What Ecclesiastes Teaches Us About Life and Money

What book of the Bible reminds us that life is short and wisdom means making the most of the time God has given us? Ecclesiastes.

This remarkable book refuses to let us avoid one of life’s most uncomfortable realities: our time here is brief. Life “under the sun” is fleeting, our accomplishments will not last forever, and eventually every one of us will leave behind everything we have accumulated.

But Ecclesiastes does not confront us with mortality simply to make us somber. It reminds us that life is short so we will learn to receive it as a gift. And that perspective changes how we think about everything—including our money.

Five Minutes on the Summit

Consider Mount Everest, the highest mountain on Earth, rising more than 29,000 feet above sea level.

For generations, climbers dreamed of reaching its summit. But even today, with modern equipment and experienced guides, the journey remains extraordinarily dangerous. At roughly 26,000 feet, climbers enter what is commonly called the “death zone,” where the air contains too little oxygen for the human body to survive indefinitely.

A climber who reaches the summit cannot stay there. No matter how breathtaking the view, it's eventually time to descend.

Imagine two climbers standing at the top. One spends the moment focused entirely on everything that has gone wrong. His ankle hurts. The air is painfully thin. He is exhausted. The conditions are uncomfortable.

The other notices those same realities but also looks around. He sees the vastness of the mountains stretching beneath him. He thanks God for the beauty of creation and recognizes how extraordinary it is simply to be standing there.

Both climbers are in the same place. But only one is truly receiving the moment.

Ecclesiastes teaches us that life is something like standing on that summit. You just arrived, and you will not be here long. Many came before you. Many will come after you. But for this brief moment in history, you are here.

Sometimes your stay is filled with sunshine and calm. Sometimes it brings icy winds and cloud cover. Some seasons feel wonderfully full; others bring pain, disappointment, or loss.

Yet through it all, Ecclesiastes keeps reminding us: You are alive. Receive the life God has given you.

Remember Your Creator

Near the conclusion of Ecclesiastes, the Preacher turns our attention directly toward the brevity of life:

“Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, ‘I have no pleasure in them.’” - Ecclesiastes 12:1

A few verses later, the imagery becomes even more vivid:

“Before the silver cord is snapped, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern, and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.” - Ecclesiastes 12:6–7

Ecclesiastes asks us to think honestly about aging and death. That may sound discouraging, but the purpose is surprisingly life-giving.

If you knew you could remain on the summit only a little longer, you would pay closer attention to the view. In the same way, remembering that our earthly lives are limited can help us become more grateful for the life we have today.

Mortality Can Teach Us to Live

Ecclesiastes repeatedly reminds us that we will age, decline, and eventually die. Death appears throughout the book because the reality of our mortality exposes the limits of everything we are tempted to treat as ultimate.

Money cannot stop death. Achievement cannot stop death. Possessions cannot stop death. Even wisdom, though better than folly, cannot make us immortal.

That realization could lead to despair. Instead, Ecclesiastes repeatedly points us toward gratitude. 

Because life is temporary, ordinary gifts become precious. A meal shared with people you love matters. Meaningful work matters. Friendship matters. Enjoying what God has provided matters. Ecclesiastes 5:19 says:

“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.”

There is nothing inherently wrong with enjoying God’s provision. The problem comes when we ask temporary things to provide what only God can give.

Wealth makes a wonderful gift. It makes a terrible god.

What Ecclesiastes Teaches Us About Money

This is one reason Ecclesiastes offers such valuable wisdom for our financial lives.

We can spend decades accumulating more while rarely stopping to ask why. More income. A larger investment account. A nicer home. Another possession. Greater financial security.

Those things may all have a legitimate place in wise stewardship. Ecclesiastes is not telling us to abandon planning, saving, or responsible financial management.

It is asking us something deeper: What are you expecting your money to do for you?

Money can provide options, but it cannot provide ultimate security. It can purchase comforts, but it cannot guarantee contentment. It can help us prepare for the future, but it cannot control the future. And it certainly cannot make our lives last forever.

Ecclesiastes strips away the illusion that accumulating enough will finally allow us to master life. Instead, it invites us to fear God, receive His gifts with gratitude, love the people He has placed around us, and faithfully steward what passes through our hands.

Living With Eternity in View

The final verses of Ecclesiastes bring the entire book into focus:

“Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.” - Ecclesiastes 12:13–14

Life under the sun is temporary. But that does not mean it is meaningless. Quite the opposite.

Our lives matter precisely because we live them before God. The money entrusted to us matters. The work we do matters. The people we serve matter. The way we respond to God’s gifts matters.

One day, our five minutes on the summit will end. Until then, Ecclesiastes urges us not to waste the view. Receive today as a gift. Enjoy God’s provision without worshiping it. Hold your possessions with open hands. Love the people around you. Remember your Creator.

And live this brief life in light of the One who is eternal.

If you’d like to explore more of what Ecclesiastes teaches about money, contentment, work, generosity, and what truly lasts, check out our study, Wisdom Over Wealth: 12 Lessons from Ecclesiastes on Money. 

You can order a copy—or place a bulk order for your church or small group—at FaithFi.com/Shop.

On Today’s Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions:

• I want to develop a small housing community for people who are underhoused or homeless, with an estimated cost of about $5 million. Should I form a 501(c)(3), work through my church, or use another structure? And how should I approach donors who may be interested in the tax benefits of giving?
• My husband and I plan to sell our high-maintenance home and expect about $240,000 in proceeds, but our monthly income is limited. Should we consider an annuity, is a 1.25% fiduciary advisory fee reasonable, and where should we keep the money while we decide on our next home?

Resources Mentioned:

• Become a FaithFi Partner
• The Chalmers Center
• IRS Form 1023 (Establishing a Non-Profit Organization)
• Faithful Steward: FaithFi’s Quarterly Magazine
• FaithFi Field Guide: How Much Money is Enough? 
• Our Ultimate Treasure: A 21-Day Journey to Faithful Stewardship by Rob West
• Wisdom Over Wealth: 12 Lessons from Ecclesiastes on Money
• Look At The Sparrows: A 21-Day Devotional on Financial Fear and Anxiety
• Rich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich Fool
• Find a Certified Kingdom Advisor® (CKA)
• FaithFi App

Remember, you can call in to ask your questions every weekday at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. You can also visit FaithFi.com to connect with our online community and partner with us as we help more people live as faithful stewards of God’s resources.

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