Reformation Sunday (CL)

Ecclesiastes 5:10-20

¹⁰ He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity. ¹¹ When goods increase, they increase who eat them, and what advantage has their owner but to see them with his eyes? ¹² Sweet is the sleep of a laborer, whether he eats little or much, but the full stomach of the rich will not let him sleep. 

¹³ There is a grievous evil that I have seen under the sun: riches were kept by their owner to his hurt, ¹⁴ and those riches were lost in a bad venture. And he is father of a son, but he has nothing in his hand. ¹⁵ As he came from his mother’s womb he shall go again, naked as he came, and shall take nothing for his toil that he may carry away in his hand. ¹⁶ This also is a grievous evil: just as he came, so shall he go, and what gain is there to him who toils for the wind? ¹⁷ Moreover, all his days he eats in darkness in much vexation and sickness and anger. 

¹⁸ Behold, what I have seen to be good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life that God has given him, for this is his lot. ¹⁹ Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil—this is the gift of God. ²⁰ For he will not much remember the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with joy in his heart. 

It seems the more you talk with people, the more they complain about their poor sleeping habits. Many people in the united States seem to struggle with getting to sleep at night. Others struggle with not being able to keep their eyes open after a long day of work. There are even others that never seem to want to wake up and start their day. But it is amazing to me how many people also struggle with sleeping problems and snoring.

Solomon has an answer to all your sleeping problems. He might even have the answer to the obesity problem in the united States. We are living too high on the hog! "but the full stomach of the rich will not let him sleep." You can either think of Acid reflux or just general obesity. How much of your day is spent at a dinner table or some other table meant to be eaten off of, or even to prepare a meal.

The movie over the hedge pegged things a little too close for our comfort, when the racoon tells the animals how humans worship food. The movie even illustrates how we have such an over abundance of food. We are so wasteful with the gifts we have been given from God. Why does your trash bag seem to weigh more than your groceries?

God does have an answer, You do not live on bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. He also reminds us that even though we are trash makers, Christ is the perfect trash man. He has taken all your garbage that you have created from your life, and he has sealed it away in a tomb. He even revealed to all the world that the tomb is now empty. He has died for the forgiveness of all your sins. He has redeemed you from your garbage.