Ecclesiastes 10:16 – Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning.

 

Thought:  Only special people should be rulers.  When the ruler exhibits the qualities of a child, he will never be an effective ruler.  When the ruler is not disciplined, he will never be a successful ruler.  Rulers need to be mature.  They need to be able to think and act like men.  They should rise to their work and not to their table of feasting and banqueting each morning.  When a nation has a king who is childish and intemperate, “Woe to thee, O land.”

 

Isaiah 3:12

 

Commentary:

 

A.     The word “child” in this verse means “one who is young.”

1.       The young can be easily manipulated by others.

2.       The young often have agendas that do not benefit the masses.

3.       The young are impulsive.

4.       The young have not been tempered by experience and enough learning.

5.       The young can be haughty because they are beautiful and strong.

6.       The young are overwhelmed by the money, popularity, and power of leadership.

7.       The young often reject the counsel of those who are older and wiser.

 

B.      The young use their office to gratify their fleshly desires.  They rise up early in the morning to the table of banqueting along with their princes.

1.       It is a table of banqueting and merriment.

2.       It is a table used to satisfy the desires of the flesh.

3.       It is a table used to pat each other on the back.

4.       It is a table used to plot their agendas.

5.       It is a table used for shady deals.

6.       It is a table used to scheme against their enemies.

 

C.     When a nation has a king who is childish and intemperate, “Woe to thee, O land.”

 

D.     NOTE:  There can be exceptions to all rules.  There have been individuals who have taken their thrones when they were very young and proved to be effective leaders (Ex., Josiah, 2 Kings 22:1-2).

 

Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign and he reigned thirty and one years in Jerusalem.  And his mother’s name was Jedidah, the daughter of Adaiah of Boscath.  And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in all the way of David his father, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ecclesiastes 10:17 – Blessed art thou, O land, when thy king is the son of nobles, and thy princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!

 

Thought:  In the previous verse, we were shown some of the qualities of poor leaders.  In this verse, we are introduced to the qualities of good leaders.  The good ruler is not a fool.  He has been trained at the feet of others to know exactly what is involved in the work he has undertaken.  He understands discipline.  He eats for strength.  He does not eat to merely please his carnal desires.  Drunkenness is not part of his life.  He knows that his mind must be sharp to carry out the responsibilities of his office.

 

Proverbs 31:4-5

 

Commentary:

 

A.     This verse presents a thought that is the opposite of the previous verse.

 

B.      “Blessed art thou, O land, when thy king is the son of nobles…”

1.       The son of nobles is one who has been trained to assume the position of a leader.

2.       He has been educated, trained, and tested by those with much experience.

3.       He understands the position, its gravity, and is no fool.

 

C.     His princes do not rise to eat in the morning at the table of feasting and revelry.  They eat in “due season.” 

1.       The words “due season” involves the proper time.

2.       Too, they eat for the right reason, that is, for strength.

3.       They do not come together for drunkenness. 

 

D.     A true leader understands the importance of his position.

1.       He realizes that it requires not only certain qualities and skills, but a sober mindset.

2.       He needs to be on his “Ps” and “Qs” at all times.

3.       He must make certain that his staff is always at their best.

4.       Leaders realize they are servants and are not in office for personal gain or to fulfill the flesh.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ecclesiastes 10:18 – By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.

 

Thought:  Laziness has been the downfall of many people.  This writer has literally seen buildings decay and houses drop through because the people in them were too lazy to take care of their personal things.  For a while, laziness and idleness seem like the “good life.”  This so-called “good life” eventually gives way to poverty, to stench, to sickness, to loss, and even to death.  My friends, it requires effort, that is, work, to obtain the “good life,” but that effort is well worth it in the end.

 

Proverbs 24:30-31

 

Commentary:

 

A.     This verse introduces us to two similar concepts:  “slothfulness” and “idleness.”

1.       Slothfulness: 

a.  Strong (6103):  indolence (having or showing a disposition to avoid exertion)

b.  BDB:  sluggishness, laziness

c.  Barely moving along

2.       Idleness

a.  Strong (8220):  remissness

b.  BDB:  inactivity

c.  Sitting still with the engine running

3.       Decay can happen in a lot of things.

4.       Examples:

a.  Houses can decay.

b.  Yards can decay.

c.  Health can decay.

5.       NOTE:  Decay takes time.

6.       Those who are slothful or idle are slower than the process of decay.

a.  Solomon notes that their buildings decay.

b.  He says that their houses “droppeth through.”

 

B.      Proverbs 24:30-31

 

I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; and lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.

 

C.     We can be slothful and lazy when it comes to our spiritual lives as well.

1.       Our knowledge deteriorates.

2.       Our good works are little or nothing.

3.       Our attendance of the worship is the bare minimum, or, it is just haphazard.

4.       Sin entangles different areas of our lives.

5.       We grow cold and cynical of our brothers and sisters in Christ.

6.       We give, but it is not liberal or cheerful giving.

7.       We are consumed with this world and the afterlife is not a consideration very often.

8.       We justify, rationalize, and make excuses for our slothfulness.

9.       We promise ourselves that one day we will get in gear again.

10.   We are withered, therefore, we do not produce any fruit.

 

D.     The Bible and slothfulness and idleness.

1.       Can you name one Bible character who is commended in Scripture who was slothful?

2.       The Bible teaches us:

a.  Don’t be slothful.

b.  Do exert and abundance of energy for the cause of Christ.

                        1)    Romans 12:11

 

Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord.

 

2)      The one talent man was not commended for his slothfulness (See Matt. 25:26).

 

His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant…

 

3.       God wants us to

a.  Bear much fruit (John 15:8).

b.  Abound in the work of the Lord (1 Cor. 15:58).

c.  Be zealous of good works (Tit. 2:14)

d.  Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest (Heb. 4:11).

e.  Give diligence to make your calling and election sure (2 Pet. 1:10).