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Ecclesiastes Lesson Twenty

Ecclesiastes Lesson Twenty: Ecclesiastes 11:1-10 – Invest in Life

Send your bread on the surface of the waters, 

for after many days you may find it. 

2 Give a portion to seven or even to eight, 

for you don’t know what disaster may happen on earth. 

3 If the clouds are full, they will pour out rain on the earth; 

whether a tree falls to the south or the north, 

the place where the tree falls, there it will lie. 

4 One who watches the wind will not sow, 

and the one who looks at the clouds will not reap. 

5 Just as you don’t know the path of the wind, 

or how bones develop in  the womb of a pregnant woman, 

so you don’t know the work of God who makes everything. 

6 In the morning sow your seed, 

and at evening do not let your hand rest, 

because you don’t know which will succeed, 

whether one or the other, 

or if both of them will be equally good. 

7 Light is sweet, 

and it is pleasing for the eyes to see the sun. 

8 Indeed, if a man lives many years, 

let him rejoice in them all, 

and let him remember the days of darkness, since they will be many. 

All that comes is futile. 

9 Rejoice, young man, while you are young, 

and let your heart be glad in the days of your youth. 

And walk in the ways of your heart 

and in the sight of your eyes; 

but know that for all of these things God will bring you to judgment. 

10 Remove sorrow from your heart, 

and put away pain from your flesh, 

because youth and the prime of life are fleeting. (HCSB)

I’ll be splitting this lesson into two parts.

  • Live by faith – verses 1-6.
  • Life is a gift, so enjoy it – verses 7-10.

Live by Faith

  • None of us will ever experience perfect circumstances throughout our lives. Still, we need to obey and trust God for the results.
  • If we wait for the perfect opportunity, it may never come, and life will pass us by.
  • The author uses two points to illustrate living by faith: a merchant sending out his ships and a farmer sowing seeds. In both cases, faith is needed since neither can control the circumstances surrounding their endeavors.
    • Merchant ships.
      • The phrase “Send your bread on the surface of the waters” is better understood as sending your grain on ships to other countries for trade.
      • Often, it would be months before the ships would return with their cargo. But, when they did return, the merchant’s patience would be rewarded with precious cargo or gold.
      • Verse two alludes to the fact the merchant would spread their cargo over several ships and not “putting all his eggs in one basket.”
      • But it can also mean that wealthy people should use their resources to help as many people as possible.
      • The phrase “You don’t know,” which appears three times in this section, is key.
        • We are ignorant of our future, but we can’t allow that ignorance to make us so fearful that we become careless or paralyzed.
        • It should make us careful when we plan and execute our plans.
    • Farmers.
      • Farming has always been challenging work, and this was especially true in biblical times in the Holy Land.
        • The soil was often rocky.
        • The farmers depended on early and late rains to grow their crops.
        • Weather prediction was an unknown science at the time, and the farmer was at the mercy of nature.
      • Verse three contrasts clouds and trees.
        • Clouds are constantly changing, and the hope is they will bring much-needed rain, but they also mean disasters can occur.
        • Trees are permanent. They stand in the same place unless a storm knocks them over. If they’re knocked over, they lie and rot.
    • The ships may encounter bad weather or be attacked by pirates, resulting in a loss to the cargo.
    • The farmer could encounter stormy weather or insects, both resulting in the loss of crops.
    • They’d never rise from their chair if both waited for the ideal time to conduct business.
    • Life always has a certain amount of risk, and that’s where faith allows us to overcome the hesitation to take action.
  • Verse four once again admonishes us not to wait for the perfect conditions, which will never happen anyway!!
    • The winds and clouds will constantly be changing and seldom ideal.
    • Those who look for an excuse to avoid activity will always find one that is suitable.
    • Life is an adventure. 
    • We must step out in faith, even when the circumstances seem less than ideal.
  • Verse five reminds us we’ll never know or understand the plans of God.
    • We won’t understand “the path of the wind” or how a baby is formed in the womb.
    • God has a time and purpose for everything.
    • We need to live by faith in His Word.
    • We also see a parallel with Jesus’ words to Nicodemus. John 3:8 The wind blows where it pleases, and you hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
  • Verse six is a reminder to use each day wisely.
    • Don’t be lazy and sleep in. Get up and get to work.
    • Work with effort until the evening.
    • Ephesians 5:15-17 Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk—not as unwise people but as wise— 16 making the most of the time, because the days are evil. 17 So don’t be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.
    • We need to trust God to bless at least some of our tasks. 
    • The closer we walk according to His plan, the more our work will be blessed.
    • But, also remember there are times we may not see the fruit of our work until later, or possibly even after we pass from this life. 
  • Life is an adventure of faith.
    • Each of us is like a merchant investing today in what will pay dividends tomorrow.
    • If we are consumed by worry and fail to take action, we will never accomplish anything.
    • Trust in God requires a call to action.
    • Our commitment must be wholehearted and ungrudging.
    • The famous concert pianist Arthur Rubinstein once said, “Of course, there is no formula for success except perhaps an unconditional acceptance of life and what it brings.”

Life is a Gift, So Enjoy It

  • This is the sixth and final admonition from the author that we accept life as a gift and learn to enjoy all that God shares with us.
    • Ecclesiastes 2:24 There is nothing better for man than to eat, drink, and enjoy his work.  I have seen that even this is from God’s hand.
    • Ecclesiastes 3:12-15, 22 I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and enjoy the good life. 13 It is also the gift of God whenever anyone eats, drinks, and enjoys all his efforts. 14 I know that all God does will last forever; there is no adding to it or taking from it. God works so that people will be in awe of Him. 15 Whatever is, has already been, and whatever will be, already is. God repeats what has passed…I have seen that there is nothing better than for a person to enjoy his activities because that is his reward. For who can enable him to see what will happen after he dies?
    • Ecclesiastes 5:18-20 Here is what I have seen to be good: it is appropriate to eat, drink, and experience good in all the labor one does under the sun during the few days of his life God has given him, because that is his reward. 19 God has also given riches and wealth to every man, and He has allowed him to enjoy them, take his reward, and rejoice in his labor. This is a gift of God, 20 for he does not often consider the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with the joy of his heart.
    • Ecclesiastes 8:15 So I commended enjoyment because there is nothing better for man under the sun than to eat, drink, and enjoy himself, for this will accompany him in his labor during the days of his life that God gives him under the sun. 
    • Ecclesiastes 9:7-10 Go, eat your bread with pleasure, and drink your wine with a cheerful heart, for God has already accepted your works. 8 Let your clothes be white all the time, and never let oil be lacking on your head. 9 Enjoy life with the wife you love all the days of your fleeting life, which has been given to you under the sun, all your fleeting days. For that is your portion in life and in your struggle under the sun. 10 Whatever your hands find to do, do with all your strength, because there is no work, planning, knowledge, or wisdom in Sheol where you are going.
  • We need to live with an attitude of rejoicing.
    • We should anticipate each new day and accept it as a gift from God.
    • Deuteronomy 33:25 May the bolts of your gate be iron and bronze, and your strength last as long as you live. 
    • Enjoy each day, even those that present a challenge or may seem difficult.
    • 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Rejoice always! 17 Pray constantly. 18 Give thanks in everything, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 
    • Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
    • This attitude is especially true the younger you are.
      • Take advantage of the days of your youth.
      • As we get older, our bodies weaken, and our minds dim; we cannot accomplish or enjoy life as much as we used to.
      • At the same time, being youthful isn’t a free license to live in a manner contrary to God’s teaching and follow our internal sinful desires.
      • Mark 7:20-23 Then He said, “What comes out of a person—that defiles him. 21 For from within, out of people’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immoralities, thefts, murders, 22 adulteries,  greed,  evil actions, deceit, promiscuity, stinginess,  blasphemy, pride, and foolishness. 23 All these evil things come from within and defile a person.”
      • The author reinforces this point at the end of verse nine, “But know that for all these things God will bring you to judgment.”
    • In the final verse of this lesson, the word “sorrow” in the original Hebrew has the following meanings: anger, bitterness, grief, indignation, or provocation.
      • If we are living in alignment with God’s will, we should have the peace of God in our hearts. Philippians 4:6-9 Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable,  whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise—dwell on these things. 9 Do what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.
      • Life is all too short, which we often don’t realize until we get older. There’s no reset button on our lives.
      • The best way to have a happy adult life and contented old age is to get a good start early and avoid the things that will bring trouble later in life.
      • Young people who take care of their minds and bodies, avoid the destructive sins of the flesh, and build good habits of health and holiness will have a better chance for happy adult years than those who “sow their wild oats” and pray for a crop failure.
      • Charles Spurgeon once said, “Youthful sins lay a foundation for aged sorrows.

Applications

  • Live in obedience to God’s Word. When we do this, it doesn’t mean we won’t have tough times or face trials. It does mean that as we face these challenges, walk by faith, and place our trust in God, He will see us through to the end of these trials. Sometimes, we face trials to grow our faith or to prepare us for future Kingdom work. 
  • Don’t wait for our perceived “perfect time.” Often, the perfect time will never happen, and we’re left at the starting line of life, wondering why we’ve missed out on opportunities. Life is not risk-free. At the same time, we need to balance risk-taking and risk mitigation. Being foolish is not being faithful. 
  • Make the most of your time each day. As we get older, we often regret not making the most of our time when we were younger. It’s impossible to reset the “clock of life.” 
  • Enjoy life and rejoice in what God has given you. For each person, it’s different. Yet, regardless of our circumstances, we should rejoice as we walk in obedience to God, knowing that when we place our faith in Christ, our eternal future and everlasting rejoicing are made secure.
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Ecclesiastes Lesson Six

Ecclesiastes Lesson Six: Ecclesiastes 3:1-15 – The Rhythm and Eternity of Time

3 There is an occasion for everything, 

and a time for every activity under heaven: 

2 a time to give birth and a time to die; 

a time to plant and a time to uproot; 

3 a time to kill and a time to heal; 

a time to tear down and a time to build; 

4 a time to weep and a time to laugh; 

a time to mourn and a time to dance; 

5 a time to throw stones and a time to gather stones; 

a time to embrace and a time to avoid embracing; 

6 a time to search and a time to count as lost; 

a time to keep and a time to throw away; 

7 a time to tear and a time to sew; 

a time to be silent and a time to speak; 

8 a time to love and a time to hate; 

a time for war and a time for peace. 

9 What does the worker gain from his struggles? 10 I have seen the task that God has given people to keep them occupied. 11 He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also put eternity in their hearts, but man cannot discover the work God has done from beginning to end. 12 I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and enjoy the good life. 13 It is also the gift of God whenever anyone eats, drinks, and enjoys all his efforts. 14 I know that all God does will last forever; there is no adding to it or taking from it. God works so that people will be in awe of Him. 15 Whatever is, has already been, and whatever will be, already is. God repeats what has passed. (HCSB)

Chapter three begins a new section in Ecclesiastes, with the first eight verses of chapter three being a masterpiece of wisdom poetry. The remaining verses in this passage are not part of the wisdom poetry but rather a reflection on and an exposition of it.

I’ll be breaking this lesson into two parts:

  • The mystery of time – verses 1-8.
  • Everything has a purpose – verses 9-15.

The Mystery of Time

As we read and reflect on the first eight verses in chapter three, we see that times and seasons are a part of regular, no matter where you live. The verses flow between the desirable and undesirable aspects of life. The teacher is not telling the reader how to obtain the former and avoid the latter. Life is composed of joy and sorrow, building and destroying, living and dying. Each one comes at the proper time. We can never be happy until we come to grips with the fact that life is full of changes and sorrows, as well as continuity and joy. We must accept our mortality and that our life is governed by time.

In these eight verses, the teacher tells us that God is at work in our individual lives, seeking to accomplish His will. Each event comes from God and is good in their time. The point is that if we cooperate with God’s timing, life won’t be meaningless. Everything will be appropriate in its time. Now, let’s take a look at these fourteen statements.

  • The teacher begins with the statement, “every activity under heaven.”
    • This is another way of “under the sun.”
    • These are observations of human life in the human world.
  • Verse two.
    • We may think that man is in control of birth and death, but God is the one who controls it.
      • Genesis 29:31-30:24.
      • Psalm 113:9 He gives the childless woman a household, making her the joyful mother of children. Hallelujah!
      • Ephesians 2:10 For we are His creation, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them.
      • Psalm 139:16 Your eyes saw me when I was formless; all my days were written in Your book and planned before a single one of them began. 
    • Since the Jews were agricultural people, they appreciated the seasons.
      • Their religious calendar was based on the agricultural year. See Leviticus 23.
      • The use of the word “uproot” indicates both harvest and the removal of unproductive plants.
      • The farmer understood that nature works for him only if he works with nature.
      • This is also the secret to a successful life. Learn God’s principles and cooperate with them.
    • Both birth and planting are ways of giving life; one to living beings and the other to plants.
  • Verse three.
    • Destruction and killing are part of life and can’t be avoided.
      • The teacher isn’t making an ethical statement about a just or unjust war.
      • He is making an observation that in a world where death is a fact of life, there will be a time to kill.
    • Plagues and sickness are part of the world.
      • God permits some to die while others are healed.
      • This doesn’t mean we should refuse medical care. God uses both “natural” medicine as well as miracles to heal people.
  • Verse four.
    • There is an increase in the intensity of the emotions described here.
      • Weeping precedes mourning.
      • Laughing precedes dancing. 
    • This concept can be applied to other emotions, too. Emotions tend to intensify as we go through the experience. 
    • The teacher is also encouraging people to enjoy the lighter moments of life, as we’ll all experience times of heartache.
  • Verse five.
    • There are several possible meanings to this verse.
    • One possible meaning relates to the culture of the Middle East during this period of time.
      • The people would openly display their affection for each other.
      • They would kiss and hug when they met and when they parted.
    • A second relates to a sexual union.
      • This is the position the Midrash Rabbah took with this verse.
      • As with all other things “under the sun,” sexual relations between a married couple are also fleeting.
    • A third relates to agriculture.
      • Throwing stones would make the field unsuitable for planting.
      • Gathering stones would make the field ready for planting.
  • Verse six.
    • In the first half of the verse, the teacher is saying there is always a time to search for something. This could be wisdom or something misplaced. But, there’s also a time to stop searching as it becomes a waste of time and effort.
    • In the second half, the teacher is saying there is a time to keep things. They serve a purpose for a season. But, there will come a time when any item will no longer be worth keeping. Once an item no longer serves a purpose or becomes unusable, it should be discarded.
    • The teacher is instructing us to put possessions into their proper context.
  • Verse seven.
    • The teacher is talking about actions taken during times of grief or repentance.
      • 2 Samuel 13:31 In response the king stood up, tore his clothes, and lay down on the ground, and all his servants stood by with their clothes torn.
      • Ezra 9:5 At the evening offering, I got up from my humiliation, with my tunic and robe torn. Then I fell on my knees and spread out my hands to Yahweh my God.
    • However, we shouldn’t experience sorrow following the loss of a loved one in the same way as unbelievers.
      • 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, concerning those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who have no hope. 14 Since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, in the same way God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep through Jesus. 15 For we say this to you by a revelation from the Lord: We who are still alive at the Lord’s coming will certainly have no advantage over those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the archangel’s voice, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are still alive will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.
      • Once the grieving period is over, the Christian must move on in the knowledge those believers who have died are in the presence of the Lord.
    • In a simpler sense, the teacher is also reminding us there is a time to speak and a time to keep quiet.
      • Colossians 4:6 Your speech should always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you should answer each person.
      • James 3:3-12 Now when we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we also guide the whole animal. 4 And consider ships: Though very large and driven by fierce winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. 5 So too, though the tongue is a small part of the body, it boasts great things. Consider how large a forest a small fire ignites. 6 And the tongue is a fire. The tongue, a world of unrighteousness, is placed among the parts of our bodies. It pollutes the whole body, sets the course of life on fire, and is set on fire by hell. 7 Every sea creature, reptile, bird, or animal is tamed and has been tamed by man, 8 but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 We praise our Lord and Father with it, and we curse men who are made in God’s likeness with it. 10 Praising and cursing come out of the same mouth. My brothers, these things should not be this way. 11 Does a spring pour out sweet and bitter water from the same opening? 12 Can a fig tree produce olives, my brothers, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a saltwater spring yield fresh water.
  • Verse eight.
    • Perfect peace doesn’t exist “under the sun.”
    • The contents of this verse are arranged in chiastic order.
      • Love and hate represent personal feelings.
      • War and peace represent sociopolitical conditions.
    • A relevant question is whether or not Christians should “hate.”
      • Psalm 97:10a You who love the Lord, hate evil!
      • Revelation 2:6 Yet you do have this: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 
      • Christians should hate the evil in this world. At the same time, we must remember that we don’t wrestle against flesh and blood.
  • As we look back on these eight verses, we should apply the following concepts.
    • Taking each one individually is not what’s important.
    • Instead, they should all be combined as an overall description of human life.
    • The list is not prescriptive in nature. Instead, it is a descriptive account of the things that make up human existence.
    • We generally spend our days in the ways described in these verses and in activities that lie between the opposite extremes.

Everything Has a Purpose

The teacher now shifts his focus from everything “under the sun,” and brings God into the equation, which brings a new perspective to life. The teacher repeats the question he asked in 1:3, although he uses a few different words. Essentially, he’s asking whether all his work and toil was worth it. The teacher’s reflection has produced new evidence, and he gives three answers to the question.

  • Life is a gift from God.
    • Although we may not view life as a gift when we’re going through difficult times, it is still God’s gift.
    • We struggle to explain life’s mysteries, but often we don’t succeed.
    • If we embrace life as a gift from God and then thank Him for it, we’ll have a better attitude as we encounter our struggles.
    • If we accept life as a burden, we’ll miss the gifts that come our way.
    • Our outlook and attitude about life determine whether we view life as a gift or not.
  • Human life is linked to eternity.
    • We were created in the image of God and given control over creation. Genesis 1:26-28 Then God said, “Let Us  make man in Our image, according to Our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the livestock, all the earth, and the creatures that crawl on the earth.” 27 So God created man in His own image; He created him in the image of God; He created them male and female. 28 God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, and every creature that crawls on the earth.
    • Humans are different from the rest of creation.
      • Our spirit is eternal.
      • We can never be satisfied with the accomplishments “under the sun.”
      • We’ll never be able to explain the mysteries of life.
    • God accomplishes His purposes in His time.
    • We won’t be able to understand His plan until we enter into eternity.
  • We can enjoy life now.
    • The teacher implied this idea in 2:24.
    • 1 Timothy 6:17 Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be arrogant or to set their hope on the uncertainty of wealth, but on God, who richly provides us with all things  to enjoy.
    • The teacher is not implying a life of pagan hedonism. Instead, we should live a life where we enjoy the gifts God has given us from the fruit of our labor, regardless of the difficulty of our life.
    • Life is transitory, but God’s work lasts forever.
    • When we live our life according to His instructions, life is meaningful.
    • Too many complain about what they don’t have instead of being thankful for what they do have.
    • It’s also important to understand the teacher isn’t promoting a “don’t worry, be happy” attitude.
      • He is promoting faith in God.
      • He is not promoting “faith in faith” or “pie in the sky.”
      • Faith is only as good as the object of faith. The greatest object of faith is God.
    • When we live life walking with God, it’s arrogant and disrespectful to say that life is meaningless and monotonous.
      • Humans are not insignificant creatures.
      • When we place our trust in Jesus, we become a child of God and have a future eternal home. John 14:1-6 “Your heart must not be troubled. Believe  in God; believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if not, I would have told you. I am going away to prepare a place for you. 3 If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come back and receive you to Myself, so that where I am you may be also. 4 You know the way to where I am going.” 5 “Lord,” Thomas  said, “we don’t know where You’re going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
    • Thomas Watson, a pastor from the 1600s, said, “Eternity to the godly is a day that has no sunset; eternity to the wicked is a night that has no sunrise.”
    • A proper attitude towards God is to fear Him. We must not misunderstand the meaning of biblical fear. It isn’t cringing in terror; it’s submitting like an obedient child to a loving parent.
    • If we fear God, we don’t need to fear anything else because He is in control.

The final verse of this passage harks back to 1:9-11, giving us a reassurance that God is in control of the cycle of life. God can, and has, broken into this cycle throughout history, performing miracles. The birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus are examples of breaking the cycle of life and overcoming the “life-death cycle.” Since Jesus broke this cycle, we have become a new creation that overcomes time and death. 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things  have come. 18 Everything is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world  to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed the message of reconciliation to us. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, certain that God is appealing through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God.” 21 He made the One who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Applications

  • Don’t wrestle with the factors of the “under the sun” lifecycle. View life, both its good and bad points, as a gift from God. Every human who has ever lived experienced highs and lows. When you look at the life of Jesus, He certainly experienced both ends of the spectrum. Why should we be any different?
  • Receive your joy from eternal pursuits and pleasures, not from things “under the sun.” Anything pursued or accomplished outside of God’s will ultimately fail to satisfy us. However, when we walk in sync with God’s plan, our life will be one of joy and satisfaction.
  • There’s nothing wrong with enjoying our life “under the sun.” In fact, God’s desire is that we do enjoy it. If we are walking with Him, we can rest in the peace that regardless of what we face, He will sustain us through the experience. At the same time if you don’t have as much “stuff” as others, don’t focus on that. Be thankful for what you do have and not envious of what you don’t. Otherwise, you will live a miserable life. Never forget Jesus’ words in John 10:10b I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance.