Day 161 Chronological Bible Study Timeline. Map. Go to today’s Bible reading (use your browser arrow to return): Ecclesiastes 11, 12; Psalm 73; Psalm 88; 1Kings 11:41-43; 2Chronicles 9:29-31
Weathering Life's Challenges
Can we ever predict the weather with certainty? Forecasters are getting much better at their jobs, but still, the weather can catch them and us by surprise. In our planning, we don’t know if the skies will be fair or if disaster lurks on the horizon. Can we have a picnic or go sailing? What about our business or personal life—how do we weather life’s challenges?
Business Challenges
What’s true with physical weather is also true in business—the certainty of events is unpredictable. Farmers and other entrepreneurs know they should make alternative plans and not put all their hopes in one investment or opportunity. Farmers may plant or harvest, and the weather could be good, fair, poor, or even severe. Stock prices go up and down. We take advantage of opportunities or lose them.
So, should we just stay in our homes, watch television and do nothing? No, we leave the physical weather or the weather of opportunities to our Sovereign God and do our best to work with them, in them, or around them. Many times we get more accomplished if we will just try. This is one lesson we can learn from today’s Bible reading.
A Wasted Opportunity
After King Solomon received great wisdom, wealth, and fame, he got careless. He started accumulating massive amounts of wealth, multiplied horses and chariots, and married hundreds of princesses from foreign nations. As the LORD predicted, the women took his heart away from God. Solomon even worshipped their idols. Because King Solomon disobeyed and dishonored God, the LORD said Solomon’s son would have his kingdom torn from him with only one tribe to rule. All that Solomon did wouldn’t endure, and he’s depressed.
Solomon wrote the book of Ecclesiastes. He was still wise in many ways, but his depression and disillusionment display itself on the pages. The king experienced a life of pleasure and wealth and found it all unfulfilling and worthless! He discovered that death is sure, but life is as unpredictable as the weather (Ecclesiastes 10:14b). Will we still have the same opportunities for doing good tomorrow as we have today? Will we have our jobs? Will we enjoy the same relationships? Will we have good or poor health? Will we live or die?
Making the Most of Our Time
No one knows the future, so how should he live now? King Solomon gives us the following sage advice.
Instructions for young people
Although Solomon addresses young men, it could equally address young women.
Be happy, young man, 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 to judgment (Ecclesiastes 11:9, NIV).
Is Solomon cynical? Not necessarily; he’s telling those who are young to enjoy life but temper their ambitions with self-control so they won’t suffer from poor choices.
Second, for those who are not so young, Solomon exhorts, “banish anxiety from your heart and cast off the troubles of your body, for youth and vigor are meaningless” (Ecclesiastes 11:10, NIV). Many who are middle-aged go through “the mid-life crisis.” They wish they were younger, and they discourage themselves with thoughts of “I’m not as young as I used to be” or “I’m over the hill.” Many try to compensate by looking or acting younger. Solomon says that to pursue youth and vigor is meaningless, an empty and unfulfilling pursuit. He says to banish or get rid of these anxieties. We need to have a higher, more worthy pursuit.
Third, King Solomon urges every one of us to “Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, ‘I find no pleasure in them’” (Ecclesiastes 12:1, NIV). Then, in poetical symbolism, Solomon describes the symptoms of old age: decreasing strength, fewer teeth, failing eyesight, sleeplessness, impaired hearing, fear of heights and venturing outside, white hair, stooped posture, moving with a slow gait, fading sexual desire, and stroke or heart attack before death (Ecclesiastes 12:2-7).
If we live long enough, symptoms of aging will come upon us all; therefore, we should serve the LORD in our youth and live to please him before our bodies wear out and die, and our spirits go to our eternal home. God is Sovereign, but it’s our responsibility to make the most of our opportunities to serve him while we can.
Be Ready to Meet God
Solomon leaves us with these words:
Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14, NIV).
This is a sobering thought, so let’s live our lives in reverence for God. When Jesus takes us home to heaven, we want to be happy to see him, don’t we?
DiscussionHow is life like the weather, and what should we do about it?
Have we wasted opportunities? How can we best use the time the LORD gives us?
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Looking Ahead: Solomon's life has ended, and now his son Rehoboam reigns in his place. In our Next Lesson we discuss What Should Motivate Leaders? Please join us.
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