Ecclesiastes 10:19 – A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry:  but money answereth all things.

 

Thought:  Things and events are provided with purposes in mind.  Some things serve only one purpose.  “A feast is made for laughter.”  It is a time when individuals come together to enjoy one another’s company.  “Wine maketh merry.”  It cheers the heart.  Other things serve numerous functions.  Money is one of them.  Solomon says:  “…but money answereth all things.”  How many times have we heard the expression:  “If I only had the money”?  We would all do well to remember that money is not the root of all evil.  It is the love of money that is the root of all evil.

 

I Timothy 6:10

 

Commentary:

 

A.     Solomon states a very plain truth in this verse, “…but money answereth all things.”

 

B.      Solomon’s mind is dealing solely with the daily affairs of life.

1.       There are some things that serve only one purpose.

a.  A feast is made for laughter.

b.  Wine maketh merry.

c.  Psalm 104:15

 

And wine maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man’s heart.

 

2.       Money on the other hand serves a multitude of functions.

a.  K&D:  “Money answers to every demand, hears every wish, grants whatever one longs

      for, helps to all…”

b.  How many times have we been guilty of saying:  “If only I had the money.”

c.  Sometimes we believe that money is the root of all evil.  This is not what the Bible says. 

     The Bible tells us that “the love of money is the root of all evil” (1 Tim. 6:10).

d.  NOTE:  Money is an absolute essential in our lives.

                        1)  Money provides us food.

                        2)  Money provides us with education.

                        3)  Money enables us to be protected.

                        4)  Money clothes us.

                        5)  Money provides us with housing.

                        6)  Money gives us healthcare.

                        7)  Money is needed for business ventures.

                        8)  Money is needed for retirement.

                        9)  Money allows us to do good works.

                        10)  Money allows us to enjoy some of the pleasures of this world.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ecclesiastes 10:20 – Curse not the king, no not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber:  for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.

 

Thought:  God created government.  He expects rulers to be treated with utmost respect.  Sadly, our nation has drifted far from this teaching.  Individuals constantly curse the President of our nation.  Some will say:  “But he deserves it.”  What they fail to remember is that in so doing they violate the commands of God.  In the past, it was dangerous to curse the king.  If it were ever revealed, that is, brought by a bird of the air to the king’s attention, one could be in danger of losing his life.  Dear reader, be careful of the attitude you take toward those who are in positions of leadership.

 

Exodus 22:28

 

Commentary: 

 

1.       Christians must develop positive traits that will enable them to endure in an evil world:  wisdom, temperance, and shrewdness are three of these traits.

 

2.       Kings are over us in authority.

a.  Kings, however, are not always the best leaders.

                  1)  They are not educated and wise.

                  2)  They do not possess good leadership skills.

                   3)  They are selfish.

                   4)  They are arrogant and egotistical.

                  5)  They are greedy.

                  6)  They are mean and cruel to those under their authority.

            b.  Those who serve under a bad king might be tempted to curse him.

            c.  Solomon advises against this:  “Curse not the king, no not in thy thought…”

 

3.       The rich usually have a lot of control over the financial well-being of the common and poor.

a.  The rich are not always the best masters.

                  1)  They are covetous.

                  2)  They can be harsh and demanding.

                  3)  They are concerned about their interests first.

                  4)  They do not seek to find out the needs of those under them.

            b.  Those under evil rich men might be tempted to curse them.

            c.  Solomon advises against this:  “…and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber…”

 

4.       The reason for not cursing the king or the rich is found in the last part of the verse.  “for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.”

a.  Regardless of how quietly and discreetly we say things that are negative of rulers or

     employers, they are often found out.

b.  Little chirping birds are in every nook and cranny.

1)      They have their servants who can hear.

2)      They have their cronies who can hear.

3)      They have those who think that revealing things will curry favor with the king or bring some type of reward.

 

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER 11

 

Ecclesiastes 11:1 – Cast thy bread upon the waters:  for thou shalt find it after many days.

 

Thought:  The word “bread” can refer to grain, the substance from which bread is made.  Casting the grain upon the waters refers to the sowing of seed.  In time, the seed will take root and will grow.  Eventually, it will bring forth fruit.  The same can be said of the seed we sow spiritually in our daily lives.  We can sow the seed of God’s Word.  We can sow seeds of charity.  We can sow seeds of kindness.  The seeds we sow will eventually produce.  Yes, we shall find it after many days.  In the end, we are the ones who are blessed.

 

Psalm 126:5-6

 

Commentary:

 

A.     We have a principle set forth in this verse that goes against our common sense.  The principle says:  You must give something away in order to obtain.

1.       “Cast thy bread upon the waters” (giving it away).

2.       “…for thou shalt find it after many days” (receiving something back).

3.       Proverbs 11:24-25

 

There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.  The liberal soul shall be made fat:  and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.

 

4.       Example:  Movie:  “It’s A Wonderful Life”

 

B.      The figure used by Solomon involves the sowing of seed.

1.       Cast thy bread, that is, the grain that will produce bread.

2.       Thou shalt find it, that is, the seed takes root and grows. 

a.  Fruit is eventually produced

b.  It produces some thirty, some sixty, some a hundredfold.

 

C.     There are all kinds of seeds that we need to be sowing as Christians.

1.       The seed of the gospel (Luke 8:11).

2.       Seeds of love.

3.       Seeds of kindness.

4.       Seeds of monetary support.

5.       Seeds of encouragement.

 

D.     The promise of God is a harvest (Ps. 126:5-6).

 

They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.  He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.