How to Deal with Life Uncertainties // Ecclesiastes 11

Live by faith (1–2). Solomon owned a fleet of merchant ships (1 Kings 9:26–28) that helped add to his great wealth. Life is like that: you have to launch out by faith if you hope to get anywhere. Limiting yourself to one ship may lead to disaster, so trust God to guide you in several endeavors.

Avoid excuses (3–5). The weather is rarely right for what the farmer wants to do, but he does it anyway. You cannot explain the growth of the unborn child, but that does not stop people from having families!

Work hard (6–8). Get started early in the morning, and keep in mind that night is coming “when no one can work” (John 9:4). You will get older and one day not be able to work as much, so use your opportunities while you can. If dawn is sweet to you, your sleep at night will be sweet (Eccles. 5:12).

Please God (9–10). The best way to remove sorrow is to avoid evil and walk in the fear of the Lord. The sooner you start, the happier your life will be. Childhood and youth are transient; you have but a short time to lay those important foundations. But it is never too late to make a new beginning and do it right.

Warren W. Wiersbe, With the Word Bible Commentary (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1991), Ec 11.