December 10th 2021 – Ecclesiastes 11:1-10
11 "Cast your bread upon the waters,
for you will find it after many days.
2 Give a portion to seven, or even to eight,
for you know not what disaster may happen on earth.
3 If the clouds are full of rain,
they empty themselves on the earth,
and if a tree falls to the south or to the north,
in the place where the tree falls, there it will lie.
4 He who observes the wind will not sow,
and he who regards the clouds will not reap.
5 As you do not know the way the spirit comes to the bones in the womb of a woman with child, so you do not know the work of God who makes everything.
6 In the morning sow your seed, and at evening withhold not your hand, for you do not know which will prosper, this or that, or whether both alike will be good.
7 Light is sweet, and it is pleasant for the eyes to see the sun.
8 So if a person lives many years, let him rejoice in them all; but let him remember that the days of darkness will be many. All that comes is vanity.
9 Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes. But know that for all these things God will bring you into judgement.
10 Remove vexation from your heart, and put away pain from your body, for youth and the dawn of life are vanity."
Ecclesiastes 11:1-10
We take up first of all the theme 'Be venturesome' (1-6). We are not to let the uncertainties of life, or the instability of human happiness paralyse us and reduce us to a dull, lifeless cynicism. There is so much in life that is different. The well-known words in 1, 2 'Cast thy bread upon the waters' can be taken in several ways, and probably should be. They are certainly applicable to acts of charity and their exhortation to us is, be generous, not niggardly, and do not limit that charity, but give to all who need it. As an interpretation, this makes very good sense and in this respect it stands over against the attitude that cynicism so often breeds - the 'I'm-all-right-Jack' syndrome, which simply means looking after 'Number one', and nobody else matters. And the Preacher is saying to us, 'Don't let life with its inscrutabilities and mysteries turn you into a person like that, only concerned with yourself. Be a man with a generous heart'.
But the words can also be applied in terms of commercial enterprise. Indeed, the original imagery is generally regarded as belonging to commercial enterprise, and referring to the sea-borne corn trade of ancient times. What is being said is, 'Don't let the uncertainties of business paralyse you: nothing venture, nothing win'. He who will not venture until he has an absolutely safe proposition will wait forever (4). It is true that there are risks in business, but the course of wisdom is not to put all your eggs in one basket. Reduce the risk by dividing and diversifying. But don't be paralysed into inactivity by waiting for all the risks to be eliminated. It is impossible for this to be done, because life is unpredictable. There is always the unforeseen but there is such a thing as divine providence, and the guidelines are sure. If God is saying to us, this is the way, walk ye in it, then risks notwithstanding, we may go forward in confidence. Venturing - with God - cannot be wrong.
December 9th 2021 – Ecclesiastes 11:1-10
11 “Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days.2 Give a portion to seven, or even to eight, for you know not what disaster may happen on earth.3 If the clouds are full of rain, they empty themselves on…
December 8th 2021 – Ecclesiastes 10:1-20
10 “Dead flies make the perfumer’s ointment give off a stench; so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honour.2 A wise man’s heart inclines him to the right, but a fool’s heart to the left.3 Even when the fool walks on the road, he…
December 7th 2021 – Ecclesiastes 10:1-20
10 “Dead flies make the perfumer’s ointment give off a stench; so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honour.2 A wise man’s heart inclines him to the right, but a fool’s heart to the left.3 Even when the fool walks on the road, he…
December 6th 2021 – Ecclesiastes 10:1-20
10 “Dead flies make the perfumer’s ointment give off a stench; so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honour.2 A wise man’s heart inclines him to the right, but a fool’s heart to the left.3 Even when the fool walks on the road, he…
December 5th 2021 – Ecclesiastes 10:1-20
10 “Dead flies make the perfumer’s ointment give off a stench; so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honour.2 A wise man’s heart inclines him to the right, but a fool’s heart to the left.3 Even when the fool walks on the road, he…
December 4th 2021 – Ecclesiastes 9:1-18
9 “But all this I laid to heart, examining it all, how the righteous and the wise and their deeds are in the hand of God. Whether it is love or hate, man does not know; both are before him.…
December 3rd 2021 – Ecclesiastes 9:1-18
“9 But all this I laid to heart, examining it all, how the righteous and the wise and their deeds are in the hand of God. Whether it is love or hate, man does not know; both are before him. 2 It…
December 1st 2021 – Ecclesiastes 8:1-17
“8 Who is like the wise? And who knows the interpretation of a thing?A man’s wisdom makes his face shine, and the hardness of his face is changed. 2 I say: Keep the king’s command, because of God’s oath to him. 3 Be not hasty…
November 30th 2021 – Ecclesiastes 8:1-17
“8 Who is like the wise? And who knows the interpretation of a thing?A man’s wisdom makes his face shine, and the hardness of his face is changed. 2 I say: Keep the king’s command, because of God’s oath to him. 3 Be not hasty…