As we come to the end of Ecclesiastes, we notice a marked difference in content and mood.  Since the book started out reporting the results of searching for "life" under the sun, a fair amount of pessimism prevailed.  Life without a transcendent reference point does in fact seem meaningless and it is filled with enigmas.  As the truth about life without God is unveiled and the options minimized we begin to see some practices of wisdom and the fruit of life with God.  In the 11th chapter we'll study the subject of diligence.  Granted, the word diligence is never used but the concept is sure clear.  If chapter 10 was a summary of the "two ways", chapter 11 is an example of how the way of wisdom is worked out through diligence.  This is consistent with Solomon's proverbs and Jesus' conclusion in the Sermon on the Mount.  A wise person cannot be a "couch potato."  A wise person realizes he is in a great partnership with the Creator of the Universe and desires to be active in what He is doing.  Sloth and inordinate leisure are incompatible with a life of wisdom.  We learned earlier that a life of constant work is also incompatible with faith in God.  So, diligence includes rest, recreation and sabbath.   Diligence has a number of benefits, especially for "young people."  The wise will take it to heart.  Take a look at 2 Peter 1:5-8 for a New Testament "spin" on this subject.  

Watch out blogosphere, I'm back.  I haven't written for a number of weeks and didn't know if anybody missed me (sniffle).  I was encouraged by a number of people mentioning that they enjoyed reading the blog before Sunday to "whet their appetite" for the sermon.  So, you few, you know who you are, thanks and here ya go...

A major Bible theme often overlooked and therefore under-rated is the paradigm of "two ways."  Maybe it is too simple and too obvious so people don't see a need to mention it but it is remarkable how many times we read of people in the Bible narrative facing a choice.  Not a choice between real beef hot dogs and turkey hot dogs...that's a no-brainer.  I'm talking about a wise choice or a foolish choice.  The wise choice is the choice for life and the foolish choice results in despair, dysfunction and even destruction.  Our parents faced a "tree choice", their children faced a "sacrifice choice", every generation faces choices about believing God or following their own ways.  Starting with Moses, the prophets laid out the options...life or death!  Jesus spoke of two ways, two trees and two foundations.  The apostles grieved over the foolish choices of people that abandoned God's ways and even named some of them as a warning.  Revelation is filled with illustrations of the two ways.  So, what does this have to do with Ecclesiastes?  Good question, I'm glad you asked.  The Preacher is getting closer and closer to the grand finale and having cleared away the foolishness of empty pursuits he gives us some characteristics and consequences of foolish living.  Of course we will all know someone who fits the description but what about us?  Jesus did say we should get the log out of our own eye before we attempt to get the speck out of someone else's eye.  Do we have any tendencies toward foolishness?  What would it look like and what will happen?  Ecclesiastes 10 has some answers, I hope you can listen and learn and do what is declared in the Word of the Lord.