Slices
Prepare
Thank God that he holds the world in his hands, even when we are anxious.
Bible passage
Words from the mouth of the wise are gracious,
but fools are consumed by their own lips.
13 At the beginning their words are folly;
at the end they are wicked madness –
14 and fools multiply words.
No one knows what is coming –
who can tell someone else what will happen after them?
15 The toil of fools wearies them;
they do not know the way to town.
16 Woe to the land whose king was a servant
and whose princes feast in the morning.
17 Blessed is the land whose king is of noble birth
and whose princes eat at a proper time –
for strength and not for drunkenness.
18 Through laziness, the rafters sag;
because of idle hands, the house leaks.
19 A feast is made for laughter,
wine makes life merry,
and money is the answer for everything.
20 Do not revile the king even in your thoughts,
or curse the rich in your bedroom,
because a bird in the sky may carry your words,
and a bird on the wing may report what you say.
Invest in many ventures
11 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.
Remember your Creator while young
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.
Explore
In chapter 10, verses 12 to 20 the teacher returns to themes explored previously: what it is to be foolish (vs 12–15), and the effects of a foolish leader on national life (vs 16–20). List the characteristics and results of being foolish from verses 12 to 15. Notice the key to avoiding foolishness given in verse 12. Verses 16 to 19 look at the faults of a foolish leader and the implications for others. In verse 17 he hints at how wise leaders live. What are the differences between the two? Given the advice in verse 20, how might you pray for your leaders today?
Chapter 11 looks at how faith in God helps people to live full and joyful lives despite life’s uncertainties – in those times, that particularly concerned agricultural issues (vs 1–6). Given the uncertainties you are facing, consider how verse 5 helps you to trust God today.
Light and seeing the sun (v 7) are used to refer to the joy of God’s blessings (see Psalm 97:11). Life and joy must be pursued actively because the dark days beyond death will soon come (v 8). God’s judgement means that enjoyment of life should be in moderation (v 9). Yet, anxiety about life’s big questions should not steal life and joy away, neither should age or lack of energy (v 10).
Respond
Pray for wisdom for your local leaders. Pray that you will walk in the light of God’s life and joy today.
Deeper Bible study
‘There’s no discouragement / shall make him once relent / his first avowed intent / to be a pilgrim.’1
The Teacher now considers another issue with the human experience. Verse 14 tells us, ‘no one knows what is coming’. We are all ignorant of what is going to happen in our lives and in the wider world around us. We can make plans for our future, but none of us really knows what is going to happen. The Teacher’s response to this difficult truth is twofold. First, he shifts into the style of the book of Proverbs in verses 15–20. He states five proverbs that commend good, prudent and wise living. Second, he appears to advocate that the best response to uncertainty is to diversify your investments (11:1–6). If you cannot know what is going to happen, the sensible thing to do is not to put all your eggs into one basket. His reflections are a humble reminder of our own ignorance and inability in comparison to the comprehension of God. Verse 5 has particular resonance in a society that likes to try to predict the weather and that can create images of a baby growing in the womb: despite these advances, weather forecasts are often mistaken and we don’t know exactly how the body is formed in the womb. Our knowledge is limited, our ignorance extensive.
In acknowledging our limitations, we can seek the wisdom of the one who does understand these things. That is why wisdom in the Bible is always related to God. It is through that relationship that we are given the heart and perspective of our loving Father to influence our decisions for good. The state of the world is exceptionally uncertain at the moment. Through our faith we can receive not just hope amid that uncertainty but also wisdom on how to act within it. In humility we can find wisdom in our ignorance.
Reflect on your hopes for the future. Where is there uncertainty in those hopes? Pray for God’s wisdom to help you as you face the future.
1 John Bunyan, ‘He who would valiant be’, 1684
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Jeremiah 34,35; John 13
Pray for Scripture Union
Next week, from Monday to Friday, a group of SU retirees will be holding their annual conference at which they will enjoy fellowship, receive input from SU staff and pray for the work. Give thanks for their faithful service as staff and volunteers and pray that the time will be profitable.
Have you discovered our brand-new children’s book?
The Grumpy Owl and the Joy of Christmas is a brilliant storybook that makes the truth of Christmas accessible to children, young people, and families who may never have heard the story of the nativity before.
Follow the adventures of a very grumpy owl as, in his search for some peace and quiet, he discovers what Christmas is all about!
