“Words of Truth and Wisdom”

(based on the devotions of Selwyn Hughes: “Every Day Light”)

Series on the Book of Ecclesiastes

Sunday, August 28, 2011; Ecclesiastes 11:1-12:14

Introduction: I am one of those people who has said that if I ever win the lottery, I would give a good portion of it to the church. Now, since I don’t play the lottery it will be difficult for me to win it, but I believe that I would give from what had been given to me. And yet, I remember that when my dad passed away, and I got some money from his inheritance, it was a challenge to give 10% of it away!! This surprised me, because I have always thought of myself as a giving person. This reminded me of the pull that money has on us. The more we get, the harder it is to give away; the more control money has over us.

Solomon wants to remind us that even though it might be hard to give away from what we have (whether what we have is a small amount or a great amount), it is best to follow through on this desire to give away. Solomon closes out the book of Ecclesiastes with some important truths and wisdom that we need to understand from God.

I. Choose Life- (Ecclesiastes 11:1-8; Psalm 27:1)

a. Generosity- Solomon begins this chapter by saying: “Cast your

bread upon the waters, for after many days you will find it again.” This is Solomon telling us to be generous; to share ourselves with others. Often times on Sundays, Mondays, and Tuesdays we get a delivery of bread. We keep the chapel open during the day and people in the community and from the church come and take it. After Thursday, the chapel isn’t opened again until Sunday. By that time, the bread is dried out and not good for eating.

Solomon wants us to understand that when we hold onto things, and don’t give away, our lives will dry up and we will not enjoy what we have. But if we give ‘seven ways, or even eight,’ then we will enjoy life all the more because we know that our resources are being used to bless others and are not going to waste.

Are you bold in your generosity? Not just in the giving of money, but in the giving of your resources and abilities and even of yourself. When we give, it comes back to us in blessing. Suppose the little boy had refused to give Jesus his five loaves of bread and 2 fish? So many people would have gone away that day hungry. But in giving them, he got to experience the blessing of the feeding of the 5,000. We too can only experience these kinds of miracles when we give away what we have, and ask God to bless what we have given.

God has opened Himself to us generously. We ought to do the same to others.

b. Don’t just stand around- The giving of ourselves also includes

choosing to live our lives with fullness and in cooperation with God. The truth is, there are so many things in life that we cannot change. We cannot change the weather. It may be hot, and you want it cooler; it may be raining, and you want it sunny. But there is nothing that you can do about that. As Solomon says in verse 3: “When clouds are full, they empty rain on the earth…”

So, since there are many things we can’t change, we should focus on those things we can change. EX. There is a sign on a rough road somewhere in northern Canada that reads: “Choose your rut carefully. You’ll be in it for the next 200 miles.” WE CAN KEEP OURSELVES OUT OF RUTS! All too often we fall into ruts and settle for a drab, predictable life void God. We need to make sure that we are USING our God-given creativity to keep our lives exciting and productive. We shouldn’t just drift through life—we need to pursue it.

If you are retired, there is still so much that you can do with your life. In fact, there are many of you who are busier now that you are retired than you were when you were working. If you are still at the working age, then make the most of your time at work, and your time at home. Don’t allow yourself to get into a rut.

c. Don’t worry if you don’t understand- Along with not being able to

change many things, Solomon lets us know that there are many things we won’t understand in life. This is coming from the person who was probably the wisest of all time. Solomon uses the illustration of the wind. He tells us that we do not know where the wind will blow, or what course it will take.

Solomon gives us wisdom on how to best live our lives: verse 6 says, “In the morning sow your seed, and at evening do not let your hands be idle; for you do not know which will prosper, this or that, or whether both alike will be good.” Again, Solomon reminds us that during the day we are to stay busy sowing the seeds of our work, our love, our giftedness. Then at night, we are at home staying busy with what we need to do there. And if we give it to God, God will bless all the work that we do.

If we are too tired at night to do much when we get home, then we need to evaluate our lives. Are we getting the proper sleep so we have the energy we need to do all that we are given to do? Is the job we have the right job for us? Are we expending energy that we shouldn’t expend during the day? Maybe we need to learn how to be more organized, or more effective in how we do things.

d. Enjoy the years that you have- Do you need permission to enjoy

life? That might sound like a silly question, but there are many who would do better if they were given permission to enjoy their lives. They go around all grumpy, putting a damper on the enjoyment of others. Solomon says in verse 7: “Light is sweet, and it is pleasant for the eyes to see the sun.” Now Solomon here is talking about natural light, but I think he is also talking about the light of God. In Psalm 27:1 it says, “The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear?”

The light of God’s love is ever present, and is there for us to receive. When we let the light of God into our lives, then it helps us to focus on that which we should be focusing upon. When we focus on the light of God, then we are led to do the things that bring enjoyment into our lives, and we are in a place where we can enjoy our lives. If you are not enjoying your life, then maybe there is something that is keeping you from experiencing what God has given you to enjoy. Maybe it is a sin. Maybe it is your attitude. Maybe it is bitterness that you are harboring. Whatever it is, give it to God, let God’s light into your life, and enjoy the life you have!

II. From Childhood to Death- (Eccl. 11:9-12:6; 1 Corinthians 13:12)

a. The days of youth- Go back with me a moment to your childhood.

What do you remember of it? It is interesting to me that our long-term memory outlasts our short-term memory. There have been times when I have visited someone with Alzheimer’s, and they might not even remember who I am, but I can ask them about their childhood, and they can tell me stories of what they did. Our childhood does, and should stay with us, because it is a wonderful time of growing up, and trusting in our parents, and in God, and learning about life.

Solomon says to us in verse 9: “Rejoice…while you are young, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Follow the inclination of your heart and the desire of your eyes, but know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.” This continues the theme of enjoying the life we have day by day. But even in our older years the thoughts of when we were young help to bring us cheer.

There are things we might have done which we need to ask for forgiveness, but in all we should let the days of our youth give us the strength and energy we need to live the life that is in front of us now.

b. When trouble comes- So many people struggle with life whenever

trouble enters the picture. Life is easier when we are young, because our parents are there to help us in times of trouble; to get us out of trouble; to keep us out of trouble. As Solomon tells us in Ecclesiastes 12:1, “Remember your creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come…” Statistics tell us that most people who become Christians do so before the age of 15. As we get older, more trouble comes into our lives, and squeezes out the seeking of God.

People get to the point where they think that have to take care of all their troubles on their own, and don’t understand that God is there to help, and to give life meaning. But those who have placed their faith in God, when trouble comes, they know they can go to God to help them.

The point that Solomon is making in this verse is that too many resist God in their youth, and then fail to look for God when they get older. They get to the point where they don’t think that they have a creator, or that their creator doesn’t care. For us that know God, we need to make a priority in our lives the sharing of the gospel with children and youth. It should also lead us to be thankful that we have God when trouble does come.

c. Serving God as we get older- Of course we know that inevitably we

get older. Solomon acknowledges this as well, and points out the advantages of serving God both when we are young and when we get old. There is not a time when we are to stop serving God, as long as we have breath in our body. While we slow down as we get older, God still gives us energy and ability to serve. It might be different than when we were younger, but there are still many possibilities.

In verse 2, of chapter 12 we read: “Before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened and the clouds return with the rain.” The sun and light are symbols of clarity and sharpness. At times they recede when the clouds come, and it makes it difficult to see. So, in life, the clouds come and descend on our minds. Along with mental deterioration, there is also physical, as Solomon mentions in verse 3, to our limbs beginning to tremble, and when we are not able to be as active. Solomon uses very descriptive language to paint a vivid picture of the changes that occur as we get older.

But in it all, we are to seek in wisdom how we can still serve. It might be through phone calls on the prayer chain and praying for others. It might be the Binky ministry where we can sit in front of a sewing machine and sew. Whatever it is, there are always ways to serve no matter what age we are, and what limits we have with our body!

d. The spirit returns to God- When we get to verse 5 Solomon is

talking about the last stages of life. There are increased fears. There is the difficulty of walking, as Solomon says: “the grasshopper drags himself along.” Then in verse 6 Solomon returns to the thought of remembering God even as death approaches. And in fact, when you talk to someone who knows death is close, they are actually more at peace with this than others around them are. They are gaining peace from God in their last days.

If we were to stop here, it might seem a little gloomy, as we have pointed out the changes in our bodies as we approach death. But Solomon doesn’t want us to stop here. He lifts our hearts in verse 7, saying: “And the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the breath returns to God who gave it.” Death, to those who know God, is not the end, but the beginning; the beginning of our eternity with God; the beginning of really seeing, and living, and experiencing, and knowing. As Paul says in 1 Corinthians 13:12, “For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” We are to not only know how to live, and enjoy the days we have, but know how to die, and enjoy the reality of heaven.

III. Keep the commandments of God- (Eccl. 12:9-14; Matthew 6:33)

a. Sharing God’s commandments- Solomon closes up the book by

talking about the teaching of others, speaking wise words, and fearing God. While Solomon refers to “The Teacher,” I believe the qualities he mentions are for all who follow God. If we all try and implement these qualities into our lives, then we will be able to teach God’s commands to others, and help others learn and grow.

Solomon mentions five characteristics: the first is to be wise, and this wisdom is to come from being in consistent communication with God. As we pray and listen to God, God will give us wisdom and understanding about His word and life. Second is to be able to impart this knowledge to others. It is said that not everyone who has knowledge is a good teacher. We need to learn how to share with others in a way that they can understand. Jesus did this so well, because the illustrations He used were based on whom He was talking to. When He talked to fishermen, He used fishing illustrations. When He talked to farmers He used farming illustrations. When I teach children, I try and use objects that make the lesson more understandable for them.

Third, is to reflect on what you learn. As you reflect, you will understand it more. Fourth is putting things in a logical order. Order what you learn so that you can prioritize what is most important, and how it applies to you. And last is searching for the right words. For example, if I were to use many theological terms, there would be many people who would not understand. We need to talk in a way that makes sense to all. Everyone, not just preachers and teachers can use these qualities to share God with others.

b. Using wise words- In verse 11 Solomon says: “The words of the

wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firm embedded nails…” A goad is a long stick with an iron point that is jabbed against the tough hindquarters of an animal to make it increase its speed. Words can motivate and urge us to action. The wisest words we can speak to others are words that encourage, build up, and motivate people. We have the power to choose the words we speak.

One of the most powerful speeches I’ve heard in a movie is in the movie Henry V. There is a scene near the end of the movie when King Henry V is giving his men a charge of why they are to go into battle, and the difference it will make if they choose to do so. Up to this point there was a lot of fear by the soldiers, but after this speech they are all revved up to go and fight.

If you have ever had a child who doesn’t want to go to school, you know you have to give them a good pep talk to get them to want to go. Or the talk I have given to so many of Tyler’s baseball teams before they go out to play.

c. Guided by Scripture- In verse 12 Solomon warns us to not put too

much trust in books that go beyond the Scriptures. While reading is a wonderful thing, we need to be careful not to take the teachings of others too far. Everything we learn and everything we read should be balanced with what the Bible teaches. This means we have to know the Bible so that false teachings and false teachers don’t lead us astray.

It is easy to be led astray by someone who speaks eloquently. Their words sound wise, and their tone encouraging. But are they speaking the truth? Thanks be to God that we have the Bible to give us the truth with which we can filter all other teachings. In fact, when I teach and preach, it is good for you to make sure I am speaking the truth of God.

d. Attached to God- Solomon gives it to us simply, as he wraps it all

up in verse 13: “The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God, and keep His commandments; for that is the whole duty of everyone.” In other words, if after hearing all of Solomon’s teachings you are confused about what to do, he tells you right here: fear God, and keep His commandments.

To fear God means that we have reverence of Him. We put God first because we don’t want to offend God or dishonor God. Jesus said it this way in Matthew 6:33, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” If we seek God first, then our lives will make sense and things will fall into place. It is when we fail to seek God first that life gets complicated.

Conclusion: Solomon starts off the book of Ecclesiastes with the feeling that life is lived in vain. That is because he had tried to find contentment in all the wrong places: pleasure, riches, land, relationships, knowledge. He finally discovers that life is only meaningful if we seek after God and grow in our relationship with God. In this relationship, God will help us to understand who we are, how our work fits into life, and how we are to reach out and care for others.

But it all starts with understanding that God is our creator, and that we were created to live for God. Because so many people live for themselves, they lose focus on what life is about, and end up feeling like Solomon, that life is lived in vain. Let us be a people who seek God first, and who give or ourselves. In this way, God will bless our lives. Amen.