Matthew Henry Commentary Ecclesiastes 11
Matthew Henry Commentary
Ecclesiastes 11
Matthew Henry Commentary
Ecclesiastes 11
"Cast thy bread upon the waters; for thou shalt find it after many days. Give a portion to seven, yea, even unto eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth. If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth; and if a tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there shall it be. He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap. As thou knowest not what is the way of the wind, [nor] how the bones [do grow] in the womb of her that is with child; even so thou knowest not the work of God who doeth all. In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thy hand; for thou knowest not which shall prosper, whether this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good." — Ecclesiastes 11:1-6 (ASV)
Solomon presses the rich to do good to others. Give freely, though it may seem thrown away and lost. Give to many. Do not excuse yourself with the good you have done, from the good you still have to do. It is not lost, but well invested.
We have reason to expect evil, for we are born to trouble; it is wisdom to do good in the day of prosperity. Riches cannot profit us, if we do not benefit others. Every person must labor to be a blessing to that place where the providence of God casts them.
Wherever we are, we may find good work to do, if we only have the heart to do it. If we magnify every little difficulty, raise objections, and imagine hardships, we will never go on, much less go through with our work. Winds and clouds of tribulation are, in God's hands, designed to test us.
God's work will agree with his word, whether we see it or not. And we may well trust God to provide for us, without our anxious, disquieting cares. Be not weary in well-doing, for in due season, in God's time, you shall reap (Galatians 6:9).
"Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun. Yea, if a man live many years, let him rejoice in them all; but let him remember the days of darkness, for they shall be many. All that cometh is vanity. 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 thy heart, and in the sight of thine eyes; but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment. Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh; for youth and the dawn of life are vanity." — Ecclesiastes 11:7-10 (ASV)
Life is sweet to bad men, because they have their portion in this life; it is sweet to good men, because it is the time of preparation for a better; it is sweet to all. Here is a caution to think of death, even when life is most sweet. Solomon makes an affecting address to young persons.
They would desire opportunity to pursue every pleasure. Then follow your desires, but be assured that God will call you into judgment. How many give free rein to every appetite and rush into every vicious pleasure! But God registers every one of their sinful thoughts and desires, their idle words and wicked words. If they would avoid remorse and terror, if they would have hope and comfort on a dying bed, if they would escape misery here and hereafter, let them remember the vanity of youthful pleasures.
That Solomon means to condemn the pleasures of sin is evident. His object is to draw the young to purer and more lasting joys. This is not the language of one grudging youthful pleasures because he can no longer partake of them; but of one who has, by a miracle of mercy, been brought back in safety. He would persuade the young from trying a course from which so few return.
If the young would live a life of true happiness, if they would secure happiness hereafter, let them remember their Creator in the days of their youth.
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