materialism have volumes to say to our modernity—where most of us are as attached to our possessions as is the rest of society. The Old Testament offers no clearer mirror to face our generation with our foibles than the twelve chapters of Ecclesiastes. THE MESSAGE OF ECCLESIASTES The lack of agreement among commentators on the basic thrust of the Preacher’s message is both startling and intriguing. It is startling because in the overall reading of most biblical books a strong consensus has developed