we living like that’s true?