Eccl 1:2 "Meaningless! Meaningless!"
says the Teacher.
"Utterly meaningless!
Everything is meaningless." The beginning of hopelessness. Also translated "vanity of vanities...all is vanity."
Eccl 3:1: To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven Probably mostly known as a tune sung by the Byrds in the mid sixties.
Eccl:3 2 a time to be born Our time is now. The era in which we were born is the era for which we have responsibility; The era for which we were made to be a blessing. This is my only time to be born. and a time to die, Our time is short and there is much to do.
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
Eccl 3:14: I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be forever: nothing can put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him God is not just dealing with your life for this place in time. It is for eternity.
Eccl 4:9-10: Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up Two can accomplish so much more than one.
Eccl 5:2: "Do not be rash with your mouth, and let not your heart utter anything hastily before God. For God is in heaven and you on earth: therefore let yourt words be few." When we make a commitment, unless we find it to be a sinful one, we are to carry out that commitment. The great example we have is God's commitment to sinners.
Eccl 7:10: "Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this." The "good old days" were never quite as good as depicted. Piners for the "good old days" are usually not historically astute, or at least have poor memories, or their romantic notions cloud those memories that are not poor.
Eccl 11: 1: Cast your bread upon the waters,
for after many days you will find it again. When the Nile overflows its banks the weeds perish and the soil is disintegrated. The rice-seed being cast into the water takes root, and is found in due time growing in healthful vigour. One has also interpreted it: The expression "cast your bread on the surface of the waters," is taken from the custom of sowing seed by casting it from boats into overflowing rivers, or in marshy ground. When the waters recede, the grain will fall to the soil and spring up. "Waters" here could be an expression used to represent people, many people, who are recipients of our benevolent efforts, who in turn return to us benevolence in our time of need.
Eccl 11:2: Give portions to seven, yes to eight,
for you do not know what disaster may come upon the land. This could be speaking to the subject of benevolence of sowing, but, realizing that we do not know what could come up in the land. So, dont set your heart on riches. We do not know what the future may hold. God will hold to his promises in season, but we dont know what each season will bring in the land.
Eccl 11: 3: If clouds are full of water,
they pour rain upon the earth.
Whether a tree falls to the south or to the north,
in the place where it falls, there will it lie. It is God who controls the fall of the tree out in the forest; whether it falls to the south or the north is within the scope of divine providence to determine, but where it falls, that is where it is to be. This is Solomon's way of saying, "Where God has put you that is where you are to give. Meet the needs around you."
Eccl 11:4 Whoever watches the wind will not plant;
whoever looks at the clouds will not reap. A farmer who watches the cloud to decide to plant will not plant. Or one who watches the wind.
Eccl 11: 5: As you do not know the path of the wind,
or how the body is formed in a mother's womb,
so you cannot understand the work of God,
the Maker of all things. Sell explanatory scripture.
Eccl 11:6 Sow your seed in the morning,
and at evening let not your hands be idle,
for you do not know which will succeed,
whether this or that,
or whether both will do equally well. Sow, but keep working. You do not know which seeds you have sown will actually grow or when they will grow. God works in His own time table and it is not always the same as ours. In fact, I find more often then not, that it is totally different.
7 Light is sweet,
and it pleases the eyes to see the sun.
Eccl 12:12: "Of the making of books there is no end, and in much study there is weariness for the flesh." Aristides (The American Scholar)wrote, "Nothing so improves the style (of writing) as having something to say."
