So, how are we to deal with corruption in the world?
Ecclesiastes 11:1 Cast your bread on the waters; for you shall find it after many days. 2 Give a portion to seven, yes, even to eight;
for you don’t know what evil will be on the earth.
Today we have a saying that teaches the same truth as Cast your bread on the waters: “Don’t put all of your eggs in one basket.” In other words diversify your investments of both time and treasure. And just like it is wise to diversify your financial investments, it is wise to invest in others. Don’t hoard your time or your wealth. Look at Paul:
You yourselves know that these hands served my own needs and the men who were with me. In everything I showed you that by working hard in this way you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” Acts 20:34-35
When he was able, Paul served the needs of the Christian community. He worked hard to help the weak and the impoverished. In his many letters we see that he prayed for and constantly encouraged those that God placed in his path. And in turn, when the authorities arrested Paul and placed him in prison, the community that he had served came to his aid. He had cast [his] bread on many waters… [giving] a portion to seven, yes, even to eight, and when evil came for him the Christian community rallied to help him. Philippians 4:16, 2 Corinthians 7:6, 2 Timothy 4:11, Romans 16
Ecclesiastes 11:3 If the clouds are full of rain, they empty themselves on the earth;
and if a tree falls toward the south, or toward the north,
in the place where the tree falls, there shall it be.
4 He who observes the wind won’t sow;
and he who regards the clouds won’t reap.
5 As you don’t know what is the way of the wind,
nor how the bones grow in the womb of her who is with child;
even so you don’t know the work of God who does all.
There are many things that are unknown to us. Our meteorologists cannot even get the weather forecast correct from day to day. They hardly know what is the way of the wind. We don’t understand the process of how all of the vast information contained in the human DNA instructs all of the processes of life, including how the bones grow in the womb.
But here is what we do know for sure; everything is directed by the work of God.
And because there is a God who has communicated with us in his Word we are to work hard, admire the beauty of the creation, and rejoice in all of the years that God has given us.
Ecclesiastes 11:6 In the morning sow your seed,
and in the evening don’t withhold your hand;
for you don’t know which will prosper, whether this or that,
or whether they both will be equally good.
7 Truly the light is sweet,
and it is a pleasant thing for the eyes to see the sun.
8 Yes, if a man lives many years, let him rejoice in them all;
but let him remember the days of darkness, for they shall be many.
All that comes is vanity.
9 Rejoice, young man, in your youth,
and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth,
and walk in the ways of your heart,
and in the sight of your eyes;
but know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.
10 Therefore remove sorrow from your heart,
and put away evil from your flesh;
for youth and the dawn of life are vanity.
Many people, but especially the young, thinking that God is a cosmic killjoy, seek meaning and pleasure under the sun.
God is not a cosmic killjoy. I know some people who believe he is. They think God runs around saying, “There’s one having fun; get him!” They believe God wants to rain on everybody’s parade. But that isn’t so. God made you. He knows how you operate best. And he knows what makes you happy. The happiness he gives doesn’t stop when the party’s over. It lasts because it comes from deep within. John MacArthur, You Can Trust the Bible, Moody Press
We are to live full and joyful lives but living with gusto does not mean living selfish, evil, and self-indulgent lives.
Instead you are to work hard at all you do. Don’t withhold your hand.
Why?
For you don’t know which [project] will prosper.
Our existence is to be more than the drudgery of work with blinders on. God wants us to appreciate the beauty of his creation. The light is sweet, and it is a pleasant thing for the eyes to see the sun and to rejoice in all of the years that God has granted us here on earth.
Don’t focus on or fear the evil that the foolish bring on the world. Don’t fear living under the rule of corrupt and foolish kings and princes. Instead rejoice in the beauty that God has given. Rejoice in life. Rejoice in the free gift of salvation that God has given you. God wants his children to live under heaven. Because we know that life doesn’t end in death, we are able to enjoy life, living lives of gratitude, honoring our Creator. We are to live to the fullest.