1^st – Good life… vs. 1-6

• 1^st – Investing… vs. 1-3
  • Final lesson…
    • As Solomon begins to wrap up his study on the EMPTINESS of life…
    • Before he comes to the CONCLUSION – he has some final ADVICE…
    • He gives THREE general principals – about how to INVEST wisely!
  • Be Patient… vs. 1
    • Cast your bread upon the waters for you will find it after many days!
    • FIRST we MUST [imperative] CAST our BREAD upon the SEA [הַמָּיִם]
    • If we do – then in DUE time [many day] – it will come back to us…
    • There are TWO main interpretations of this verse…
    • It could speak of INVESTING our MONEY [bread] patiently…
    • Because [כִּי] – we know it takes TIME for that investment to come back to us!
    • If we invested FIVE thousand pesos in Apple stock in 1976…
    • That same investment would be worth FOUR million pesos today [50 years later]
    • The problem most people have with INVESTING – is they want the results NOW…
    • But investing requires PATIENCE – we have to be willing to WAIT for the reward!
    • It just so happens this is NOT only true with MONEY – it is also true with God…
    • The REWARD for following Jesus is NOT something we see right away…
    • We are INVESTING into a HEAVENLY reward we will receive after MANY days!
  • Be Generous… vs. 1
    • This might also be taking bout being GENEROUS to others…
    • In the Bible – people are sometimes pictured as being many waters – Daniel 7:2
    • The thought being we are to give FOOD [bread] to those in NEED [many waters]
    • When we do – in DUE time [many day] – it will come back to us!
    • Luke 6:38 – “Give and you will receive… The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.” [NLT]
    • When we are GENEROUS with others – in times when we have EXTRA….
    • They will be GENEROUS with us – in times when we are in NEED…
    • Just because we have a lot TODAY – does not mean we will NOT need help TOMORROW…
    • Therefore we are WISE to INVEST generously in the lives of those around us!
    • Proverbs 11:25 – “He who waters will also be watered himself.”
      
  • Many places… vs. 2
    • Give a serving to seven and also to eight for you do not know what evil will be on the earth!
    • SECOND we MUST [imperative] invest [נָתַן] in a VARIETY of places [seven or eight]
    • Because [כִּי] – we do NOT know what EVIL [רַע] might be ahead of us!
    • TWENTY years ago – Toys R Us was the largest toy company in the world [25% world share]
    • But TODAY the company is BANKRUPT and has very few stores remaining…
    • The problem with investing – is we have NO idea what will happen in the future…
    • Something that seems like a sure deal TODAY – might be useless TOMORROW!
    • There is a financial principal called risk management…
    • It means there is wisdom in NOT to investing all we have in ONE place…
    • We need to spread out resources in MANY different places…
    • That way if someone goes WRONG with one – we have a BACKUP!
  • Work hard… vs. 3
    • If the clouds are full of rain they empty themselves upon the earth.
    • And if a tree falls to the south or the north in the place where the tree falls there it shall lie!
    • THIRD – Solomon gives us the contrast of a CLOUD to a TREE…
    • The CLOUD wanders around the EARTH until it has picked up enough WATER…
    • If [אִם] it becomes FULL [niphal] – it will start to RAIN [hiphil] down on the earth…
    • BUT [וְ] – if [אִם] a TREE falls – however it falls [north or south] – that is where it STAYS!
    • The INTERPRETATION of this verse varies WIDELY [no consensus]
    • But taken in CONTEXT – it is likely keeping with the THEME of INVESTING…
    • Those who KEEP working – NEVER stop investing – will become FULL in life [cloud]
    • They will be able to pour out blessing [rain] on others…
    • But those who only STAND around [tree] – will eventually FALL over and DIE!
    • Meaning if we want to have a GOOD life – that is marking by BLESSING others…
    • Then we need to INVEST wisely – PATIENTLY [generous] – in MANY places…
    • So that we can have the RESOURCES [be filled] – to be able to BLESS others with!
• 2^nd – Prospering… vs. 4-6
  • The Keys…
    • But it is NOT enough just to INVEST wisely in life…
    • We can do ALL the right things – PATIENT – investing in MANY places – WORKING hard…
    • And still find that in the end we are NOT successful – we FAIL…
    • So Solomon goes on to give us THREE examples on how to be PROSPEROUS!
  • Walk by Faith… vs. 4
    • He who observes the wind will not sow – And he who regards the clouds will not reap!
    • FIRST – like the FARMER who waits for the PERFECT weather to plant [watches the wind]
    • Or for the RAIN to stop before he HARVESTS [look at the clouds]
    • If WHAT he is looking at is the WEATHER – he will NEVER [לֹא] do to either…
    • Because he is looking at the problems – so it always seems IMPOSSIBLE!
    • When I was in college – I was challenged to go on a mission trip…
    • I was not sure if I should go – I doubted if God was calling me…
    • But I was told – how do you know unless you step out and try!
    • There are always going to be reasons [excuses] why we should NOT do something…
    • But if we do NOT step out and try – for sure NOTHING will happen…
    • They KEY to being PROSPEROUS – is NOT to FEAR – instead walk by FAITH!
    • II Timothy 1:7 – “God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power.”
  • Trust in God… vs. 5
    • As you do not know what is the way of the wind.
    • Or how the bones grow in the womb of her who is with child.
    • So you do not know the works of God who makes everything!
    • SECOND – like [כַּ] the WIND that blows – and we NEVER [אִין] see [יָדַע] where it comes from…
    • The [הָ] WIND [רוּחַ] – could also be interpreted as the SPIRIT…
    • Or like [כַּ] how a BABY grows [עֶצֶם] in the womb of their MOTHER…
    • So ALSO [כָּכָה] – we do NOT see [יָדַע] how God [הָאֱלֹהִים] works…
    • Yet He is the ONLY one who [imperfect] can make [עָשָׂה] ANYTHING [כָּל] work!
    • When Nicodemus came to Jesus at NIGHT – looking for answers…
    • The Lord told him that he must be BORN again…
    • Confused – Nicodemus asked how he was supposed to go BACK into the womb…
    • But Jesus was NOT talking about physical birth – He was speaking of the SPIRIT!
    • John 3:8 – “The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it – but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
    • Why is ONE person successful – but ANOTHER who does the SAME thing – FAILS…
    • People looking for the answer – BLINDLY put their FAITH in all the WRONG places…
    • They trust in STOCK markets – look to BOOKS – or depend on their EDUCATION…
    • But NONE of these things have the ability to MAKE anything work…
    • What they CANNOT [אִין] see – is there is only ONE who has the POWER to create [עָשָׂה]
    • The KEY to being PROSPEROUS – is to put our FAITH in God!
    • James 1:17 – “Every good gift and perfect gift is from above – comes down from the Father.”
  • Do not give up… vs. 6
    • In the morning sow your seed – and in the evening do not withhold your hand.
    • For you do not know which will prosper – either this or that.
    • Or whether both alike will be good!
    • THIRD – we must [imperative] plant SEEDS in the MORNING and at NIGHT…
    • Solomon adds – PLEASE [jussive] do NOT stop planting…
    • Because [כִּי] – we NEVER [אִין] know [יָדַע] which one might GROW…
    • Who is to say that maybe BOTH of them might bring GOOD [טֽוֹב] fruit!
    • Jesus told a PARABLE of an UNRIGHTEOUS judge – Luke 18:2-5
    • A widow came to the judge DAILY asking for revenge against her enemy…
    • But the judge would not listen to her – he did not care about her problems…
    • After a while he thought – I do not fear God or man – but this widow keeps coming…
    • She was driving him CRAZY with her constant requests – so he gave in!
    • Often when we try something – we give up after short time…
    • But the KEY to being PROSPEROUS – is we just keep trying…
    • We need to be persistent in stepping out in FAITH – do NOT give up!
    • Matthew 7:7 – “I say to you [keep] asking and it will be given to you. [Keep] seeking and you will find. [Keep] knocking and it will be opened to you.”

• 2^nd – No Guarantees… vs. 7-10
  • 1^st – Bad days… vs. 7-8
    • Not a guarantee…
      • Having given us THREE principals for how to INVEST…
      • And THREE examples – that are the KEYS to being PROSPEROUS…
      • Solomon brings it back around to the overriding theme of the book – VANITY…
      • Even if we follow his road map to SUCCESS – it is NOT a guarantee!
    • Good days… vs. 7
      • Truly the light is sweet and it is pleasant for the eyes to behold the sun!
      • AND [וּ] – Solomon connects his previous ADVICE to the REALITY of life…
      • It is SWEET [מָתוֹק] – when we are in the [הָ] LIGHT [אוֹר]
      • When we can SEE [רָאָה] where we are going – walking under the [הָ] SUN [שֶׁמֶשׁ]
      • There are going to be times when life makes SENSE – everything is CLEAR…
      • We can SEE where we are walking – there is NO confusion…
      • We make our PLANS – they WORK perfectly – and we are BLESSED…
      • When that happens – ENJOY it – that is a SWEET moment [that will NOT last]!
    • Every other day… vs. 8
      • But if a man lives many years and rejoices in them all.
      • Yet let him remember the days of darkness for they will be many. All that is coming is vanity!
      • BUT [כִּי] – IF [אִם] we happen to live for MANY [רָבָה] years [very old]
      • We SHOULD [jussive] rejoice in EVERY [כָּל] moment we are given…
      • YET [וּ] – Solomon asks us to PLEASE [jussive] remember the [הָ] DARK [חֹשֶׁךְ] days…
      • Because [כִּי] – there will be a LOT [רָבָה] of them…
      • And in the end EVERYTHING [כָּל] that happened [perfect] is MEANINGLESS [הֶבֶל]!
      • Anyone who tells us life is easy – it either a LIAR – or trying to sell us something…
      • The HARSH reality is that life is HARD – and there are going to be a LOT of bad days…
      • Although Solomon argued we should face each day with a SMILE…
      • He saw it as ultimately having no MEANING – in the end life is EMPTY!
      • What Solomon could NOT see – is the reason for BAD days…
      • The Lord DOES want us to be BLESSED – He wants to PROSPER us – Luke 12:32
      • But more than that – He wants to make sure we get to HEAVEN…
      • The problem with NEVER having problems – is we would NEVER see our need for God…
      • Therefore God will allow BAD days – to teach us to look UP!
      • II Corinthians 4:8-10 – “We are hard pressed on every side yet not crushed. We are perplexed but not in despair. [We are] persecuted but not forsaken. [We are] struck down but not destroyed. Always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in [us].”
  • 2^nd – Empty youth… vs. 9-10
    • Judgement… vs. 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 in the sight of your eyes.
      • But know that for all these God will bring you into judgment!
      • We MUST [imperative] rejoice [שָׂמַח] when we are a YOUTH…
      • Making [hiphil] our heart [לִבְּךָ] BETTER [יָטַב] while we are still YOUNG…
      • And [וּ] – we MUST [imperative] walk [piel] in the ways of BOTH our heart [לִבְּךָ] and eyes…
      • Our HEART [לִבְּךָ] that is filled with DREAMS and DESIRES…
      • Our EYES [עַיִן] that SEE [יָדַע] – the difference between RIGHT and WRONG…
      • Because [כִּי] – EVERYTHING [כָּל] we do will one day be JUDGED [hiphil] by God [הָאֱלֹהִים]!
      • The most dangerous sport in the world is called BASE jumping…
      • People leaping off high buildings or natural formations with a parachute…
      • It has a fatality rate over FORTY times higher than skydiving…
      • But people do NOT do this in their SIXTIES – it is a YOUNG sport!
      • There is a BENEFIT to being young – we tend to be very HEALTHY…
      • Our whole lives are in front of us – full of POSSIBILITIES…
      • But when people are YOUNG – they also THINK they will live forever…
      • They do NOT think about CONSCIENCES – or about standing before God…
      • Which is why we should FOLLOW our DREAMS [heart]
      • But we should also WATCH [eyes] what we do – knowing one day we will be accountable!
      • Hebrews 4:13 – “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes – and He is the one to whom we are accountable.” [NLT]
    • Does not last… vs. 10
      • Therefore remove sorrow from your heart and put away evil from your flesh.
      • For childhood and youth are vanity!
      • THEREFORE [וּ] – we must [imperative] turn from [מִ] the ANGER in our heart [לִּבֶּךָ]
      • So [וּ] – we can [hiphil] AVOID [imperative] EVIL…
      • Because [כִּי] – being YOUNG and having BLACK hair [not yet grey] – does NOT last [הֶבֶל]!
      • We are NOT getting younger – our hair is TURNING grey…
      • It is a SIGN telling us we are ONE day closer to the JUDGMENT day…
      • While there is NOTHING wrong with pursuing our DREAMS…
      • God has given us DESIRES – and wants to use our lives…
      • We must always remember that life is SHORT – and all of us have LIMITED time…
      • Therefore – rather than CHASING things that do NOT last [prosperity]
      • We would be wise to use our TIME investing in the Kingdom of God!
      • Matthew 6:20-21 – “Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”