Rev. David Holwick F Ecclesiastes Series
First Baptist Church
Ledgewood, New Jersey
February 9, 1997
Ecclesiastes 11:1-6
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I. How much risk can you stomach?
A. A momentous decision.
Pizarro and his men were isolated on the Island del Gallo,
Columbia.
He was on his second expedition and his troops were turning on
him.
After the governor heard their claim that Pizarro was a
"slaughterer," he sent a ship and ordered that any man who
wanted to leave that crazy venture should be allowed to go.
Pizarro was tall, well built, and quite handsome, but he must
then have been gaunt, weather-beaten, and raggedly dressed.
Normally a man of few words, Pizarro became eloquent.
He was convinced that a rich empire lay to the south.
He therefore used his sword to draw a line in the black, pebbly
sand and challenged his men to cross it and stay with him:
"Comrades and friends, THERE lies the part that represents death,
hardship, hunger, nakedness, rains, and abandonment;
this side represents comfort.
Here you return to Panama to be poor;
THERE, you may go on to Peru to be rich.
CHOOSE WHICH BEST BECOMES YOU AS GOOD SPANIARDS!"
Only 13 men crossed the line.
But to their contemporaries they became "the 13 of glory."
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B. We like "sure things."
1) Most people feel insecure taking risks.
2) But without risk, great things are missed.
3) Christians should be the greatest risk-takers on earth.
II. Cast your bread. 11:1-2
A. A common misinterpretation - charity.
1) Give to others, and they will give back to you.
2) Verse 2 also alludes to this.
B. More likely, reference is to the sea trade.
1) "Cast" really means "send forth," as with a grain ship.
a) Solomon was noted for his trade ventures. 1 Kg 9:26
2) "Bread" is sometimes equivalent to possessions. (9:11)
C. Dividing up portions (11:2) refers to diversifying.
1) All your eggs aren't in one basket.
2) Example of Jacob and caravan. Genesis 32:3 ff
III. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
A. We have to take reasonable chances in life.
1) In an uncertain world, we cannot crawl in a hole.
2) Risk has to be balanced.
a) [ie, diversification]
b) Be wise but shrewd.
3) Investing Rebecca's college fund.
a) (Nothing left for the others)
b) Safe or sexy?
c) Our prayer that Paraguay's economy skyrockets.
4) Spiritual investing: Parable of the talents. Matt 25:15ff
B. Ventures of faith.
1) [motto of NJ Baptists - new office]
2) Genuine faith requires great risk.
When Abraham Lincoln was president he didn't go to church
regularly on Sunday because his presence was rather
disruptive.
Instead, he often went to the Wednesday night service at the
New York Avenue Presbyterian Church.
He usually sat in the pastor's study with the door open so
that he could hear the service in relative seclusion.
On one such night, he brought a White House aide with him.
Walking back home, the aide asked the president how he
liked the sermon.
"I thought it was well-thought through, powerfully delivered
and very eloquent," was Lincoln's reply.
"Oh," continued the aide, "you thought it was a great sermon."
"No," the president said, "it failed. It failed because
Dr. Gurley did not ask us to do something great."
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a) I do not want to be a failure as a pastor.
b) Burned-out pastor challenged me in seminary.
What was my goal in the ministry?
(He expected me to say I would build a big church.)
Instead, I said I wanted to be faithful, and equip
my people to be faithful.
c) My effectiveness will be determined by your changed lives.
C. What great thing would God have you to do?
1) Something great you have to do: repent and commit
yourself to Jesus.
a) Salvation might be a risky proposition for you.
1> Ridicule by friends.
2> Give up fun (sin) for nothing??
3> Self-doubt about truth of gospel.
b) Jesus asks for everything.
Jim Elliot, a missionary martyred in a jungle in South
America, wrote in his diary:
"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain
what he cannot lose."
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Elliot is actually alluding to Jesus:
"What does it profit a man to gain whole world and
lose his soul?" Mark 8:36
2) Overcome a habitual sin.
3) Take leadership on a great moral concern.
4) See that your entire family believes in Jesus.
a) We can't just assume they believe because we drag them
to church.
5) Answer the call to missions.
IV. Know the limitations. 11:3
A. There are no guarantees.
1) Risk doesn't necessarily end in loss.
2) Diversification doesn't necessarily guarantee safety.
a) Disaster can still come. 11:2
3) Some outcomes are beyond our control.
B. Nature seems to have a mind of its own.
1) Clouds rain when they're ready. 11:3
a) (same with snow!)
2) Trees fall where they will.
a) We cannot focus on what we cannot change. 11:4
b) Work instead.
C. God has his own will.
1) Science is wonderful but cannot fathom simple miracles
like birth. 11:5
2) God's ways are beyond our ways.
a) Can lead to discouragement.
b) But can also build our faith.
1> He is much smarter than we are, and knows best.
2> "Wind" - Jesus also compared the mystery about
wind with the mystery of God.
His Spirit touches people in ways we cannot
understand.
D. When in doubt, go to work. 11:6
1) The true response to uncertainty is redoubling your efforts.
2) Risk doesn't have to mean immobilization.
V. There is security with God.
A. Are you secure?
1) In Ecclesiastes, a great chasm exists between us and God.
a) A human perspective on life is always insecure.
2) Our only security is in Jesus.
a) He promises to keep those who commit to him.
b) He will not break his promises.
B. Disasters have no influence on our glorious outcome. Rom 8:31ff
1) God's plans are not bound by natural (and unnatural) events.
2) Therefore live boldly.
In 1521 Martin Luther, the founder of the Protestant
Reformation, wrote a letter to Philip Melancthon.
Philip was accused of sin because of doctrinal positions he
was taking in following Luther.
Naturally he felt guilty because of the divisive controversy.
Philip's way of handling it was to not speak out much for
reform.
Luther's answer is a classic: "Sin boldly!"
Or in his full sentence, "Sin boldly, but believe and
rejoice in Christ more boldly still."
Luther was taunting young Philip.
"If you are preaching a true and not a fictitious grace,
you must bear a true and not a fictitious sin,"
irreverent Luther wrote his young friend.
"God does not save fictitious sinners.
You are a mighty sinner, Philip - sin boldly!
Pray boldly, too."
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