Living This Life

Ecclesiastes 11:1-10

“Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.  Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.  If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth: and if the tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be.  He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.” (Ecclesiastes 11:1-4)

There is no way of telling how many people have been afraid to make an investment because they might need or want the money for something else.  Solomon says to go ahead and take the chance because sooner or later it will pay off.  He does say to diversify those investments because one never knows what will happen and which investment will pay off.  Just as the clouds produce rain if conditions are right, the investment will pay off, and will not if they are not right. 

Unfortunately, we can’t change the result once things have happened, any more than we can change where a falling tree landed after it hits the ground.  A person who spends all his time worrying about what might happen and trying to avoid every possible risk will never make the investment or reap the benefits.  In II Corinthians 9:6, we are told, “…He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.”  It is impossible for the person who never plants to harvest a crop.  It is impossible to produce a profit without investing something. And how much is produced will be directly related to what was invested. 

“As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all.  In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.” (Ecclesiastes 11:5-6)

Even though they can clone an animal or plant, and can fertilize a woman’s egg to produce a baby, scientists and doctors still have to start with a viable egg because they do not know how to produce life itself.  Though they can map the genetic code for a person, they still don’t understand exactly how the code causes some cells to become bone cells and others to become brain or muscle cells.  We don’t understand how God has made the rest of the world to work any better.  As a result, all we can do is go ahead with our life and do our best.  We have no way of knowing which efforts will work and or which ones will not. 

“Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun: But if a man live many years, and rejoice in them all; yet let him remember the days of darkness; for they shall be many. All that cometh is vanity. ” (Ecclesiastes 11:7-8)

Death is a part of life, as Hebrews 9:27 says.  “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.”  No matter how well we have lived or how much we have enjoyed our life, we are still going to die, and after death, will be judged for how we have lived.  Many people get focused on getting more things as they get older,  We need to remember that we are going to die, and as Paul states in I Timothy 6:7, “…we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.”  that focus on having so many things is just a waste of time. 

“Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.  Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity. ” (Ecclesiastes 11:9-10)

Many young people are not thinking about death, but only about having a good time.  While it is really stupid not to enjoy life, they need to understand that they also will die, and that they will be judged for what they have done as well.   With that in mind, they need to avoid dwelling on the things that have hurt them or their regrets for what they have done, making them right when possible.  They need to avoid anything that is evil or cruel, recognizing that being young is only temporary and is wasted if they don’t mature.