Presents
Pamphlet #1741
Ecclesiastes
Chapter 11
Presents
Pamphlet #1741
Ecclesiastes
Chapter 11
Do you have a different perspective about life's experiences having read thus far in this wonderful Book of Ecclesiastes? You should. When we look around and see people, including many of our friends and relatives, striving after that wind, running the rat race, trying to achieve their concept of success and happiness and wondering why things don't always go as planned, we can recall from this book of wisdom what the end result of all their vexation will be. Poof!
Furthermore, we as children of God now understand from the wisdom of Solomon, on behalf of our Father, that we are not exempt from the 28 seasons of life. We get to experience joy and happiness and misery and failure just like everyone else. That's right, the wind can blow the roof off the man of God's house! Imagine that! Time #18 can come up and you lose!
And it's all because He loves us, not because He doesn't. But we possess something far more precious than all the world under the sun can send our way. Our Father has written us a "How to be Happy in the Flesh" book, that in understanding it we can enjoy all aspects of our walk under the sun and face reality with an "attitude of gratitude" and chuckle at having noticed another paronomasia. We can give our ventures all we've got and if one doesn't work out we can say "we gave it all we've got" and move on, all the while enjoying eating and drinking and being merry at heart. Oh, and enjoying those spouses if fortune enough to have one.
Some scholars interpret this passage as being "ship grains far and wide across the seas until you get good returns". But whatever the means are, the expression is analogous to sowing and reaping. If you are willing to go out and do some sowing, then later you'll be able to do some reaping.Eccles. 11:1
Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.
We can also take this to a higher level and draw from the symbology of "bread" being the bread of life, the Word of God, and the "waters" the people.
And there is a double meaning in this verse. First, it gives the same advice as our expression "Don't put all your eggs in one basket" or "Diversify your portfolio". But also, it means spread your wealth around, including the true riches from His Word, i.e. give generously of yourself and your wealth.[2] Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.
We don't have much say about God's nature, do we? We don't determine which way the wind will blow or which direction a tree will fall. Can we stop the rain from falling? No we cannot. As far as nature and nature's courses are concerned "Que Sera Sera! Whatever Will Be, Will Be!" The point is, we must always remember that God is in control, not man.[3] 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.
If a person waits until perfect weather conditions to plant he'll never get the job done. They are the people who say, "when the time is right I'm going to do this and that". Don't hold your breath.[4] He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.
And if one waits for a bright, clear, sunny day to gather the wheat from the field, the chances are it won't get harvested.
So if you wait for perfect conditions, you'll never get anything done, for it seems that opportunity always presents itself at the most inopportune times. So you can either look at the opportunity in the risk or look at the risk in the opportunity, in which case you'll probably do nothing.
"God's ways are as mysterious as the pathway of the wind, and as the manner in which a human spirit is infused into the little body of a baby while it is yet in its mother's womb." (Living Bible)[5] 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.
How does God do that anyway?
I like the expression Solomon uses in chapter 12 to describe death and the separation of the spirit from the flesh: Eccles. 12:6-7 "Or ever the silver cord be loosed... Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.
So how He actually places us in the flesh body, who knows? But I like to envision Him delicately tying us in that embryo with a little tiny silver cord with which He makes a precious itty bitty bow and pats it and kisses it and says "Have a good trip, my child!" And when our journey is over and we die, the silver cord is loosed and untied and we are freed from the flesh body and return home to the Father. Of course some people have such wild and unruly flesh bodies maybe He uses a seatbelt for them instead of an itty bitty silver cord. "Better strap this one in tight!"
So you start out planting seeds in the morning and by mid afternoon it looks like a storm is brewing and you think "this is not a good time to be planting seeds". Solomon says "Don't stop! Keep at it!" You may be surprised to find that the seeds you planted in what you thought were adverse conditions outgrow all the rest. Or both the morning and the evening planting produce equally well. It's a risk, isn't it? For what if you planted a great crop and as the world turned, Time #18 came up for you and it was "a time to lose", and a drought or pestilence came forth and destroyed your crop?[6] 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.
Too bad! Life goes on! In the end all is vanity anyway, and it will all pass away!
Yes, it's a wonderful thing to be alive and take a walk under the sun![7] Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun:
You can live to be a ripe old age and be thankful for each and every day. Just remember that there will be many days of darkness along the way! Expect them when they come. Learn from them. Expect that they will pass away and give way to a new day. That's right, the sun goes up and the sun goes down. Do you remember that from chapter 1 verse 5? Eccles. 1:5 "The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose."[8] 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.
Ah youth! It is a wonderful thing. If you have it enjoy it while it lasts (especially while mom and dad are paying all the bills). And follow your dreams and ambitions, you know: "Climb Every Mountain", "Follow Your Star", etc. Just remember that you are responsible for your own actions, and don't forget, there is a God and He will bring you into judgment. But not to worry, if you love Him and follow His ways, then you can look forward to judgment, for the Judge grants rewards to those who deserve it.[9] 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.
[10] Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity.
To study the Bible is the noblest of all pursuits;
to understand it, the highest of all goals.
We pray that with the guidance of the Holy
Spirit, you accomplish both.
is
Published by:
Rhine
Publishing Co.
E-mail address - americanwisdomseries@verizon.net
If you would like to have your essay
published
as part of the American Wisdom
Series
submit your manuscript to Rhine
Publishing Co
at the address above for consideration,
or e-mail us
at the address shown on our home
page.
Click
Here to Return to
"The American Wisdom Series" home
page.