Introduction: If I were to give this Bible study a title other than "Ecclesiastes 11:7-10," I would take the title from verse 10, which says, "For Childhood and Youth are Vanity." In a previous study, I said that you should never waste the time you spend out of God's will. You should always learn the lessons God has for you. It's the school of hard knocks, and there are some good lessons that can be learned. Again, it is not the best school from which to graduate, but it is a school from which you can learn.
Such is the case with Solomon. He graduated from the school of hard knocks at the top of his class. The book of Ecclesiastes tells how the world and all of its influences changed him for the worse. We are now entering that part of the book where he tells what he learned and became a better man because of it. He could have been a better man without backsliding, but he chose to backslide first and took advantage of the lessons he learned. In this Bible study, we find some great advice for our generation.
1. Rejoice in the light. - Ecclesiastes 11:7
"Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun."
- Solomon's implication here is that there are days filled with light. These are the days in which a person should rejoice.
- There's nothing wrong with sunlight and nothing wrong with days without darkness. Solomon says that we should learn to rejoice in that God gives us sunshine and light.
- Many Christians feel they have nothing to rejoice about even though they have sunshiny days and the light of God's blessing on their lives. Some will say, "What have I got to rejoice about?" Only bitter Christians say foolish things like this. They are bitter because there is some "thing" they want but do not possess. They think God is unfair because God doesn't give them that one "thing." Solomon said to learn to rejoice in what God has given. Thank God for the light, and thank God for the sunshine. Thank God for the sunshiny days. Some Christians would find a place to complain even if everything in life was perfect.* We should rejoice in the light of the Gospel.
* We should rejoice in the light of God's Son.
* We should rejoice in the light of God's Word.
* We should rejoice in the light of God's smile.- Solomon knew what it was to have sunshine and light yet bitterness of soul. While he was away from God, he never really seemed to recognize the blessing of God.
- If you are away from God, you are probably just like Solomon.* You have sunshine, but life is vanity.
* You have light, but life is vanity.
* You have blessing, but life is vanity.
* You have salvation, but life is vanity.
* You have eternal security, but life is vanity.
* You have a home in Heaven, but life is vanity.
* You have a God Who answers prayer, but life is vanity.
* You have every good thing which God can give, but life is vanity.- Instead of being a grumpy, complaining, sour-faced old Christian, why not learn to rejoice in the light, and put on the attitude of gratitude.
2. Remember the darkness. - Ecclesiastes 11:8
"But if a man live many years, and rejoice in them all; yet let him remember the days of darkness; for they shall be many. All that cometh is vanity."
- Solomon does speak here of length of years, and he says that a man should rejoice in all of them. But in his rejoicing, he should remember also the days of darkness.
- Billy Sunday said that you can't love flowers without hating weeds. It is always darkest before dawn. Perhaps many Christians don't rejoice in the light because they're not appreciative of the lessons learned in the dark.
- Hard times and dark days come to all. Rain falls on the just and the unjust alike. Solomon taught us that both good and evil happen to the righteous and the ungodly.
- Learn from the dark days so that you can be a better Christian. Has God ever allowed darkness into your life? Has He ever allowed a trial? Has He ever allowed a difficult time? If God has privileged you with these blessings, learn from them, and come out better on the other side.
- Yes, as has been already stated, we should rejoice in the light, but we should be careful not to forget the blessings that come only in the darkness.
3. Rejoice in your youth. - Ecclesiastes 11:9a
"Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes..."
- Perhaps this verse should be directed straightly at the young people of Timberline Baptist Church. Solomon admonishes you here to rejoice in your youth.
- It might be interesting to note here that the "young man" mentioned is not just any old youth, rather he is a "chosen" youth, implying strength and beauty.
- When I hear this verse, I am reminded of our own youth. God has put His hand on many of our youth throughout these years. God chose them and called them for His personal service. This is the kind of youth mentioned in verse 9.
- As a chosen youth, as a youth chosen and blessed of God, Solomon says to enjoy your growing-up years. A child surrendered to God and chosen of Him can have a full and rewarding life living for God.
- Solomon found no reason to rejoice when, as a chosen young man, he stepped out of the will of God. Rejoicing does not come through rebellion; rejoicing comes through obedience.
- Solomon is not teaching his people to live like they want and live-it-up and "go for all the gusto they can." He is saying that rejoicing must be a qualified rejoicing by staying in the will of God.
- Often, a rebellious youth will accuse his God-fearing and loving parents of not wanting him to be happy. He will say that rules and restrictions keep him from being himself and being happy. Yet Solomon says that rejoicing can only really be done by a youth who chooses the will of God.
- Solomon knew what it was to have everything that his heart could wish for, but he knew the curse of having those things outside the will of God.
- One songwriter years ago said, "...I saw all the people of the world living happily in the land of their own imagination." A rebellious world only appears to be rejoicing in what they have; however, at the end, the lifestyle they have chosen "...biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder."
4. Remember the judgment. - Ecclesiastes 11:9
"Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment."
- This is the qualification for rejoicing in thy youth. So much of life is lived with reckless abandon. The world and its ways are enjoyed to the fullest with no thought of what the morrow may bring.
- They say, "You only go around once in life." It is this phrase which inspires people to live like they want and do as they please. This philosophy causes many to live with little or no regard for the future.
- Solomon says to have fun, but, remember, you will stand before God with your choices.
- As a youth, you had better be mindful of what your actions will bring in the future. I have heard young people say throughout these years, "Well, I'm a teenager, and I'm supposed to have fun." They will say things like, "Well, I'm a teenager, what would you expect."
- Being a teenager does not give you the right to live a reckless life. As a chosen vessel, you had better be mindful of the choices you make. The choices you make now will determine how God uses you later. Oh, be careful how you choose!
- Wrong decisions do not come without penalty, and being a teenager, does not exempt you from the consequences of bad choices.* Always remember that the tears of old age can never wash away the mistakes of youth.
Conclusion: Finally, Solomon says, "Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity." (Ecclesiastes 11:10) Childhood and youth are vanity unless you put away from you the evil that will take away all of your rejoicing. Solomon lived his life away from God and lost the blessing of God for many, many years. His foolish decisions cost him more than he ever though he'd have to pay. Now, as an old man, he says to the next generation, "Do not make the same mistakes that I have made." While we rejoice in the light, we must remember the darkness; and while we rejoice in our youth, we must remember the judgment. Put away from you that evil which will take away the sweetness of God's blessing!