God wants us to do his will (Part 1) and to live wisely or skillfully (Part 2). Ecclesiastes 11 and 12 help us understand how to live wisely.
“Ship your grain across the sea; after many days you may receive a return. Invest in seven ventures, yes, in eight; you do not know what disaster may come upon the land.” (vv. 1-2, NIV)
These verses emphasize the importance of experimentation and having a diversified portfolio. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Having only one idea can be dangerous. It’s better to have several good ideas.
In the case of your career, have a Plan A and a Plan B. Plan A is where you will spend most of your energy. It’s your 9-5 job. Your bread and butter. Plan B is developed on the side just in case Plan A becomes a dead end.
Overtime, it’s wise to have 2-3 streams of income. And 2-3 ways to earn money.
Also, these verses indicate the importance of generosity. Become known as a generous person. The one who gives to people. Instead of the one who is always trying to take from people.
There is give and take. But be the person willing to give even when others take.
This is the key to successful relationships and to a successful marriage.
Develop a network of good relationships. At some point you are going to need help. At a time when you least expect.
“If clouds are full of water, they pour rain on the earth. Whether a tree falls to the south or to the north, in the place where it falls, there it will lie. Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap.” (vv.3-4)
Don’t worry about things you cannot control. Just as you are unable to control the rain, falling trees, and the wind, you are unable to control people, circumstances, politics, the past, and the future.
The only thing you can control is what you do in the present. Right now. This means you can control how you react to circumstances. You can control your attitude. You can implement a strategy. You can learn from your mistakes. You can control how you treat people.
If you spend time worrying about things out of our control (this is what most people do), you will miss opportunities. You won’t take advantage of your time, talents, and treasure. Overtime, worrying and daydreaming can cause you to become poor.
You have to live your life and make wise decisions. You have to learn how to take advantage of what you have been given.
This does not mean that you should be unaware of what is happening around you. To the contrary, you should be alert and aware. 9/11 underlined the fact that the world is a dangerous place.
Wise people plan and prepare for difficult times:
“The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.” (Proverbs 22:3, NIV)
“As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things.”
God is sovereign. We are not. This should be a huge relief. If you are a Christian, God works all things out for your good. The good, bad, and the ugly. For a purpose (Romans 8:28-29).
“Sow your seed in the morning, and at evening let your hands not be idle, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well.” (v. 6)
God is sovereign, but we are responsible for our lives.
The modern world has reduced work to eight-hour days. This is sufficient for your job, but you must dedicate at least 2 hours every evening to your calling, a business idea, reading, or an experiment.
I have a friend who is a successful inventor. He has about thirty patents. The basis of his inventions were every-day household problems that he would stubble upon.
He searched for solutions. If one did not exist, he would prototype a solution, and then work with a team to manufacture a product.
One of the keys to his success is that he is a modern day renaissance man. His diverse knowledge allows him to be very creative. He’s able to attack a problem with unusually creative solutions.
Underlying his knowledge and creativity is an insatiable curiosity. He’s always learning. He’s always asking questions. He’s always experimenting.
Instead of watching TV for two-to-three hours in the evenings he works on projects.
This is not to say you should be a workaholic. Ecclesiastes warns against it:
“Better is a handful of quietness, than two handfuls of toil and a striving after wind.” (4:6)
It’s better to work reasonable hours and be content than to strive anxiously for uncertain riches.
But the point of the Ecclesiastes passage is this: don’t fritter away your time. Don’t waste your mornings or evenings. Have more than one thing going. You never know what might turn into a home run.
“Light is sweet, and it pleases the eyes to see the sun. However many years anyone may live, let them enjoy them all. But let them remember the days of darkness, for there will be many. Everything to come is meaningless.” (vv. 7-8)
Most people live there lives as if it will go on forever. They live for the present. They do not live with the end in mind. Others work so hard they forget to enjoy life.
Life is a gift from God. So we are to enjoy the goodness of life and the goods of life (e.g. family, friendship, marriage, etc.) and remember that it will soon come to an end.
The famous English poet, John Donne, wrote: “…send not to know for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for thee.”
In other words, every funeral should remind us of our own.
You must enjoy life while keeping the end in mind.
Jesus said, “As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work.” (John 9:4, NIV)
We must endeavor to use our time well for the glory of God. Night (death) is coming.
“You who are young, be happy while you are young, and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth. Follow the ways of your heart and whatever your eyes see, but know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment. So then, banish anxiety from your heart and cast off the troubles of your body, for youth and vigor are meaningless.” (vv. 9-10)
This is an extraordinary passage.
Enjoy the benefits of youth. Old age comes quickly.
Then Solomon gives career advice: do what you want to do. But realize you are not God. You cannot pick and choose according to your own criteria of right and wrong.
God will judge everything we do with perfect justice.
A railroad track has two rails. Both are required for a successful train ride.
Life has two rails: passion and judgment. Or put another way: enjoyment and
This will help you to avoid wasting your life.
Student of Consequence 