Wow! We are almost finished with Ecclesiastes. I have learned along with you. We’ll finish chapters 11 and 12 because they cover the same theme. Let us remember: Solomon wrote Ecclesiastes as a book of regrets. He is now an old man looking back on his life, and regretting living the latter part of his life without keeping God in the center. Chapter 11 begins by Solomon declaring the uncertainties of life…
“Send your grain across the seas, and in time, profits will flow back to you. But divide your investments among many places, for you do not know what risks might lie ahead.” Ecclesiastes 11: 1-2
“Plant your seed in the morning and keep busy all afternoon, for you don’t know if profit will come from one activity or another-or maybe both.” Ecclesiastes 11: 6
Life is both a risk and an opportunity. Life has no guarantees – we just need to be prepared…come what may. Solomon is stressing that we need to have a spirit of trust and adventure. With God directed enthusiasm and faith…it is undoubtedly a great adventure!
“Farmers who wait for perfect weather never plant. If they watch every cloud, they will never harvest.”
Ecclesiastes 11: 4
If we wait for perfect conditions, we’ll never get anything done. Think about our spiritual lives… If we are waiting to find the perfect church, we’ll never join one. If we wait for the perfect ministry, we’ll never serve, and if we’re waiting for the perfect place and time to read our Bibles, we’ll never begin. Don’t wait for conditions that may never exist! Solomon ends chapter 11 by giving advice for the young and old…
“Young people, it’s wonderful to be young! Enjoy every minute of it. Do everything you want to do; take it all in. But remember that you must give an account to God for everything you do.”
Try to approach things with God’s perspective – consider the impact of your decisions ten years from now and into eternity. Many of our choices are irreversible. They can affect us for a lifetime. What you do when you’re young matters. Enjoy life now…but don’t do anything physically, morally, or spiritually that will prevent you from enjoying life when you are old.
“But my child, let me give you some further advice: Be careful, for writing books is endless, and much study wears you out.” Ecclesiastes 12; 12
“That’s the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty. God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad.” Ecclesiastes 12: 13-14
There are many philosophies and opinions about life that could keep us reading and studying forever. It’s not wrong to study these opinions, but because our lives here on earth are so short, we need to learn and focus on the important truths in God’s Word… they affect our lives now and in eternity.
The bottom line for how to find meaning in life is this: Fear God and obey His commands. There’s no other way:)