I talked with the young high school student that I attempt to teach math to weekly, and we were discussing his reading through the Bible, which I was also encouraging him to do. He was observing that one of the main messages of the Bible was that people ought to follow God and that other things don’t satisfy. He’s been trying to come up with an idea for my next book so he had this suggestion:

Find a billionaire who’s tried everything and then finds out that he should have been following God. “My third Ferrari, my sixth mansion, etc. didn’t satisfy me.” – High school student

After he finished waxing eloquent on this idea, I told him, “Son, I don’t need to do that. It’s already been done!” Then I told him about Ecclesiastes.

I said in my heart, “I have acquired great wisdom, surpassing all who were over Jerusalem before me, and my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.” And I applied my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is but a striving after wind. (Ecclesiastes 1.16, 17, ESV)

I said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy yourself.” But behold, this also was vanity. (Ecclesiastes 2.1, ESV)

He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity. When goods increase, they increase who eat them, and what advantage has their owner but to see them with his eyes? (Ecclesiastes 5.10, 11, ESV)

The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. (Ecclesiastes 12.13, ESV)

But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. (1 Timothy 6.9, 10, ESV)