There are a few gold nuggets in Ecclesiastes and seemingly some lumps of coal as well. Though, in saying that, I admit that coal is quite useful and can be turned into diamonds, so maybe I shouldn’t be so quick to dismiss some of the things in there.

Verse 19 prompted the coal comment. Let’s look at it. “Bread is made for laughter, and wine gladdens life, and money answers everything.” As someone who has never drunk a glass of wine and who writes about the idolatry of turning to money to solve your problems, that seemed like a lump of coal.

But now I’m committed to not overlooking it. “Bread is made for laughter.” When I think of bread in the Scriptures, I think of the word of God. I think of Jesus. Jesus said, “I am the bread of life.” We’re told man doesn’t live by bread alone, but by the words that come from the mouth of God. Psalm 104 says that God gives bread to strengthen man’s heart. That makes me think of verse 17 here in Ecclesiastes 10 about princes feasting at the proper time to gain strength.

Where does laughter come into all that if bread is supposedly made for laughter? One doesn’t often laugh alone. If a chuckle comes out, it’s because you are thinking about someone else. The laughter comes with community, togetherness. We gather for a meal, and we are to gather around a meal as Christians as well. Some would say that what we call communion was really intended to be a shared meal. But beyond that, we’re to gather to feed, to feast on God’s word. We’re to share in His word together.

Yes, there is definitely a place for private study. John was exiled on Patmos. I would think he didn’t have a lot in terms of fellowship with other believers, though someone had to have delivered the book of Revelation after it was written.

Gathering with believers, feasting on God’s word, joining together in the body and blood, remembering Christ’s sacrifice and resurrection and our being joined to Him in the mystery of oneness with Christ and oneness with all believers in Christ is a joy.

And while I would never say money is the answer to everything, I would say we have a treasure in Jesus Christ and we should go after Him like He’s everything we need and could ever want!