juantoo3
....whys guy.... ʎʇıɹoɥʇnɐ uoıʇsǝnb
Kindest Regards, all!
Interesting, I find agreement in interpretation within what all of you have written.
For the most part, I find myself in agreement with China Cat, except:
The only thing I have as a minor disagreement with in Q's interpretation, is that I don't believe it is all garbage. Like I said earlier, some forms and kinds of knowledge, wisdom and understanding are necessary. Are there not verses that speak of the value of riches, at least as many as speak against the concerns of riches? Wealth is a blessing. I might be inclined to believe it is a mixed blessing, but it is a blessing.
The vanity part of wealth is that we can't take it with us. So we may as well be wise with it, for the betterment of those we love.
Sure. we can get to heaven just fine without wealth. But how will it be for those we love left behind here to deal without it? Oh, they will probably scrape by. But wouldn't it be so much nicer if it is our ability to provide, to make life just a little easier for those we love, even after we are gone?
Of course, now I am sounding like a life insurance salesman...but the basic idea extends, even beyond the concept of wealth.
We are permitted to enjoy the good things in life, that is our portion for going through what can be a rather miserable existence. We can have nice things, as long as we are not caught up in them (putting them before G-d). But in the end, we cannot take them with us, so we might as well do something profitable for the benefit of those we care about. So no, I don't think everything is garbage.
But then, who am I but another fellow traveller trying to understand the wisdom left to us by someone who cared enough to write us these words.
Interesting, I find agreement in interpretation within what all of you have written.
For the most part, I find myself in agreement with China Cat, except:
Forgive me, but since when has it been a requirement to be wild-eyed in order to be a preacher? I do not see a caricature, although I agree with the balance of your summary. I do think it is a late middle aged man looking back on his life with an eye towards leaving a bit of sage advice for his offspring and any others who would listen. A metaphorical statement of his wisdom in itself, he shared this and other wisdom writings not only with his progeny (didn't just "keep the wealth in the family"), he shared this advice with his nation. Too bad so few of them listened, even to this day. Not a poke at any specific group, but at all equally who claim any descent figurative or literal from the nation of Israel (from a time when both houses were still united!).
The only thing I have as a minor disagreement with in Q's interpretation, is that I don't believe it is all garbage. Like I said earlier, some forms and kinds of knowledge, wisdom and understanding are necessary. Are there not verses that speak of the value of riches, at least as many as speak against the concerns of riches? Wealth is a blessing. I might be inclined to believe it is a mixed blessing, but it is a blessing.
The vanity part of wealth is that we can't take it with us. So we may as well be wise with it, for the betterment of those we love.
Sure. we can get to heaven just fine without wealth. But how will it be for those we love left behind here to deal without it? Oh, they will probably scrape by. But wouldn't it be so much nicer if it is our ability to provide, to make life just a little easier for those we love, even after we are gone?
Of course, now I am sounding like a life insurance salesman...but the basic idea extends, even beyond the concept of wealth.
We are permitted to enjoy the good things in life, that is our portion for going through what can be a rather miserable existence. We can have nice things, as long as we are not caught up in them (putting them before G-d). But in the end, we cannot take them with us, so we might as well do something profitable for the benefit of those we care about. So no, I don't think everything is garbage.
But then, who am I but another fellow traveller trying to understand the wisdom left to us by someone who cared enough to write us these words.
