1

W
Hear the Conclusion
Of the Whole Matter
(Ecclesiastes 11; 12)

W h a t
'
s L i f e A l l A b o u t ?

W h a t
'

s L i f e A l l A b o u t ?

We are now ready to consider Solomons findings, the sum of all of Solomons observa-
tions and trials. He tried everything and learnedby trial and error as well as by wisdom
and experiencewhat was important and what was not.
Methodically, almost scientifically, he set out to research happiness. When life was
declining for him, he prepared this research report to reveal his findings. Thousands of
people since Solomon have conducted similar tests and reached similar conclusionsbut
none have been so well founded or so full of inspiration as these. Solomons words are
timeless. If the world continues for a million years, his message will remain as true and
useful as it has been from the beginning.
Ecclesiastes 11 and 12 leave no doubt that the answers to lifes questions are found in
God. The earth is the Lords and the fullness thereof (Psalm 24:1). We are all Gods creation.
If we want to know why we are here, we need only to consult the owners manual, the
Bible.
RELY UPON GOD (11:16)
Chapter 11 begins, Cast your bread upon the surface of the waters, for you will find it
after many days. Throwing bread into the water seems senseless. It only floats for a few
seconds, then disappears forever. What good would it do to throw bread into the water?
That is precisely what Solomon was illustratingsome good deeds seem so useless that
there is no reason for doing them. We cannot always see the results of what we are doing.
We are unable to measure results, because we do not know what use God will make of our
deeds. We cannot understand how God works. Paul said, I planted, Apollos watered, but
God was causing the growth (1 Corinthians 3:6). If we keep working for God, even when
it seems useless, we will eventually reap the benefits.
Next, we find the advice Divide your portion to seven, or even to eight, for you do not
know what misfortune may occur on the earth (11:2). The numbers seven and eight are
used as indefinite numbers meaning as many as there are. We should do all the good we
can, because we do not know when we will need help ourselves. We cannot alter the course
of nature. When clouds get full of rain, they will empty (11:3). We do not know where a tree
will fall. Lightning may strike it, or the wind may uproot it. Wherever it falls, there it will
be (11:3). Natural events over which we have no control could place any of us in need at any
time.
This was the attitude that prompted the early Christians to sell their possessions and
2
give the money to the apostles to be distributed
to those in need (Acts 2:44, 45; 4:3237). If those
who gave should become needy, they would be
assisted by others. This is Gods insurance pro-
gram.
Those who place too much confidence in
natural law may never get anything done. If we
pay too much attention to the wind, we may not
sow our seed. If clouds are gathering, we may
decide not to harvest, for fear it will rain. It
would be foolish to disregard natures adversi-
ties, but being overconcerned with hardships
can discourage us from accomplishing anything.
We cannot understand all that will happen in
life (11:5). We do not know the workings of the
human spirit or how the bones of a baby are
formed in the mother prior to the babys birth.
Neither can we understand the works of God,
who makes these things happen. We cannot al-
low our lack of understanding to hinder us in our
work.
We should trust God and continue to labor.
We should begin in the morning and toil just as
diligently in the evening. We never know what
will be most productive. It depends upon how
God blesses our efforts. It could be that seed
sown in the evening will be just as productive as
that sown in the morning (11:6).
REJOICE IN THE LORD TODAY
(11:710)
It is wonderful to enjoy life (11:7, 8). The term
see the sun is generally taken to mean enjoy
life. Repeatedly, Solomon referred to the life-
span as that time under the sun. The days
when the eyes can see the light of day are the
days of life upon the earth. This was Solomons
way of saying, Its great to be alive.
We are told in verse 8 to live as long as we
can and rejoice in life every day. It will encour-
age us to get the most out of life if we will
remember that one day we will die. The days of
darkness probably refers to the days in the
grave (9:10). Eternity is long in comparison to life
here. Solomon referred to the grave as mans
eternal home in 12:5. Realization that we will
die should prompt us to live life to the fullest.
This re-emphasizes that we do not really know
how to live until we have learned how to die.
Next, we read, Rejoice, young man, during
your childhood, and let your heart be pleasant
during the days of young manhood (11:9a).
Solomon was saying, Be happy that you are
young. God wants you to enjoy life. Have a
cheerful heart. Open your eyes to the good things
around you, but do not be deceived into believ-
ing that sinful pleasure is the way to be cheerful.
Keep in mind that you must give account before
God for your actions.
Finding joy in life is not synonymous with
revelling in the pleasures of sin (Hebrews 11:25).
God wants us to remove sorrow from our hearts
through joyous living. He also wants us to put
evil away from our flesh. Joyous living is right-
eous living. To attempt joyous living while en-
gaging in the pleasures of sin is useless.
REMEMBER GOD WHILE YOU ARE
STILL YOUNG (12:18)
We can honor God best if we begin before the
days of old age. Solomon wrote, Remember also
your Creator in the days of your youth, before
the evil days come and the years draw near when
you will say, I have no delight in them (12:1).
It is harder to enjoy life in old ageespecially
without God. Most who grow old without God
die without Him. It is much more difficult to turn
to God if it is postponed until old age. Statistics
show that the older a person becomes, the less
likely he is to be converted to Christ. All over the
world, wherever the gospel is preached, young
people are more responsive.
Why are people less likely to turn to God in
old age? We find in verses 2 through 7 a series of
metaphors for the results of aging:
Before the sun, the light, the moon, and the
stars are darkened, and clouds return after the
rain; in the day that the watchmen of the house
tremble, and mighty men stoop, the grinding
ones stand idle because they are few, and those
W
We cannot allow
our lack of understanding
to hinder us in our work.
3
who look through windows grow dim; and the
doors on the street are shut as the sound of the
grinding mill is low, and one will arise at the
sound of the bird, and all the daughters of song
will sing softly. Furthermore, men are afraid of
a high place and of terrors on the road; the
almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags
himself along, and the caperberry is ineffec-
tive. For man goes to his eternal home while
mourners go about in the street. Remember
Him before the silver cord is broken and the
golden bowl is crushed, the pitcher by the well
is shattered and the wheel at the cistern is
crushed; then the dust will return to the earth
as it was, and the spirit will return to God who
gave it.
In old age, the senses are dulled. The hands (the
watchmen of the house) begin to tremble, and
the legs (mighty men) begin to stoop. The teeth
(the grinding ones) begin to stand idle, and the
eyes (windows) grow dim. The body is worn to
the point that it cannot respond to the brains
instructions as it once did. Older people often
become discouraged as they think about living
for God. They reason that they have wasted their
best years living without God. They fear that
they do not have much time or energy left to give
to God. They believe that it would not be right to
ask God to forgive them and accept them in their
old age. Of course, that is not true. God wants to
forgive and accept all who will sincerely repent
and submit to Himyoung or old.
Solomon continued to paint his word-picture
of the person who has grown old. The ears be-
come dull of hearing (the doors on the street are
shut and the sound of the grinding mill is low),
yet the aged one sleeps so lightly that the chirp of
a bird can wake him in the morning. The voice
loses its musical range (all the daughters of song
will sing softly). The fear of heights increases
with age. The hair turns gray (the almond tree
blossoms). He can no longer shoulder heavy
loads (the grasshopper drags himself along), and
his physical desire fails (the caperberry is inef-
fective). He knows that the day will soon come
when he will go to his eternal home and the
mourners will go about in the street.
In 12:6 death is illustrated in two figures:
Remember Him before the silver cord is broken
and the golden bowl is crushed, the pitcher by
the well is shattered and the wheel at the cistern
is crushed. When the silver cord of life is bro-
ken, the lamp falls and is broken. In the other
figure the wheel is destroyed, and the pitcher is
left by the well. The body returns to the dust from
which it was made (Genesis 2:7), and the spirit
returns to God who gave it (12:7, 8). Whatever
we plan to do for God, we must do before that
time. Whatever preparation for eternity we make
must be made before then. The life which ne-
glects that preparation is useless and vain in the
final accounting.
RECOGNIZE THE TRUTH
(12:914)
In spite of his struggles, the Preacher, Solo-
mon, was able to share his wisdom with others.
He assembled many proverbs to teach his people.
He searched for the right way to communicate
his words of truth and righteousness (12:9, 10).
The words of the wise are like goads that
prick the conscience and motivate to action
(12:11). A goad was a sharp, pointed stick or rod
used to prod a yoke of oxen. These proverbs were
like nails, driven home by their teachers.
Solomon then admonished his son to weigh
carefully what he would hear and be taught
(12:12). Endless opinions are expressed by those
who claim to be knowledgeable. Studying them
and deciding which ones are true can be tire-
some, but we must examine what we are taught.
Anything that does not hold true is not wisdom.
For many years Solomon, in all his wisdom,
sought to discover the meaning of life. At the
end of Ecclesiastes he wrote, The conclusion,
when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep
His commandments, because this applies to ev-
ery person. For God will bring every act to judg-
ment, everything which is hidden, whether it is
good or evil (12:13, 14).
CONCLUSION
Solomons conclusion should be our conclu-
sion: Fear God and keep His commandments.
That is what life is all about! The wisest course of
all is to live our lives for Him and be ready for the
Judgment (Matthew 25:3146). We will give an
account to God for the things we do, even the
secret things, whether they are good or bad. Paul
spoke of that day when God will judge the
secrets of men through Christ Jesus (Romans
2:16). Those who fear God and keep His com-
mandments will have cause to rejoice when that
day comes (1 Peter 4:13). I
Copyright, 1994, 1998 by Truth for Today
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED