Ecclesiastes #15

Introduction:

Connection:

In the presence of a noble King—one ought to wear proper attire, conduct himself in nobility, and serve with valour. The greater the King—the greater the obligation upon us. As servants of the Lord Jesus Christ, who is infinite and unsearchable in the riches of his greatness—we ought to wear the proper attire of godliness, conducting ourselves in noble wisdom, while serving with valour and strength. To the degree that we do such things—will be the degree that we are useful for the sake of the Kingdom and City of God.

Theme:

Wisdom for for Noble Living

Need:

We need to live noble lives as we seek first our noble King.

Purpose:

To exhort the saints toward practical wisdom for noble living in this broken world—to encourage us toward active service and godly risks—and to comfort us in the gifts of God that are to be rejoiced in through Jesus Christ our King of Nobility.

Recap:

Last Sunday we saw the need for us to expect the unexpected, to love wisdom, and to hate folly as we follow Christ the Lord. Here Solomon returns to his last section of Ecclesiastes where he is firing off proverbs for our daily living. We pick up now with our second last sermon in Ecclesiastes.

Open your Bibles:

Eccl. 10:8-11:10 ESV

PRAY - PRAY - PRAY - PRAY - PRAY - PRAY - PRAY - PRAY

(1) Noble Living means being Wise about Danger and Success - 10:8-11

Ecclesiastes 10:8 ESV

He who digs a pit will fall into it, and a serpent will bite him who breaks through a wall.

Pretty basic advice and counsel—be warned about the risks and dangers of what you do. If you dig a pit—you might fall in, and could even get seriously hurt. If you break down a wall, you might find a nest of snakes not super happy that they lost their shelter. Be aware—physical holes can bring physical dangers. But also be aware—spiritual holes bring spiritual dangers. If you dig a pit in your sin, you will fall into it and bear the consequences for your folly. If you break down a wall that you shouldn’t, the evil one will be there to capture you in one of his snares.

Psalm 7:15 says this of the wicked man:“He makes a pit, digging it out, and falls into the hole that he has made.” Foolish sin digs holes where it ought not to—and it leads the sinner to fall head first into his folly. Be aware of the pits of sin, and the snares of folly—they will bite, and their poison leaves a nasty sting in our lives.

Ecclesiastes 10:9 ESV

He who quarries stones is hurt by them, and he who splits logs is endangered by them.

If you are lifting heavy stones—be careful, because you might throw out your back. If you are splitting wood, be careful, because the axe head might fall off and leave a gushing wound. Wisdom means being aware of the danger, and planning accordingly. Both need to be done—just ensure that you do them well. Difficult things need to be done for the Kingdom—but we must count the cost, and be wise in His service.

Ecclesiastes 10:10 ESV

If the iron is blunt, and one does not sharpen the edge, he must use more strength, but wisdom helps one to succeed.

If your blade is dull—and you are too lazy to sharpen it before its use—you are going to use more energy and take longer to get your job done. If we are not wielding the Sword of the Spirit well, we are going to have to spend more time and strength trying to accomplish our tasks—but if we know the Word, if we sharpen the blade, if we are filled with godly wisdom dwelling in our hearts—then we will find strength to succeed with greater efficiency.

Deuteronomy 6:6 “And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.”

We need to keep our blade well sharpened for our use—not making it dull through addition or subtraction—but making it sharp through meditation and application. Dullness of blade means wasted time and energy.

Ecclesiastes 10:11 ESV

If the serpent bites before it is charmed, there is no advantage to the charmer.

In the ancient world snake charmers were a regular phenomenon. They would show their magical power by taming these venomous creatures. Solomon says, if your charm and skill fails you, and you get bit—there is no advantage to you but embarrassment and failure, oh and poison flowing through your veins.

I can’t help but think of the serpent and devil as the creature cursed by God in the garden. The serpent was crafty, leading Eve astray by tempting her to be the judge of God’s Word, by setting her own standards of good and evil (2 Cor. 7). If this serpent bites you, there is no advantage—but only foolish consequences for failing to submit to the Word of the living God. When the serpent comes to bite—we must respond with our Lord Jesus Christ: “IT IS WRITTEN” (Matt. 4). The written word is how we resist the bites of the serpent. The written word is how we crush the snake and his temptations.

Be aware of all such danger—and hold fast to the Word of God, that you might succeed in his service.

(1) Noble Living means being Wise about Danger and Success - 10:8-11

(2) Noble Living means being Wise about Words and Direction - 10:12-14

Ecclesiastes 10:12 ESV

The words of a wise man’s mouth win him favor, but the lips of a fool consume him.

This is a constant theme in wisdom literature, occuring in every chapter of Proverbs—the blessings and curses of the tongue. Paul elsewhere commands us to let our speech be seasoned with salt—so that our words would give grace to those who hear us—and here Solomon says that wisdom means we use our mouth to give grace, and to win favor.

Our words should be filled with grace and truth, with clarity and boldness, with gentleness and meekness, with precision and punch. Our words should be spoken in their proper time, as a word in season builds up. On the contrary, the lips of a fool consume him—being set on fire by hell—bringing judgment, condemnation, and a poor reputation in society or in the church. Let us be slow to speak—and if we speak—let us make sure our words are worth saying, lest we babble on like a fool. And let us remember that our Lord has told us that we will give an account for every careless word we speak (Matt. 12:36). An old writer once said: A wise man speaks becuase he has something to say—a fool speaks because he must say something. Continuing on this theme Solomon says:

Ecclesiastes 10:13 ESV

The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness, and the end of his talk is evil madness.

The foolish man speaks to get his useless opinion out and to exalt his own person—the beginning of his words are folly—and the end of his words are madness. On the contrary, the beginning of our words should be wise—and the end of our speech should be godly, for the building up of the people of God (1 Cor. 12-14). Where folly and madness get ahold of the tongue—division, slander, and gossip get ahold of the community (Jas. 4:1-2). So Solomon adds:

Ecclesiastes 10:14 ESV

A fool multiplies words, though no man knows what is to be, and who can tell him what will be after him?

Not only are the beginning and end of their words folly and madness—but their words are many and empty. Fools speak when God has been silent—declaring what they think is true, when God has not told them (Deut. 29:29). Solomon speaks of this often—godly humility is submitting to the sufficient revelation of God, not trying to figure out what God has kept hidden from us. We do not know—but God does—and that should be enough for the people of God who are trusting in Christ Jesus who upholds all things by the word of his power, and who directs all things to the glory of God (Col. 1). But not only does the fool multiply his words, his work itself is a wearisome task due to his stupidity:

Ecclesiastes 10:15 ESV

The toil of a fool wearies him, for he does not know the way to the city.

Work is good—but foolish workers can bring unnecessary weariness and exhaustion. The fool, due to his stupidity, or due to his distraction, misses the off ramp to the city on his way home, or as he is going to pick up materials—therefore he has to turn around, spend extra time doing this or that, which brings additional weariness to him. Such weariness could have been avoided if he had some more sense and wisdom.

I also can’t help but think of the City of God as we read this text. The fool is so caught up in the vanities of this world, and the distractions of this age, and the folly of this era—that he never gives thought to the things of eternity, on how to escape the coming wrath and judgment due to our sin, on how to be freed from the dominion of sin in our lives, and how to be made right with God who is the Judge of the earth—he never gives thought to the need to receive Jesus Christ and all His saving benefits.

And in so doing, his folly leads him to miss the exit, to miss the turn, to miss the Way the Truth and the Life—the only way to the City of God—to the Kingdom that cannot be shaken, and so he will meet the fury and wrath of King Jesus, rather than his grace and mercy—oh that we would cling to Christ by faith and repentance, rather than to resist him by folly and distraction—Psalm 84:5 “Blessed are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion.” Oh to stay on the narrow path, through faith in Christ and repentance unto God, following the direction of the Word and Spirit of God—on the way to the Heavenly Zion. Which city are you headed toward? The city of destruction? Or the city of God?

(2) Noble Living means being Wise about Words and Direction - 10:12-14

(3) Noble Living means being Wise about Politics and Gifts - 10:16-20

Ecclesiastes 10:16 ESV

Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child, and your princes feast in the morning!

We cannot make a sharp divide between politics and faith—because faith is the foundation for politics. The government are called to be ministers of God—not autonomous autocrats. They have responsibilities to serve by God’s law—not by human folly and deceit. And so Solomon says woe to the land whose king is a child—who fails to fulfill his God given responsibilities for the good of the people over whom he serves. When they should be serving—they are feasting—which is an abomination in God’s sight. However;

Ecclesiastes 10:17 ESV

Happy are you, O land, when your king is the son of the nobility, and your princes feast at the proper time, for strength, and not for drunkenness!

On the contrary, happy is the land whose king is the son of nobility! Whose heart studies the law of God! Who rules according to justice and righteousness! Who lives by the word of the King of kings! Who feasts during times of prosperity and peace—for strength and joy—and who keeps away from drunkenness and sinful folly. Happy is the land whose rulers know something of nobility—who know something of godly wisdom and knowledge—who know what God calls them to—and who do it for His glory.

I also can’t help but add—happy are you, O church of Jesus Christ, when your King is the Son of God, the Lord of lords, the Ruler of the nations, the infinitely noble One! Happy are you when his face is shining upon us, when he is near by his Word and Spirit, and when his laws are being observed with true faith and love—happy are you, O people of God—when the peace of Christ is ruling in our hearts, when his kingdom comes and his will is done, on earth as it is in heaven—happy are you, when Christ rules in power and love over his precious kingdom of grace. May His Kingdom expand, from shore to shore. And may the earth be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea (Hab. 2:14). Yet, we can hinder the work of God in our city and church through sloth and sin:

Ecclesiastes 10:18 ESV

Through sloth the roof sinks in, and through indolence the house leaks.

Through sloth—the walls of Jerusalem crumble, the church decays—through sloth the roof sinks in, the protection and presence of the Almighty is withdrawn—and through indolence the house leaks with the waters of the world, corrupting the holy house of the living God.

Children of God—let us cleanse ourselves from all idleness and wickedness—return to the Lord—that His house might be built up and that the light of the Gospel mights shine in the beauty of His holy presence. Oh house of God (Heb. 2)—let us be filled with the fullness of his presence, for the sake of his great name (Ps. 23). Let us not neglect our membership vows, let us not neglect the use of our spiritual gifts—lest our house crumbles and the Lord shuts our doors. Let us be vibrant, happy, holy, and fruitful—that his house may be full, and that we might be useful to our Master. This will also enable us to use God’s good gifts well! Solomon says:

Ecclesiastes 10:19 ESV

Bread is made for laughter, and wine gladdens life, and money answers everything.

We do not live by bread alone—but we do live by bread. And God gave us bread, good food, for laughter, joy, happiness, and enjoyment. This is the portion the Lord has assigned to us during our days under the sun. Let us receive our food with joy and gladness. We ought not to be drunk with wine—but we are permitted to enjoy our wine. God gave wine to gladden the hearts of the children of man, with merriness, and happiness. Too often wine becomes a sour snare in our lives—when God gave it to be a glad joy in our lives. Let us drink the good gifts of God with glad hearts, and feast in the proper time of God’s grace. Let us use money and finances, entrusted to us by our King, and let us use them to pay the bills, fix our temporal problems, serve the poor, and build up the church. Money answers everything—we ought to use it for God’s glory—but too often we use it to store up treasures on earth, and it poisons everything, rather than answering everything for God’s good purposes.

Not only is bread made for laughter—but the bread of the Lord’s Supper is made for holy joy as we rejoice in the broken body of Christ for our sins—not only is wine made for gladness—but the wine of the Lord’s Supper is made for gladness and for rejoicing over the forgiveness of our sins by the blood of Jesus Christ. And money? Oh what an imperishable inheritance of the treasures of heaven are secured by the Redemption that is in our Beloved Saviour. Lift up your heads, Calvary—your reward is great in heaven, all by his sovereign grace (Lk. 22). So as we serve King Jesus, let us not neglect our duties in his world around us. Solomon exhorts:

Ecclesiastes 10:20 ESV

Even in your thoughts, do not curse the king, nor in your bedroom curse the rich, for a bird of the air will carry your voice, or some winged creature tell the matter.

The thoughts of our minds are the trumpets of heaven. And the thoughts of our hearts can be heard by earthly rulers. Oh let us fear the Lord our God, who searches our minds and hearts—who knows every thought even before we make it audible. Let us not curse a ruler of our people—let us not even whisper curses against our rulers behind closed doors—for a little bird might carry your voice and bring justice against your folly.

There is no such thing as privacy in the eyes of an all seeing God, whose rulers are ministers of his wrath. Wisdom honours those to whom honour is due—even when it is only due for their position, and not their policies. God will judge them for their political sin—let us pray for them, and plead for God’s mercy and grace, that they might come to know the King of kings, and serve by His Law of laws.

(3) Noble Living means being Wise about Politics and Gifts- 10:16-20

(4) Noble Living means being Wise about Investments and Action - 11:1-4

Ecclesiastes 11:1 ESV

Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days.

In about 15% of the teachings of Christ he addresses money. Because he knows that money is often a canker that leaves men and women under bondage to sin and corruption, and under its lordship and dominion—which shows who is the real king of their hearts. Money is important—because money reveals who has the throne of our hearts. You cannot serve both God and Money (Matt. 6:24).

Solomon says, don’t be afraid to make some risky investments. Be wise—but know that sometimes it is wise to take risks. The person who takes no risks typically makes little money—because he is serving money as his god that he is too afraid to lose. Solomon says, know that there is a time to cast your bread upon the waters—you won’t see it for a while—but maybe you will find it after many days, and maybe it will bring a return to you that will be worth it.

Don’t be a fool. Don’t invest your life savings. But know that the Bible has a category for risky investments, if they are done wisely. To hammer home the point—Solomon says—make sure money isn’t king, make sure that Christ is King of your heart, so that you are free to live generously in this life of hebel:

Ecclesiastes 11:2 ESV

Give a portion to seven, or even to eight, for you know not what disaster may happen on earth.

If money is your god—you won’t be a generous man. You won’t give. You won’t lend. You won’t sacrifice. You won’t serve. You will hoard up treasures—and you will be poisoned from the inside out. Solomon says the godly man gives generously and lives sacrificially, because his eye is set on eternity. Disasters could approach us today or tomorrow—so maybe storing up treasures on earth isn’t so wise after all? Maybe living in light of death and disaster can actually free you, in Christ, to being a man who does not refuse to give to those who ask of you (Matt. 5:42). Be a man who is known for godly generosity—and let money show those around you who is really Lord of your life. But not only must we be wise with money—we must be wise in action!

Ecclesiastes 11:3 ESV

If the clouds are full of rain, they empty themselves on the earth, and if a tree falls to the south or to the north, in the place where the tree falls, there it will lie.

Ecclesiastes 11:4 ESV

He who observes the wind will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap.

Solomon basically says—what’s going to happen is going to happen, and you can’t stop it. If the clouds are full of rain—guess what? It’s going to rain. If a tree falls in the forest—guess what? it’s going to lie there. So stop sitting on your high horse, stop trying to predict the future, stop trying to command your destiny, stop waiting for the perfect moment, stop telling yourself that you are going to do it tomorrow—get busy serving the Lord Jesus today! If you watch the sky—you won’t be sowing seed. If you look at the clouds—you won’t reap the fruit of your labors.

Don’t tell yourself you’re going to share the gospel tomorrow—share it today.

Don’t tell yourself you’re going to read the Bible tomorrow—read it today.

Don’t tell yourself you’re going to start praying regularly tomorrow—get on your knees today!

Don’t tell yourself you’re going to start family worship tomorrow—start it today!

Don’t tell yourself you’re going to use your gifts at church tomorrow—use them today!

Don’t tell yourself you’re going to be faithful and fruitful tomorrow—be that today!

Tomorrow is the enemy of today—and today is the opportunity to serve the Lord. If you sit back and wait—you will never do what the Lord calls you to. And oh what joy there is, getting busy in the work of the Lord—oh what joy there is, walking closely with our God—oh what joy there is, serving him with all our hearts. Don’t let the enemy tempt you to serve tomorrow—crush him by serving Christ today—by His grace, and for his glory.

So put your hand to the plow, use your gifts and skills and talents for the Lord, and know that the Lord will bless you for it. Those who look back are not worthy of the Kingdom of God—those who do not use their gifts prove to have never known the Lord our God, for the one who buried his talent was thrown into outer darkness (Matt. 25:21-23).

Trust in Christ as Saviour, then serve Him as Lord—and know that your work is not in vain—trust me, you can’t beat the interest rates on the investment of eternity! Let us seek first His Kingdom and His Righteousness—and stop wasting our lives, stop wasting our breath—this world is fading away, but those who do the will of God will abide forever! As Spurgeon said so long ago: “Just do something for Jesus!”

And if you fail, then fail trying—don’t fail lying on the couch. Jesus saved you so that you would be zealous for good works—not so that you would be paralyzed by perfectionism. God may not give the growth—but he expects you to give your all.

(4) Noble Living means being Wise about Investments and Action - 11:1-4

(5) Noble Living means being Wise about Humility and Diligence - 11:5-6

Ecclesiastes 11:5 ESV

As you do not know the way the spirit comes to the bones in the womb of a woman with child, so you do not know the work of God who makes everything.

I won’t spend long here—because Solomon has hammered this point home for the last month straight: you and I are not God—we are not omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent.. We are not all powerful, all knowing, and all present. So why do we try to peel into the things that God has hidden. Faith trusts God’s Word—and reason submits where God stops speaking. We don’t even know how God created our spirit when we were conceived in our mothers womb—so we do not know the work of God who makes everything. The hidden things belong to the Lord—and though we cannot make straight what He has made crooked—He can.

We must be humble—but we must also be dilligent. Solomon says:

Ecclesiastes 11:6 ESV

In the morning sow your seed, and at evening withhold not your hand, for you do not know which will prosper, this or that, or whether both alike will be good.

Don’t sit back waiting for the perfect time—rather—get to work. Sow your seed, scatter the Word, and withhold not your hand! Onward Christian Soliders! We gather to worship, and we scatter to witness. You do not know which will prosper, you cannot control the fruit—but you can control the hand that throws the seed. Leave the harvest to the Lord—let us be his faithful servants in the home, in church, at work, or in the world. Be salt and light. Work hard, sweat with prayer, and labor for the glory of God—follow His Word and Spirit—hunger for fruit—lay down your lives—enjoy his gifts—but leave the fruit to the Lord God Almighty (1 Cor. 3:5-9).

If there is any principle in Scripture—it is that God typically blesses with fruit, where His people labor with prayerful diligence, wrestling with God with holy ambition (Jn. 15:5). Whether in things natural or spiritual—God loves a hard worker and a cheerful giver who depends upon Him for life and breath, for fruit and blessing.

(5) Noble Living means being Wise about Humility and Diligence - 11:5-6

(6) Noble Living means being Wise about Light and Darkness - 11:7-10

Ecclesiastes 11:7 ESV

Light is sweet, and it is pleasant for the eyes to see the sun.

Guess what? God is delighted when you are delighted in His Light. God is pleased when you are pleased in his Sun. The light of creation and the light of Scripture—the sun of the cosmos, or the sun of righteousness—when we behold the light of God, which is pleasant to our eyes—it is sweet to our souls—sweeter than honey. For the saints—the light of the world is sweeter than the darkness of this age (Jn. 1). He who has ears, let him hear.

Ecclesiastes 11:8 ESV

So if a person lives many years, let him rejoice in them all; but let him remember that the days of darkness will be many. All that comes is vanity.

God is the God of life—if he gifts us long years and good old age, let us rejoice in them—let us praise God for his gift to us—let us use our old age to bless the young—let us use our seasoned maturity to bless the church—but let us also remember that old age means that we won’t only enjoy the light that is sweet—but also the darkness that is plenteous. We will taste the good and the bad, the sweet and the sour, the light and the dark—let us be mindful of these things—and if God blesses with old age, let us not expect sunshine and lollipops in this life of hebel. This is a vain vapor—our eternal home is in the City of God. Let us never forget, come what may, the light will eventually overcome the darkness, and the darkness will be no more (Rev. 22). So he says:

Ecclesiastes 11:9 ESV

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 the sight of your eyes. But know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.

Enjoy your youth—enjoy your childhood—enjoy your adolescence—enjoy your teenage years—enjoy your young adulthood—enjoy the prime years—let these things cheer you, as gifts from our cheerful God. Just remember that the joys of youth also comes with the temptations to the youthful passions of the flesh. Enjoy God’s world—but don’t sin in it. Know that judgment is coming—so live in light of eternity, find refuge in Jesus, live in constant repentance and faith, and let such things propell you into true enjoyment of your Father’s world.

My mentor uses this verse as his wifi password for his children. When they use the internet—they must remember—walk in the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes—but remember, judgment is coming.

Oh let us find our refuge in the Rock of Ages—the only Mediator between God and man (1 Tim. 2). So in this last verse, Solomon says:

Ecclesiastes 11:10 ESV

Remove vexation from your heart, and put away pain from your body, for youth and the dawn of life are vanity.

Death is certain—life is uncertain—so don’t spend your life as a miserable wretch. Remove vexation, anger, anxiety, and worry from your life—trust in the Lord Jesus Christ who rules over all things, and who holds us fast—put away pain from our bodies, when it is just and wise to do so; and enjoy the days of life before every bone in our body aches—and when the bones start to ache—remember that for those who are in Christ, there is a resurrection unto life, unto eternal life; but for those who remain in their sin, there is a resurrection unto death, unto eternal death. Let us live in the light of Christ—in the life that is in Christ (1 Jn. 5). John 8:12 “Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

(6) Noble Living means being Wise about Light and Darkness - 11:7-10

(C) The Lord Jesus is the King of Nobility—so let us Live Wisely on the way to the City of God.

As pilgrims and exiles, purchased and redeemed by King Jesus—as citizens of his heavenly kingdom—let us continue our journey to the City of God—knowing that He will keep us by his grace, and bring us all the way home. Let us persevere, that we may receive what is promised after we do his will, and enter into the joy of our master.

Daniel 7:13–14 ESV

“I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.

People of the Kingdom—let us wear proper attire, conduct ourselves in nobility, and serve King Jesus with valour. It is not in vain—for His Kingdom cannot be destroyed.

(C) The Lord Jesus is the King of Nobility—so let us Live Wisely on the way to the City of God.

Amen, let’s pray.

Discussion Questions:

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