Please turn with me to Ecclesiastes 11.
Here we are in the homestretch of our series through Ecclesiastes. Three sermons left. Today is going to be a very brief message in light of our all-in service, but I am excited for this passage, as it speaks directly to young people.
The first half of the book of Ecclesiastes is King Solomon, the wisest and richest man who ever lived, talking about his experiences trying to figure out life. He's tried everything. Money, power, pleasure, accomplishment, influence, experience — all of the things each one of us runs after. The first half of the book is him talking about the futility of it all and how he never found fulfillment or ultimate purpose in any of those things.
The second half of the book is his conclusions and advice to us based on his experience. In chapters 11 and 12, he is making his final conclusion, and we get to see part one of that this weekend, part two next week, so make sure you come back.
The basic message we'll see here is: because we know God is in control, we should, in faith, try things, take calculated risks, and work hard, even though we're not sure of the outcome. Let’s read.
Ecclesiastes 11:1–6 (CSB)
1 Send your bread on the surface of the water, 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 also 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.
I'm going to break this passage down by observing that Solomon shows us some things that we don’t know, and some things that we do know. And in light of those things, he has advice for us.
Things We Don’t Know
First, in verse two, we don't know what disasters may happen. We do know that they will happen. We just don't know what they will be or when they will be.
Second, verse five, we don't know the path of the wind. Another way of saying this is we're not very good at predicting the weather. Three thousand years ago, this was certainly true, but even today, with all our modern technology, we don't know for sure what will happen.
Third, also in verse five, it says we don't know how bones developed in the womb of a pregnant woman. Again, certainly true 3000 years ago, but even today, as much as we do know about chemical processes, hormones, and DNA, we know very little about how and why. We know a little bit about the “what”—we know which chemicals, hormones, and proteins are involved, for the most part. But we don't know for sure how and why these work together to form a human life.
Also, in verse five, we don't know the work of God who makes everything. Throughout the scriptures, we are taught, we see examples of, and we personally experience that we often don't know what God is up to.
And finally, in verse six, we don't know for sure the outcome of our work. We may work very hard on a project, an experiment, homework, farming, or gardening, but we don't always know how it will turn out.
But next, let's look at the things Solomon says we do know.
Things We Do Know
In verse one, we have this confusing phrase: “Send your bread on the surface of the water, for after many days, you may find it.” Literally, the Hebrew says, “you shall find it.”
Historically, this phrase has been understood to mean something like “be generous and charitable, and good things will happen to you as well.” Proverbs 11:25 says, “A generous man will prosper.”Another understanding is that this is about investing your money and that if you are wise with your investments, your money will increase. It's also possible that this phrase intends both meanings.And so, the first thing we know is that wise investments will bring you a return, including the wisest investment of all: charity and generosity. This sort of investment always involves some risk, which is why verse two says give a portion to seven or eight; in other words, diversify your investments.
The next thing he says we know in verse three is that when the clouds are full of rain, we know rain is coming. So, as bad as we are at predicting the weather, we can see when the signs are right in front of us, what the weather will be shortly. Also in verse three, we know that gravity works. If a tree falls, that's where it's going to be. These two phrases say that we are aware of natural processes and natural laws. In fact, we know from Genesis 8:22 that God has guaranteed that these natural processes will continue until the end.
The next thing we know, in verse four, “one who watches the wind will not sow” - has two implications. The first is that if we wait for conditions to be perfect, we will never get anything done. We need to take initiative even in imperfect circumstances.
The second implication is that, although we don't always know what the result of our work will be. We do know that if we do not work, we will get no result. The reaping and sowing principle: as you sow, so shall you reap, in this futile world under the sun, it isn't always so clean. But we do know that if we do not sow, we will not reap.
The final thing we know from verse five is that although we don't always know what God is up to, we do know he is absolutely in control of everything. God makes everything. This is another one of many ways Solomon says throughout Ecclesiastes that God is absolutely in control of everything, and we should trust him.
Advice in Light of the Uncertainty
So, in light of the things that we don't know, and in light of the things that we do know, Solomon gives us three encouragements.
Because we do know that charity and Wise investments will yield a return of some sort, because we do know that certain natural processes work, because we do know that if we take no action, there will be no result, and because we do know that God is absolutely in control. Even though we don't know for certain what the outcome will be, or all of the mechanics or the mind of God behind everything, we should still:
- Take risks! - Cast your bread on the water!
- Try things! - Give your portion to seven or eight.
- Work hard, morning and evening.
- Trust God who makes everything.
And finally, he turns to his young listeners. He has in mind here young adults, young men, and women who are about to set out into real life. High school students, college students, and young professionals: Life is scary, isn’t it? The idea of finding a job, making money, and making a difference in the world seems overwhelming when you are starting out!Hear what King Solomon says:
Listen Up, Young Person
Ecclesiastes 11:7-10 (CSB)
7 Light is sweet, and it is pleasing for the eyes to see the sun. 8 Indeed, if someone 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 person, 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 desire 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.
Young person, the Bible dares you to try things. You have a whole life ahead of you. Be brave1 Take risks! You will make mistakes! Not everything you try will work!All of us old people here already know that. Don't we, old people? We all fail eventually? Life is uncertain. You can't control the outcome all the time.And that is a scary thought and might cause us to shrink back and do nothing. But Solomon says that is the only sure way to fail. So, take risks and try things.
To my younger friends here this morning, elementary- and middle-school students: try a bunch of different activities. Play a bunch of different sports. Learn musical instruments. Try to be in a play. Read a bunch of different books. Dream about a bunch of different careers.This passage says “give a portion to seven or eight”—for us old people, that means diversify your investments; for you young people, it means try out a bunch of different things. You never know what you are going to end up being good at or enjoying. Don’t wait for conditions to be perfect or until you have it all figured out. Take risks and go for it!
But don't forget the most important phrase in this passage, verse nine: my favorite translation of this says, “Just remember you will have to answer to God for all of it.”He's not saying, “You better not mess up because God will judge your failures!” He is saying, trust God's promises and obey his commands, and with your eyes fixed firmly on him, your creator who loves you, explore this world that he has given you to enjoy. Try to find ways to please him. Try to find ways to help his people. To help his creation. To spread his glory all over this planet.
But if we’re honest, our hearts don’t naturally produce good desires.
We chase after selfish things. We hesitate and shrink back in cowardice when God would have us take risks. We ignore God’s commands. We waste our lives.
And every one of us will give an account to the God who makes everything.
But here’s the gospel:
If we have wasted our years, Jesus redeems them, and we have an eternity more to praise and please Him. Jesus is the one who fully “rejoiced in His days” and fully “remembered His Creator.”
And because He bore the judgment that we would face, now, through faith in His death and resurrection, He gives us a fresh start, a new heart, and new courage to follow Him. We are safe to try things and fail because our identity, our sense of self-worth, is not found in success, but in the fact that we belong to Christ! His success covers our failures, and we can run this risky race that He has planned for us with great hope that we will win the reward.
Let’s pray.
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