DOES MONEY ANSWER ALL THINGS?

DOES MONEY ANSWER ALL THINGS?

A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things.

—Ecclesiastes 10:19

In doctrines and interpretations of Scripture, context is very key.

The Scripture passage above simply says that money answers all things that have to do with eating and drinking, which cheers everyone. It’s obvious if we break it down as follows:

Feast (or party, or simply food) gives us happiness

Wine (or drinks) makes us merry

But it is money that makes eating and drinking possible

In other words, dinning and wining (feasting, partying, merriment) only come by money. Without money there will be no merriment or eating and drinking.

Why is this Scripture a problem in the first place? Why is it a challenge? Two reasons:

i.                   because everyone knows what low position the Scripture ascribes to money, especially in ethical and spiritual matters;

ii.            because everyone knows by experience that money does not answer all things.

Surely the people that make up the Preacher’s audience (in this Book of Ecclesiastes) did not misunderstand him in this matter nor were they baffled at it. It was spoken in context, and they all agreed to it and penned it down.

The preacher sought to find acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth. (Ecc. 12:10)

No rabbi or Jew has given money an unduly esteemed position in life on account of this very Scripture, because they all very well understood (and still understand) what is meant—in context. Only among the ungodly, non-religious and religious alike, would you hear people so often quote this verse—but in part—only so they can find justification for their latent covetousness, greed, love of money.

They that are unlearned and unstable wrest [this verse], as they do also the other Scriptures, unto their own destruction. (2 Peter 3:16)

Never does any of these wicked people quote the whole verse nor do they quote it in an appropriate situation; only in violent truncation—“Money answereth all things”—such that they would neutralize all counsels against their greed and worldliness.

It is worthy of remembrance that this Preacher (Ecclesiastes) was also the composer of Song of Solomon, the very next Book. And in a portion there he said:

Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house, it would utterly be contemned. (Cant. 8:7)

In other words, money answereth not love! Money cannot afford true love. This everyone knows. Money has its domain where it rules, if it indeed rules. As important as money is under the sun, its pre-eminence is restricted in its domain.

Money can obtain quality schooling but it cannot afford good conscience, for example. Money can buy large aeroplane, but if the aeroplane starts to crash, no amount of money can salvage the situation. Money can build a great economy for the nation, but cannot shut down their prisons—it would rather build more! Money can fortify the military of nations but cannot bring world peace. Money has no control over sunshine and rainfall or sunrise and sunset. Money does not cure demonic attack. Money can fetch us big houses and properties but cannot get us a home of peace, love and joy. Money can afford us more money, but cannot cure us of greed! In fact, although money can buy merriment and laughter, true joy and brotherliness cannot be secured with money; for the same preacher declared:

Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife. (Proverbs 17:1)

Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith. (Proverbs 15:17)

The King James translators of the Bible, unlike other translators, had enough integrity to always write in italics words that are not actually in the original manuscript from which they translated. This is to enable the sentences make better sense. An example is the word “things” in Ecclesiastes 10:19. So in the original it reads: ...but money answereth all. Period.

This further evinces that money does not answer all things one could think of or desire to have; rather money answereth all: feast, wine, merriment, and all in that context as stated in that verse.

Consider the following statement:

An attorney is made for defence,

and a witness makes for a fair case;

but the judge is lord of all.

It is plain what is meant above by “the judge is lord of all”. An attorney can speak for an accused person and a witness can further plead one’s cause, but the final rule is the judge’s. This is why he is called “Lord”. In the law court everyone addresses the judge as “my lord”. Now does this mean that the judge is indeed “lord of all people”, everywhere and every time? Of course no. He is only lord in the context of a law court. What would people think of one who goes around everywhere proclaiming, “The judge is lord of all people!”?

The same reason applies when at duty or in the barracks an officer says to his superior, “Your wish is my command, sir!” Of course this is only true as far as his duty goes—and no more. It’s in the context of duty.

So also is the statement, “Money answereth all [things]”. Money only answers all [things] that are in the realm of money.

Let it be well emphasized here that money is a material substance and therefore can answer only to all things of temporal essence. With money you can buy whatever you want to buy on earth, but you can’t buy the blessings of God with money.

Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. (Acts 8:20)

This is a great lesson for those who think they can earn God’s acceptance or forgiveness of sins by mere charity or big offerings to church and clerics. No. It is repentance from sin and pure heart before God that is accepted (Mat. 5:8; Heb.12:14). “Repent of this thy wickedness,” Peter charged. (Acts 8:22)

Definitely, one who is generous will in turn be blessed by God.

Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. (Luke 6:38)

But neither charity nor its attendant blessings from God by themselves should be equated to righteousness. No.

...men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. (1 Timothy 6:5)

If the Jews could not enter the Kingdom through their heritage in father Abraham, a man who was rich and was called God’s friend, then neither can anyone; only repentance from sin and following all the teachings of Master Jesus will.

Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father.... (Luke 3:8)