SOLOMON’S BUSINESS WISDOM
1) SOLOMON’S BUSINESS WISDOM, Ecclesiastes 11:1-6
2) SOLOMON WAS THE RICHEST, WISEST MAN ON EARTH.
- SOLOMON HAD THE BIGGEST BUILDING PROJECTS:
- He built Solomon’s temple & other great buildings, he built new cities, lakes & gardens…
- Solomon had 183,000 workmen for his building projects!
HAD SUCCESSFUL INTERNATIONAL BUSINESSES,
Imported & exported Chariots & horses (Int’l weapons dealer)
Built a fleet of trading ships (Int’l merchant fleet) food exporter, caravans,
SOLOMON WAS AN ADVISOR FOR KINGS & QUEENS, (1 Kngs. 4:34)
-He ruled over a great Empire that included all or part of 7 nations today!
- SOLOMON GAVE BUSINESS ADVICE IN ECCLESIATES CHAPTER 11:1-6. This wisdom can be applied both naturally & spiritually, 1 COR.15:46
3) ADVICE #1 – SPREAD YOUR INVESTMENTS
Eccles.11:1 “Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days.”
4) Natural Advice: Spread your investments & be patient for good results,Gal.6:9
- If you keep bread it will rot- if you hoard your resources, they will decrease, Mt.6:19, Prov.11:24
- CAST UPON THE WATERS= spread your investments afar (Solomon was an international trader)
- “AFTER MANY DAYS” – most good investments take time to increase- (Solomon’s sailing fleet only
returned every three years with their imports from distant nations)
- The farthest & slowest investment: lay up your treasures in heaven, and after death you will receive
an eternal reward, Mt.6:19-20
Spiritual Advice: Spread the Word of God afar, Jn.6:35 & Rev.17:15
Ex: In India, a poor boy gave his 1 coin to buy a tract.. a tribal chief came to Christ from that tract- the entire tribe became saved! We can all do something that could be greatly used of God!
5) ADVICE #2 - GENEROSITY IS INSURANCE
Eccles.11:2 “Give a serving to seven, & also to eight, for you do not know what evil will be on the earth.”
6) Natural Advice: Generosity will earn you the people’s favor & help, Job 42:11
- Neighbors, friends, & co-workers will support you, even in difficult times, if you are generous.
- In violent times (civil unrest, robberies, kidnapping) those whom you have helped will protect you.
Spiritual Advice: God will protect & repay the generous, Ps.41:1-3
- If we try to protect ourselves through hoarding our resources, we don’t know if, in evil times they
will fail so that we get NO benefit from them!
7) ADVICE #3 – CHARACTER DETERMINES YOUR RESULTS
Eccles. 11:3 “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.”
8) Natural Advice: If you have good character your works will be a blessing
and your life will end well, Job 29:11-23 & 42:12-17
Job declared in Job.29:23 that the people waited for him “as for the rain, they opened their mouth as for the spring rain.” Job was a blessing everywhere he went, just like a full raincloud.
Every life will have a different ending- every tree will fall, but they can fall in opposite directions (south or north.) Our character leans us toward our final destiny- but what direction are we leaning? Job ended his life full of goodness, prosperity, and satisfaction- an even until today Job is a man who is respected around the world.
Spiritual Advice: Your ministry and eternal inheritance is determined by your
character, Prov.25:14, Mt.7:17-19
Prov.25:14- “Like clouds and wind without rain is a man who falsely boasts of his gifts.”
- How a tree falls… a tree leans during life, and that establishes the direction it will fall- and remain
forever!
- The character we develop (the direction our life leans) will establish our eternal direction & ministry
- Mt.7:17-19 Jesus said. “Every good tree produces good fruit, every bad tree produces bad fruit.
Every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down & thrown in the fire!”
What direction is your life leaning? Will you fall into hell, or are you leaning towards heaven??
What will be your eternal reward?
EX: Mary Slessor, the famous missionary, was asked when she was elderly and finishing her missions work in one area: “Where will you go next? Retire back in Scotland?” Her reply was “Any direction, as long as it’s forward!” She was like a tree ever leaning forward, fulfilling her calling!
9) ADVICE #4 - DON’T BE OVERLY CAUTIOUS
Eccles. 11:4 “He who observes the wind will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap.”
10) Natural Advice: Don’t be discouraged by obstacles, Gen.26:1-12, Heb.11:1
- Wind can dry out the seed that is sown, rain can spoil the harvest- but the surest way to not have
a good harvest is if you don’t plant or harvest, because you are afraid of bad weather!
- The man who waits for perfect conditions will wait forever! Get nothing done!
Chamberlain, the Prime Minister of England, did nothing to oppose Hitler, saying: “Peace in our Times.” Winston Churchhill, the next PM during England’s darkest hour: “Never Give Up!”
Spiritual Advice: walk by faith, not by sight, 2 Cor.5:7
- Trials will test us, but cannot destroy us if we walk with God. He is in control of the wind & clouds
of life
11) ADVICE #5 - GOD IS IN CHARGE, NOT YOU!
Eccles. 11:5 “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.”
12) Natural Advice: Don’t worry about unknown things or small
beginnings if you are in the will of God, Prov.3:5, Jam.4:15
- Sailors wait ready for the wind to turn in their favor- we must be ready and prepared for God to give
us the wind of success!
- A mother, through worry, cannot help her child to grow in her womb…
EX: The COKE STORY: 130 years ago in the USA south, a health drink created at Mr. Pemberton’s Drug Store: a traveling salesman liked it & bought the rights to bottle and sell it for $1- then named it ‘Coca-cola!’ A small beginning, but it grew very large!
Spiritual Advice: God’s works have invisible & small beginnings,
Mt.13:31-32, Is.55:8-9
- “The way of the wind”= the moving of the Holy Spirit, Jn.3:8. Find out what God is doing & join in!
- Modern World Missions: William Carey started first European Missionary organization with about P400! Steve Lightle started his great ministry with $1!
13) ADVICE #6, Eccles.11:6 BE DILIGENT AND HAVE FAITH
Eccles. 11:6 “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.”
14) Natural Advice: Diligently do your best & be optimistic, Prov.10:4
- DILIGENT: Be diligent in your business and you will be rewarded.
- Prov.10:4 “The hand of the diligent makes rich.” Korea has quickly become a wealthy nation- but
they were starving 40 years ago! They are diligent & industrious!
- OPTIMISTIC: Some people never try anything because it might fail, other people try something
because it might succeed!
EX: As a young boy, the teachers of Thomas Edison said that he was stupid and would never learn
anything. He became a famous inventor (light bulb, phonograph, etc.) most of his experiments
failed, but he believed some would succeed- and he also learned much from his failures! He said
that his discoveries were 2% inspiration, 98% perspiration
EX: A young artist was fired by a newspaper which said that he had ‘no good ideas.’ The newspaper
editor told him that he would never be a successful artist. Then the young man tried making some
animated cartoons, but his cartoons starring “Oswald the Rabbit’ were a failure. The young man
tried again, and this time his new cartoon character, Mickey Mouse, made Walt Disney famous!
Spiritual Advice: Sow to the Spirit and you will reap! Gal.6:8
- Sow to yourself w/ daily devotions: yes, some will be dry & not prosper, but don’t let that stop you,
because some (or all!) may become very fruitful!
- Always sow the word: evangelize, witness… 2 Tim.4:2
EX: Many Christians have used the later years of their life to gain a great spiritual harvest!
EX: Lady in her 70s- felt she should be a missionary- started a free lending library in Africa (mostly Christian books) which led 100s to Christ!
SOW IN THE MORNING OF YOUR LIFE, & IN THE EVENING: REAP FOR ETERNITY!
Gal. 6:8 “He who sows to the Spirit will reap everlasting life.” –For you, & for others!
15. With God’s wisdom we can be fruitful in both natural and spiritual works!