Ecclesiastes 11:6 – In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand:  for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.

 

Thought:  Do the right things.  Work smarter not harder.  Don’t waste your time on the trivial.  We hear these statements often from success experts.  They teach us “formulas” whereby we can succeed with a minimal amount of effort.  The problem, however, is that we do not always know what the successful action or behavior will be.  It is better to be diligent all the time in the little and big things.  One thing could prosper when another fails.  Both may prosper.  If we remain active, success will come.

 

I Corinthians 3:5-7

 

Commentary:

 

A.     People have been trying to find the “success formula” for work and wealth for a long time.

1.       Do the right things.

2.       Work smarter, not harder.

3.       Don’t waste your time on the trivial.

 

B.      The problem is that we often do not know what is going to succeed and what is going to fail.

1.       In the morning sow thy seed.

2.       In the evening withhold NOT thy hand.

 

C.     Sometimes this works.  Sometimes that works.  Sometimes they both work.  “Thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.”

1.       The moment we fail to do something, it might have been the thing that worked.

2.       The moment we stop might be just the time when things turn around.

 

D.     Be active.  Be creative and try many things. Be diligent.  Don’t ever stop.

1.       It’s the one who stays an extra hour.

2.       It’s the one who gives it one more try.

3.       It’s the one who struggles to get by one more day.

4.       It’s the one who refuses to listen to the naysayers.

5.       It’s the one who reaches down deep and gives a little more effort.

 

E.      Galatians 6:9

 

And let us not be weary in well doing:  for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ecclesiastes 11:7 – Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun.

 

Thought:  All of us can testify to the truthfulness of these words spoken by Solomon.  Nights can be long and dreadful.  They can be filled with pain and sorrow.  They can be a source of great fear and anxiety.  Before the sun rises, the light of the sun lessens the darkness.  That light is sweet.  When the sun slowly peeks above the horizon, the heart is filled with joy.  For some reason, the light of day restores hope to those who are fearful and hurting and hopeless.

 

Psalm 19:4-6

 

Commentary:

 

A.     All of us can affirm the truthfulness of Solomon’s words.

1.       Truly the light is sweet.

2.       A pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun.

 

B.      The darkness seems to bring evil.

1.       We hurt more in the night hours.

2.       The night is silent and allows one to think.

3.       The night hours seem much longer than the daylight hours.

4.       The night usually brings sleep, but often we toss and tumble.

 

C.     The dawn is a beautiful thing.

1.       There is a yellow line at the horizon.

2.       The clouds begin to manifest an orange color.

3.       We can begin to see a faint outline of things that were hidden by the darkness.

4.       Then, that bright ray of light breaks the horizon.

5.       Soon, the sun manifests itself in all of its brightness.

 

D.     We smile.  We relax.  Some of the pain subsides.  The anxiety disappears.  Our body seems to regain some strength.  We see the light, and exclaim:  “Sweet!”  Hopelessness is replaced with the hope brought by the dawning of a new day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ecclesiastes 11:8 – But if a man live many years, and rejoice in them all; yet let him remember the days of darkness; for they shall be many.  All that cometh is vanity.

 

Thought:  Most individuals live decent lives for many years.  There is good health.  There is success.  There is profit.  There are good times.  Sprinkled throughout those years are some dark days, but they do not linger.  The young person, however, needs to remember that “the days of darkness” are coming.  These will fill the last part of life.  Solomon says:  “…for they shall be many.”  Those times are difficult.  They are filled with pain, tears, and anguish.  Solomon looked upon those days as “vanity.”

 

Psalm 90:10

 

Commentary:

 

A.     The average ages of men and women:

1.       Men:  73 years old

2.       Women:  81 years old

 

B.      During an entire lifetime, many of our days are very good.

1.       We have our health.

2.       We have prosperity.

3.       We have peace.

4.       We multiply our family.

 

C.     Solomon reminds the young person that “the days of darkness” will come.

1.       They will be many.

2.       All that cometh is vanity.

3.       NOTE:  Solomon does not refer to these years as “The Golden Years.”  He appropriately labels them as “the days of darkness.”

 

D.     The elderly can testify to these facts.

1.       The memory begins to lapse.

2.       The body gets weak and frail:  sight, hearing, teeth, muscles, joints.

3.       We develop aches and pains.

4.       Sicknesses are difficult to recover from.

5.       Diseases often inhabit the body.

6.       Individuals face surgeries.

7.       Things take longer to accomplish.

8.       If we do some of the things we did in youth, we are much sorer, and often we find ourselves getting hurt in the process.

9.       We do not find joy in the things that we used to do.

10.   We find ourselves needing a lot of aids:  medications, canes, walkers, alarms, phone calls, hearing aids, glasses, breathing devices, special beds, wider doors, sit down showers, handles throughout the house.

11.   We find that the longer we live, the more loss we experience.

12.   Loneliness and sorrow and tears are often part of these days.

 

 

 

 

 

Ecclesiastes 11:9 – Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes:  but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.

 

Thought:  It is wise to constantly remember that one day we will stand before the judgment seat of Christ.  It is easy to forget this when we are young.  Youth often make unwise decisions.  They live somewhat recklessly.  They do not mind experimenting.  They take some high risks.  Oh, the joys of being young.  To these young people, Solomon has a sobering message:  “…but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.

 

II Corinthians 5:10

 

Commentary:

 

A.     Being a young person, pre-teen, teen, and young adulthood should be a very fun and exciting time of life.

1.       Many decisions are being made.

2.       Many responsibilities are eventually assumed.

3.       The direction of one’s life is being determined.

4.       There is freedom, fewer responsibilities, and less accountability.

 

B.      All of the fun and exciting aspects of youth are summed up by Solomon in the first part of the verse.  “Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes…”

 

C.     Solomon, however, issues a warning to young people in the last part of the verse.  “…but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.”

1.       You have freedom, but God will hold you accountable.

2.       You can fun, but God will hold you accountable.

3.       You will make decisions for your life, but God will hold you accountable.

 

D.     Two pertinent verses that speak of the judgment.  One is found in the Old Testament and one comes from the New Testament.

1.       Ecclesiastes 12:14

 

For God will bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

 

2.       2 Corinthians 5:10

 

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

 

E.      Youth sometimes forget about the judgment.

1.       I will have time to make changes.

2.       Right now I am invincible.

3.       I should have the right to sow my wild oats.

4.       I know what is right for my life.

5.       Those religious traditions aren’t relevant to my life.