Ecclesiastes 11
“Be generous and don’t hoard, for you don’t know when the stock market will crash. Take circumstances as they come, be what may, and don’t wait around for everything to look just right before you act; otherwise, you never will. (Or, if you wait for all the stop lights to turn green, you will never start your grand road trip.)” That’s how I would paraphrase Ecc. 11:1-4. Again we get good advice from the Preacher for living in the real — and broken — world.
And that good advice continues in Ecc. 11:5-10, but it seems to me that the use of the word “vanity” to translate the Hebrew “hebel” leads us astray a bit, perhaps more so in this chapter than elsewhere. Remember that “hebel” refers to a vapor or mist, a passing breath. So I think the notion of ephemorality is closer to the mark than the idea of uselessness or futility. Consider, for example, the two verses in today’s reading where the ESV uses “vanity”, but changing “vanity” to “brief”:
So if a person lives many years, let him rejoice in them all; but let him remember that the days of darkness will be many. All that comes is brief.
Ecclesiastes 11:8,10
…
Remove vexation from your heart, and put away pain from your body, for youth and the dawn of life are brief.
I think that comes closer to the Preacher‘s intent than the dead end that “vanity” might imply.
Youth is wasted on the young.
George Bernard Shaw, kind of, maybe?
No, that’s not from today’s reading, but it fits, and so the Preacher‘s advice is not to squander your youth, but to live well while you can. (Oh, sorry, too late for that, huh?!) And Saint Paul agrees:
Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.
Ephesians 5:15,16
Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time.
Colossians 4:5
So how about us? Perhaps we are no longer young (except in light of eternity!), but are we nonetheless making the best use of the time we have? Or are we persisting in pursuing those things that are vanity and a striving after wind?
I agree with you John, using “brief” does clarify things for me.
I saw a post on Facebook today: “Every time you get upset at something ask yourself if you were to die tomorrow, was it worth wasting your time being angry?” It reminded me that most of the things that make me angry are a waste of what’s left of my time on earth. Like getting mad like I did Thursday because it was so painfully cold, instead of appreciating warm clothes, warm cars, warm shelters, etc. The Preacher is asking us to choose wisely.
The economist, church treasurer in me sees Ecclesiastes 11:2, Divide your portion to seven, or even to eight, for you do not know what misfortune may occur on the earth. In long-term investing we teach diversification. That’s what verse 2 is saying.
Don’t waste time, nor resources. Time runs out too soon for most; resources sometimes run out before one’s expiration date. Enjoy each day but maintain that ‘rainy day’ fund!
Hope everyone enjoys a wonderful Thanksgiving with lots of family and love.
I also liked Ecclesiastes 11:9: Rejoice, young man, during your childhood, and let your heart be pleasant during the days of young manhood. And follow the impulses of your heart and the desires of your eyes. Yet know that God will bring you to judgment for all these things. Essentially, do what you wish, but make good choices. You won’t “get away” with anything ill-conceived.
I initially read Ecc. 11:9 the same way, Fred, but after acknowledging “Be careful how you party!” as a possible reading, David Gibson in Living Life Backward (p. 136) offers a different take. He recognizes that God delights in our enjoyment of His good gifts — and will hold us accountable for our failure to enjoy them. Obviously, we should not take that as an endorsement of hedonism, but we should recognize that we dour Christians have a tendency to throw cold water on any number of things that we really ought to gratefully enjoy to the full. Something to chew on!