Core Seminar: Life Under the Sun (Materialism)
Core Seminar: Life Under the Sun • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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1. The Vanity of Wealth and Possessions
1. The Vanity of Wealth and Possessions
Ecclesiastes 2:10–11 “10 And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour. 11 Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.”
Theme: Wealth and possessions provide temporary pleasure but ultimately fail to give lasting meaning or fulfillment.
Ecclesiastes 5:10 “10 He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.”
Theme: The endless pursuit of wealth leads to dissatisfaction.
2. The Burden of Materialistic Toil
2. The Burden of Materialistic Toil
Ecclesiastes 4:4 “4 Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.”
Theme: Striving for success out of envy or competition is a futile and materialistic endeavor.
Ecclesiastes 4:6 “6 Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.”
Theme: Contentment is more valuable than relentless labor for material gain.
So a right relationship to God is at the bottom of true contentment, trusting Him as owner, controller, and provider. That, friends, is the Bible’s answer, the Bible’s answer to inflation, the Bible’s answer to greed, the Bible’s answer to stealing, the Bible’s answer to selfishness and pride is to just believe that God will meet your every need.
1 Timothy 6:8–9 “8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.”
Conviction- Money and the desire for pocessions is a test.
Being poor is a test of trust, and so is being rich. When you have it, you trust in it, and when you don’t have it, maybe you’ve failed to trust God. No matter how you cut it, possessions and money are a spiritual test.
Proverbs 30:8–10 “8 Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: 9 Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain. 10 Accuse not a servant unto his master, lest he curse thee, and thou be found guilty.”
Ecclesiastes 2:22–23 “22 For what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the sun? 23 For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity.”
Theme: The pursuit of material success often leads to stress and unrest, not satisfaction.
3. Wealth Cannot Satisfy
3. Wealth Cannot Satisfy
Ecclesiastes 5:12 “12 The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.”
Theme: Wealth often brings anxiety rather than peace.
Ecclesiastes 5:13–14 “13 There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt. 14 But those riches perish by evil travail: and he begetteth a son, and there is nothing in his hand.”
Theme: Hoarding wealth can lead to harm, and riches are easily lost.
4. The Futility of Material Legacy
4. The Futility of Material Legacy
Ecclesiastes 2:18–19 “18 Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me. 19 And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun. This is also vanity.”
Theme: Material possessions cannot be taken with us, and their legacy is uncertain.
Ecclesiastes 6:1–2 “1 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men: 2 A man to whom God hath given riches, wealth, and honour, so that he wanteth nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but a stranger eateth it: this is vanity, and it is an evil disease.”
Theme: Accumulating wealth without the ability to enjoy it is futile.
5. Contentment Over Materialism
5. Contentment Over Materialism
Ecclesiastes 3:12-13
"I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God."
Theme: True satisfaction comes from contentment and gratitude for God’s blessings.
Ecclesiastes 5:18–20 “18 Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it is his portion. 19 Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God. 20 For he shall not much remember the days of his life; because God answereth him in the joy of his heart.”
Theme: Enjoyment of life’s blessings is a gift from God, contrasting materialism’s futility.
Table of Contents
Rightly Enjoying Material Things
Idolizing Material Things
Identifying Materialism
Fighting Materialism
Suggested Resources
"Every treasure on earth says, 'Give me your money and your life.' Jesus says, 'Give me your life, and I’ll give you treasures in heaven.'” - Randy Alcorn in the Treasure Principle
How do we Rightly Enjoy Material Things?
How do we Rightly Enjoy Material Things?
1 Timothy 4:1–5 (KJV)
1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:
5 For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
1 Timothy 4:1-5 reminds us that material things, created by God, are good and meant to be enjoyed with thanksgiving.
We often think that if we sacrifice something for God (such as the right to marry or to eat certain foods), then He owes us something
Viewing material things according to God’s Word.
Receiving them with gratitude.
Acknowledging God’s provision through prayer.
These gifts should lead us to worship the Giver, not the gifts themselves. God richly provides all we need to enjoy life, but our ultimate hope must rest in Him alone, not in transient possessions.
Money and possessions are a major issue in Scripture
Money and possessions are a major issue in Scripture
Matthew 6:19–20 “19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:”
Materialism: a tendency to consider material possessions and physical comfort as more important than spiritual values.
Idolatry: extreme admiration, love, or reverence for something or someone.
We may feel buyer’s remorse for some of our purchases, but we don’t feel any real danger. After all, we still have money left in our bank account. And besides, this is how we were brought up. But before long, what we once called a ‘want’ becomes a ‘need’, and so we become more and more dependent on things, and less and less dependent on God.
In the Parables Jesus Gave
Out of those, 16 parables are about handling money.
Christ placed a major emphasis on money and possessions:
He spoke more about money and possessions than about heaven and hell combined.
In the Gospels:
1 out of every 10 verses deals with money or possessions.
There are 288 verses in the four Gospels about money and possessions.
In the Bible as a whole:
There are 500+ references to prayer.
There are 500- references to faith.
There are 2,000+ references to money and possessions.
Why do we love acquiring things?
Why do we love acquiring things?
Happiness: Material things make us feel good. Ecclesiastes 5:10 “10 He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.”
Security: They assure us we’re not in need. Hebrews 13:5 “5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
Comfort: They alleviate our anxiety. 1 Peter 5:7 “7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”
Confidence: Wealth brings a sense of power. Deuteronomy 8:18 “18 But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.”
Attraction: Possessions make us desirable. Proverbs 31:30 “30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.”
Belonging: They help us fit in with others. Romans 12:12 “12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;”
Control: They allow us to shape our lives. Proverbs 19:21 “21 There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.”
How do I know if I am Idolizing Material Things?
How do I know if I am Idolizing Material Things?
1 John 2:15–17 “15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.”
Love for other things crowd out the love for God - A true commitment to God puts us at odds with the world. We cannot serve God wholeheartedly and also love and pursue money or the things that money can buy.
Lust of the Flesh - a craving for self-gratification which always leads to broken relationships.
Lust of the Eyes - greedy longings of the mind, often leading to acts of covetousness.
Pride of Life - assurance of one’s own resources or in the stability of earthly things. Being self-sufficient instead of God-reliant.
Matthew 6:19–20 “19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:”
Self-assessment can reveal whether we’ve misplaced our trust:
Self-assessment can reveal whether we’ve misplaced our trust:
Distraction: Does ‘X’ keep you from God’s work?
Delight: Are you more excited about possessions than God?
Loss: How do you react when something is taken away?
Comparison: Do others’ possessions breed discontentment in you?
Fear: Do possessions falsely comfort or secure you?
Fighting Materialism
Fighting Materialism
Identifying materialism is the first step. Next, we must take deliberate action to fight against it.
1. Treasure the Excellence and Beauty of God
Finding delight and satisfaction in God’s presence and beauty. Psalm 27:4Meditate on Scripture, pray, and recall God’s faithfulness.Read books and listen to resources that magnify God’s greatness.
2. Recognize the Danger of Materialism
Greed is idolatry and leads to ruin. 1 Tim. 6:9 Materialism and greed lead to spiritual harm and distance from God. 1 Timothy 6:10Understand that materialism weakens your faith and relationships.
3. Confess Materialism as Sin
Recognize materialism’s root causes in your heart.Return to God with repentance (Lam. 3:40).
4. Fight for Faith to Rest in God
Trust/rest in the Lord. Prov. 3:5-6Trust God’s promises, even in fear or scarcity.Contentment grows when we rely on His faithfulness (Heb. 13:5).
5. Think About Heaven
Look up and not just down the aisle. Col. 3:2Earthly possessions are temporary; eternal rewards are lasting.“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” – Jim Elliot
6. Give Generously
Explanation: Generosity reflects eternal priorities and shifts our focus from materialism to God’s kingdom. 1 Timothy 6:18-19It redirects our affections from material things to eternal values.
