For those who may wish to ‘study’ this chapter, the following simple resources are provided for you. Each passage has a four-Part approach to help you take in and think further about what you have read.

Passage: Eccles 11:1-6

1 Ship your grain across the sea;
    after many days you may receive a return.
2 Invest in seven ventures, yes, in eight;
    you do not know what disaster may come upon the land.

3 If clouds are full of water,
    they pour rain on the earth.
Whether a tree falls to the south or to the north,
    in the place where it falls, there it will lie.
4 Whoever watches the wind will not plant;
    whoever looks at the clouds will not reap.

5 As you do not know the path of the wind,
    or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb,
so you cannot understand the work of God,
    the Maker of all things.

6 Sow your seed in the morning,
    and at evening let your hands not be idle,
for you do not know which will succeed,
    whether this or that,
    or whether both will do equally well.

A. Find out :

1.  Why cast your bread on the waters? v.1
2. How and why are we to give? v.2
3. What do we know about clouds? v.3a
4. What happens to sky-gazers? v.4
5. What 3 things don’t we know? v.5
6. Why do we need to be active? v.6  

B. Think:

1. How would you summarise v. 1 & 2 in your own words?
2. How would you summarise v.3-5?
3. So what conclusion does Solomon reach?

C. Comment:

In these verses Solomon considers the uncertainty of life and our response to that. First he recommends that we give and that we give bountifully. Some suggest the bread means bread-corn which was cast into the waters when rivers were at flood so that when the waters subsided the corn grew in the alluvial soil. The lesson is give when it doesn’t necessarily look the best time for a return for, who knows, perhaps at a later time the blessing will return to you.       

Then he considers the inevitability and also the uncertainty of life. Yes clouds will produce rain, but who knows when? The wind may blow but for how long? If you keep on looking at the signs and wondering, you will never do anything. The fact is that life is a mystery and sometimes we get it right and others times we don’t! So, says Solomon, keep yourself active in your work for you don’t know when it will succeed and when it will fail.     

For us as Christians, in addition to these truths, there is the sure knowledge that as we submit to God, He will lead us and work out His purposes in and through us, but still we are frequently without full understanding, so this requires us to walk in faith, receiving His forgiveness as necessary.  

D. Application?

1. The future is largely unknown but we may rest in our Lord’s love for us in it.
2. Trust Him for the days to come.

Passage: Eccles 11:7-10

7 Light is sweet,
    and it pleases the eyes to see the sun.
8 However many years anyone may live,
    let them enjoy them all.
But let them remember the days of darkness,
    for there will be many.
    Everything to come is meaningless.

9 You who are young, be happy while you are young,
    and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth.
Follow the ways of your heart
    and whatever your eyes see,
but know that for all these things
    God will bring you into judgment.
10 So then, banish anxiety from your heart
    and cast off the troubles of your body,
    for youth and vigour are meaningless.

A. Find out :

1. What brings us pleasure? v.7
2. What advice does Solomon give? v.8a
3. Why? v.8b
4. To whom does he speak? v.9
5. What does he counsel? v.9,10
6. But what does he warn? v.9c

B. Think:

1. What indication is there that Solomon is writing in old age?
2. What guide is he suggesting to the young that they should use?
3. What reasons does he use to encourage them in this?

C. Comment:

Solomon continues his consideration of the uncertainty of life, first to all in general, then to the young in particular.

Light is something we take for granted but the sight of the sun brings us joy. Darkness is something we don’t enjoy (although Jesus said the wicked use it to cover up their evil deeds!) and Solomon considers that death will only be darkness (not knowing what we now know through the New Testament) and so counsels that we make the most of the days of light that we have.

Then he speaks to the young and says twice they should follow their hearts and be led by what they feel is right and good, not, please observe, by their minds. Herein is partial truth. As Solomon says, rationalising only produces meaningless confusion and therefore it is sometimes better to be led by the heart (to do great deeds?). But much pain is being inflicted today because the mind is not used and the consequences of actions are not thought through.

Solomon warns that whatever we do will be weighed by God, therefore it is essential that we DO use our minds to consider our lives. The truth is that we should be moved by our hearts and checked by our minds.

D. Application?

1. Scripture is progressive. Our revelation is greater than Solomon’s. Isn’t that Amazing!
2. Heart AND mind! Do I use them both?