Perhaps for the unawake (in a stretch), rather in context of Luke 19 & Matt 25 it applies
Matt 25
14"Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them.
15To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey.
16The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more.
17So also, the one with the two talents gained two more.
18But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money.
19"After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them.
20The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.'
21"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'
22"The man with the two talents also came. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.'
23"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'
24"Then the man who had received the one talent came. 'Master,' he said, 'I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed.
25So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.'
26"His master replied, 'You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed?
27Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.
28" 'Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents.
29For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.
30And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'
Miss Marple, do you still care to make the contention that Ecc 5:13 applies "as a prohibition against savings accounts, spare change in a jar, and investment in the stock market?" ?
How does the man get 5 talents to work? Talents would not dig a ditch or grind corn. I therefore assume that the man INVESTED in something, such as buying and re-selling merchandise. In much the same way the stock market is a buying and selling of shares of a corporation.
However, when one buys anything for the purpose of re-selling, there is an inherent gamble in the transaction; the buyer is hoping that there will be demand for his item and therefore will make a profit.
I do not believe the passage in Ecclesiastes prohibits saving or investing money; I was simply pointing out to you that your broad interpretation of its meaning could also be applied in other ways. You yourself have shown that.
However, please explain to me at what point playing the stock market becomes gambling, and is therefore prohibited according to your view of scripture.
One other thing; you asked how much money Mr. Whitaker had before his winning the Powerball. He said on Fox that he was a millionaire (due to his business) and also he has always tithed his income.
Since Mr. Whitaker has the money and you do not, it is really his business and between himself and God whether or not he is doing the right thing. Myself, I think it better that a Christian man take these winnings and distribute them to help people. Others (like you) apparently would prefer that only non-Christians gamble and spend the money.
I simply disagree with your view of this, and I find that there are an awful lot of stone-casters on this thread. There is also an admonition in the Bible about that, you know.