There was once an elderly gentleman

There was once an elderly gentleman who loved playing golf. But he was almost eighty, and his vision was not very good anymore. He always had partners with him when he went out to play so they could watch his ball and tell him where it went. One day his buddies did not show up. It was a beautiful day for golf, and as he waited at the clubhouse he got more and more upset that he wasn’t going to get to play his round. Another elderly man in the clubhouse saw him and asked, “What’s wrong?” The man explained his predicament: “I was really looking forward to playing golf today. But I don’t see very well anymore, so I need someone to watch the ball after I hit.” The second man was even older than he was, but he said, “That’s no problem. I’ll be glad to ride around with you. I’ve got 20/20 vision. I can see like a hawk. You just hit the ball, and I’ll watch it fly right down the fairway.” So they went out on the first tee, and the old man hit the ball right down the center. He turned to his spotter. “Did you see it?” The man replied, “I saw it all the way until it stopped rolling.” “Well, where did it go?” The older man paused for a moment and then said, “I forgot.”

Even the best-laid plans don’t always work out—that’s a reality we all have to face every day. So how should you live when you’re not sure how things are going to turn out? Solomon says, “Don’t play it safe—take risks.” In other words, you have to live confidently. You can’t hide just because life won’t cooperate. Don’t avoid blessings because of the concerns that come with them. Don’t say, “I can’t get married. What if difficult struggles come up between me and my mate?” Or, “I can’t have children. How will I know they won’t be born with a birth defect?” Or, “I can’t start a business. What if it folds?” Or I can’t join the military. I might get deployed.”422 God wants you to step out in faith and take risks. He yearns for us to stop playing it safe. In Eccl 11:1-6, Solomon will pass on two insider tips that will help us to take some risks and avoid playing it safe.
1. Diversify your investments (11:1-2).423

It may surprise you that Solomon offers financial counsel as he nears the end of Ecclesiastes. Yet, this book is down and dirty, nitty-gritty relevant to our earthly lives. Thus, in these first two verses Solomon says, “Since life is so uncertain, spread your financial investments out.” In 11:1 he writes, “Cast your bread on the surface of the waters, for you will find it after many days.” What in the world does this peculiar verse mean? Perhaps you’re like me and in your mind a number of thoughts arise. Cast your bread on the surface of the waters…and it will return to you soggy or moldy…and the seagulls will eat it…and your mother will be mad at you for playing with your food.424 These bizarre notions should cause us to ask the question, “What is Solomon’s point?” I would suggest that the word “cast”425 is better rendered “send” (NRSV).426 This verb refers to the commercial enterprises of sea trade.427 Furthermore, the term “bread” refers to grain and wheat from which bread is produced.428

Solomon was deeply involved in international trade with countless merchants.429 Then as now, one of the main trade commodities was grain. The merchants of Solomon’s day would load their grain ships and send them off. The Israelites were “casting [their] bread upon the water.” But notice that with Solomon, the word is plural: “cast your bread on the waters.” In other words, don’t put all your grain in one ship. Put your wheat in several ships, and send it out in a diversified way so that if one of the ships should sink, you’ll not be ruined.430 In others words, “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.” Diversify your portfolio.

Instead of putting your grain in a boat and sending it off, you could keep it and make bread. That would be a safe bet since you would retain control of your grain and your bread. But that’s all you would have. Obviously, when you send grain that you own across the sea you are taking a risk. You may never see it or any return again. There are various risks like pirates, shipwrecks, and unscrupulous traders. Yet, there are also prospects of receiving back a dividend. It has been said, “A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for.”431 The truth is, any kind of investing requires faith. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. No risk, no reward. So Solomon says, “Don’t play it safe—take risks.”

The thought of 11:1 is repeated and unfolded in 11:2. As is often done in the Scriptures, the case is first stated in a figure to grab our attention, and then a plain literal statement is given to avoid all possibility of misunderstanding. So 11:2 is a commentary on 11:1. Solomon puts it like this: “Divide your portion to seven, or even to eight, for you do not know what misfortune may occur on the earth.” Here Solomon clearly encourages us to diversity our investments. The phrase “to seven or even to eight” is the Old Testament pattern of x + 1.432 Solomon speaks of trying every avenue there is and then adding one more. The reason for dividing your portion is “you do not know what misfortune433 may occur on the earth.” The stock market could drop, the value of your house could plummet, Social Security could run out, and Medicare may be insufficient. Any number of financial misfortunes could, and most likely will, occur. In light of this, you and I must prepare to the best of our abilities. The phrase “you do not know” is found four times in 11:2-6. This has been a common theme throughout Ecclesiastes (cf. 1:13; 3:10, 11; 8:17). God and His works and ways cannot be completely known by fallen mankind, but we can trust Him because of what we do know!

God’s expectation is that we will invest our money wisely. Perhaps all of your money has been in the bank and you are barely drawing interest. You may need to consider purchasing stocks or a rental home. You may need to enroll your kids in the GET program (Guaranteed Education Tuition).434 Do not commit all of one’s possessions to a single venture. Look for the best means of investing the money that the Lord has entrusted to you. But don’t fall for any get-rich-quick schemes or multi-level marketing businesses. Before you know it, you’ve spent all of your money.

The biblical view comes down to this: Since God alone knows the future, we ought to make our plans, use our brains, study the situation, take all factors into consideration, seek wise counsel, do the best we can, and then leave the results to God. Don’t be reckless—that’s the path of certain ruin; but don’t sit on your hands either. Invest your money, take your chances, sleep like a baby, and let God take care of the future.435 Don’t play it safe—take risks.

[Why should you diversify your investments? Because you don’t know what will happen in the future. This reality will be especially drawn out in the following section where Solomon says…]
2. Seize your opportunities (11:3-6).

In this section,Solomon says that we cannot delay our course of action. We must “seize the day”—Carpe Deim. In 11:3-5, Solomon gives observations concerning the way things are, while in 11:6 he gives the practical application—the “so what” of the passage. In 11:3 Solomon writes, “If the clouds are full, they pour out rain upon the earth; and whether a tree falls toward the south or toward the north, wherever the tree falls, there it lies.” Humans experience, but cannot predict or control, the events of their lives (a recurrent theme in Ecclesiastes). We need to distinguish between those things about which we can do nothing and those about which we can. Since we cannot stop nature’s patterns (when it rains or where a tree falls), we had better work on finding something else to do.436 The point is simple: Don’t waste your time with God’s affairs! “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof” (Ps 24:1 KJV). Let God be God; He can concern Himself with His responsibilities. When we do that, we will realize all that we have to concern ourselves with.

In 11:4 Solomon writes, “He who watches the wind will not sow and he who looks at the clouds will not reap.” This proverb criticizes those who are overly cautious. The farmer who waits for the most opportune moment to plant, when there is no wind to blow away the seed, and to reap, when there is no rain to ruin a ripe harvest, will never do anything but sit around waiting for the right moment. And so, the seed stays in the barn. Solomon exhorts us not to be like this farmer. Don’t wait for conditions to be perfect, because that will never happen. It is true that the wind and rain might come and destroy the harvest. Today’s work might be ruined and you might have to do it over again tomorrow. But that’s okay. Today’s work might succeed as well as tomorrow’s. And if so, then you will be able to reap the rewards for both. Don’t play it safe—take risks.

There is no time better than the present to step out in faith. So stop procrastinating! Be diligent constantly.437 If we wait until we “have time” to do something we never will. The “perfect opportunity” begins now—while we still can.438 Don’t put what God has placed in your heart off another day. There is no perfect time to have kids. We never have enough money, energy, or patience. Once you have children, don’t wait for the right time to spend time with them. Before you know it, your kids will be all grown up. If you are married, don’t wait for your husband or wife to be all that you want. Begin pouring your life into your spouse now. Don’t wait until you have spare time, more money, or better health. If you are a student, seek to accomplish all of your dreams today. Don’t settle for settled-for Christianity. If you are not currently ministering, get involved today. If we wait until we’re less busy, until we feel right, until

Hasil (Bahasa Indonesia) 1:

Pernah ada seorang pria tua yang senang bermain golf. Tapi dia hampir delapan puluh, dan visinya tidak baik lagi. Dia selalu memiliki mitra dengan dia ketika ia pergi untuk bermain sehingga mereka bisa menonton bola dan katakan padanya di mana ia pergi. Hari satu teman-temannya tidak muncul. Itu adalah hari yang indah untuk golf, dan ketika dia menunggu di clubhouse dia mendapat lebih banyak dan lebih marah bahwa ia tidak akan mendapatkan untuk bermain bulat. Laki-laki tua lain di clubhouse melihatnya dan bertanya, "Apa salah?" Laki-laki menjelaskan keadaan Nya: "saya benar-benar berharap untuk bermain golf hari ini. "Tapi saya tidak melihat dengan baik lagi, jadi saya membutuhkan seseorang untuk menonton bola setelah aku memukul." Kedua pria itu bahkan lebih tua daripada dia, tetapi ia berkata, "itu tidak masalah. Aku akan senang untuk berkeliling dengan Anda. Aku punya visi 20/20. Aku bisa melihat seperti elang. Anda hanya memukul bola, dan saya akan menonton itu terbang ke jaluran pelayaran." Jadi mereka pergi pada tee pertama, dan orang tua memukul bola tepat di tengah-tengah. Ia berpaling kepada pengintai nya. "Apakah Anda melihat itu?" Tetapi orang itu menjawab, "Aku melihatnya sepanjang jalan sampai berhenti bergulir." "Yah, itu ke mana?" Laki-laki remaja terdiam sejenak dan kemudian berkata, "Aku lupa."Bahkan meletakkan rencana terbaik tidak selalu berhasil — itulah kenyataan yang kita semua harus menghadapi setiap hari. Jadi bagaimana Anda harus hidup ketika Anda tidak yakin bagaimana hal-hal akan berubah? Salomo berkata, "Jangan bermain aman-mengambil risiko." Dengan kata lain, Anda harus hidup dengan penuh percaya diri. Anda tidak dapat menyembunyikan hanya karena hidup tidak akan bekerja sama. Jangan menghindari berkat karena kekhawatiran yang datang dengan mereka. Jangan berkata, "Aku tidak bisa menikah. Bagaimana jika perjuangan-perjuangan yang sulit datang antara saya dan pasangan saya?" Atau, "Aku tidak punya anak. Bagaimana saya tahu mereka tidak akan terlahir dengan cacat kelahiran?" Atau, "saya tidak bisa memulai sebuah bisnis. Bagaimana jika itu lipatan?" Atau saya tidak bisa bergabung dengan militer. Aku mungkin mendapatkan digunakan." 422 Tuhan ingin Anda untuk melangkah keluar dalam iman dan mengambil risiko. Ia merindukan kami untuk berhenti bermain aman. Dalam Eccl 11:1-6, Salomo akan menyampaikan dua insider tips yang akan membantu kita untuk mengambil risiko dan menghindari bermain aman.1. Diversifikasi investasi (11:1-2).423It may surprise you that Solomon offers financial counsel as he nears the end of Ecclesiastes. Yet, this book is down and dirty, nitty-gritty relevant to our earthly lives. Thus, in these first two verses Solomon says, “Since life is so uncertain, spread your financial investments out.” In 11:1 he writes, “Cast your bread on the surface of the waters, for you will find it after many days.” What in the world does this peculiar verse mean? Perhaps you’re like me and in your mind a number of thoughts arise. Cast your bread on the surface of the waters…and it will return to you soggy or moldy…and the seagulls will eat it…and your mother will be mad at you for playing with your food.424 These bizarre notions should cause us to ask the question, “What is Solomon’s point?” I would suggest that the word “cast”425 is better rendered “send” (NRSV).426 This verb refers to the commercial enterprises of sea trade.427 Furthermore, the term “bread” refers to grain and wheat from which bread is produced.428Solomon was deeply involved in international trade with countless merchants.429 Then as now, one of the main trade commodities was grain. The merchants of Solomon’s day would load their grain ships and send them off. The Israelites were “casting [their] bread upon the water.” But notice that with Solomon, the word is plural: “cast your bread on the waters.” In other words, don’t put all your grain in one ship. Put your wheat in several ships, and send it out in a diversified way so that if one of the ships should sink, you’ll not be ruined.430 In others words, “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.” Diversify your portfolio.Instead of putting your grain in a boat and sending it off, you could keep it and make bread. That would be a safe bet since you would retain control of your grain and your bread. But that’s all you would have. Obviously, when you send grain that you own across the sea you are taking a risk. You may never see it or any return again. There are various risks like pirates, shipwrecks, and unscrupulous traders. Yet, there are also prospects of receiving back a dividend. It has been said, “A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for.”431 The truth is, any kind of investing requires faith. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. No risk, no reward. So Solomon says, “Don’t play it safe—take risks.”The thought of 11:1 is repeated and unfolded in 11:2. As is often done in the Scriptures, the case is first stated in a figure to grab our attention, and then a plain literal statement is given to avoid all possibility of misunderstanding. So 11:2 is a commentary on 11:1. Solomon puts it like this: “Divide your portion to seven, or even to eight, for you do not know what misfortune may occur on the earth.” Here Solomon clearly encourages us to diversity our investments. The phrase “to seven or even to eight” is the Old Testament pattern of x + 1.432 Solomon speaks of trying every avenue there is and then adding one more. The reason for dividing your portion is “you do not know what misfortune433 may occur on the earth.” The stock market could drop, the value of your house could plummet, Social Security could run out, and Medicare may be insufficient. Any number of financial misfortunes could, and most likely will, occur. In light of this, you and I must prepare to the best of our abilities. The phrase “you do not know” is found four times in 11:2-6. This has been a common theme throughout Ecclesiastes (cf. 1:13; 3:10, 11; 8:17). God and His works and ways cannot be completely known by fallen mankind, but we can trust Him because of what we do know!God’s expectation is that we will invest our money wisely. Perhaps all of your money has been in the bank and you are barely drawing interest. You may need to consider purchasing stocks or a rental home. You may need to enroll your kids in the GET program (Guaranteed Education Tuition).434 Do not commit all of one’s possessions to a single venture. Look for the best means of investing the money that the Lord has entrusted to you. But don’t fall for any get-rich-quick schemes or multi-level marketing businesses. Before you know it, you’ve spent all of your money.The biblical view comes down to this: Since God alone knows the future, we ought to make our plans, use our brains, study the situation, take all factors into consideration, seek wise counsel, do the best we can, and then leave the results to God. Don’t be reckless—that’s the path of certain ruin; but don’t sit on your hands either. Invest your money, take your chances, sleep like a baby, and let God take care of the future.435 Don’t play it safe—take risks.[Why should you diversify your investments? Because you don’t know what will happen in the future. This reality will be especially drawn out in the following section where Solomon says…]2. Seize your opportunities (11:3-6).In this section,Solomon says that we cannot delay our course of action. We must “seize the day”—Carpe Deim. In 11:3-5, Solomon gives observations concerning the way things are, while in 11:6 he gives the practical application—the “so what” of the passage. In 11:3 Solomon writes, “If the clouds are full, they pour out rain upon the earth; and whether a tree falls toward the south or toward the north, wherever the tree falls, there it lies.” Humans experience, but cannot predict or control, the events of their lives (a recurrent theme in Ecclesiastes). We need to distinguish between those things about which we can do nothing and those about which we can. Since we cannot stop nature’s patterns (when it rains or where a tree falls), we had better work on finding something else to do.436 The point is simple: Don’t waste your time with God’s affairs! “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof” (Ps 24:1 KJV). Let God be God; He can concern Himself with His responsibilities. When we do that, we will realize all that we have to concern ourselves with.In 11:4 Solomon writes, “He who watches the wind will not sow and he who looks at the clouds will not reap.” This proverb criticizes those who are overly cautious. The farmer who waits for the most opportune moment to plant, when there is no wind to blow away the seed, and to reap, when there is no rain to ruin a ripe harvest, will never do anything but sit around waiting for the right moment. And so, the seed stays in the barn. Solomon exhorts us not to be like this farmer. Don’t wait for conditions to be perfect, because that will never happen. It is true that the wind and rain might come and destroy the harvest. Today’s work might be ruined and you might have to do it over again tomorrow. But that’s okay. Today’s work might succeed as well as tomorrow’s. And if so, then you will be able to reap the rewards for both. Don’t play it safe—take risks.There is no time better than the present to step out in faith. So stop procrastinating! Be diligent constantly.437 If we wait until we “have time” to do something we never will. The “perfect opportunity” begins now—while we still can.438 Don’t put what God has placed in your heart off another day. There is no perfect time to have kids. We never have enough money, energy, or patience. Once you have children, don’t wait for the right time to spend time with them. Before you know it, your kids will be all grown up. If you are married, don’t wait for your husband or wife to be all that you want. Begin pouring your life into your spouse now. Don’t wait until you have spare time, more money, or better health. If you are a student, seek to accomplish all of your dreams today. Don’t settle for settled-for Christianity. If you are not currently ministering, get involved today. If we wait until we’re less busy, until we feel right, until

Hasil (Bahasa Indonesia) 2:

Ada sekali seorang pria tua yang senang bermain golf. Tapi ia hampir delapan puluh, dan visinya tidak sangat baik lagi. Dia selalu memiliki mitra dengan dia ketika dia pergi keluar untuk bermain sehingga mereka bisa menonton bola dan mengatakan kepadanya di mana ia pergi. Suatu hari teman-temannya tidak muncul. Ini adalah hari yang indah untuk golf, dan saat ia menunggu di clubhouse ia mendapat lebih banyak dan lebih marah bahwa dia tidak akan bisa bermain bundar. Pria tua lain di klub melihatnya dan bertanya, "Apa yang salah?" Orang itu menjelaskan kesulitannya: "Saya benar-benar melihat ke depan untuk bermain golf hari ini. Tapi saya tidak melihat dengan baik lagi, jadi saya membutuhkan seseorang untuk menonton bola setelah saya memukul. "Pria kedua bahkan lebih tua dari dia, tapi dia berkata," Itu tidak masalah. Aku akan senang untuk naik sekitar dengan Anda. Aku punya visi 20/20. Aku bisa melihat seperti elang. Anda hanya memukul bola, dan saya akan melihatnya terbang sampai fairway. "Jadi mereka pergi keluar di tee pertama, dan orang tua memukul bola sampai pusat. Dia berbalik ke spotter nya. "Apakah Anda melihat itu?" Orang itu menjawab, "Saya melihat semua jalan sampai berhenti bergulir." "Nah, di mana hasilnya?" Orang tua berhenti sejenak dan kemudian berkata, "Aku lupa." Bahkan rencana terbaik-meletakkan tidak selalu bekerja-itu adalah kenyataan kita semua harus menghadapi setiap hari. Jadi bagaimana seharusnya Anda tinggal ketika Anda tidak yakin bagaimana hal-hal akan berubah? Salomo mengatakan, "Jangan bermain aman-mengambil risiko." Dengan kata lain, Anda harus hidup dengan penuh percaya diri. Anda tidak dapat menyembunyikan hanya karena hidup tidak akan bekerja sama. Jangan menghindari berkat karena kekhawatiran yang datang dengan mereka. Jangan katakan, "Aku tidak bisa menikah. Bagaimana jika perjuangan sulit datang antara saya dan pasangan saya? "Atau," Saya tidak bisa punya anak. Bagaimana saya tahu mereka tidak akan lahir dengan cacat lahir? "Atau," Saya tidak bisa memulai bisnis. Bagaimana jika lipatan? "Atau saya tidak bisa bergabung dengan militer. Saya mungkin akan dikerahkan. "422 Allah ingin Anda untuk melangkah keluar dalam iman dan mengambil risiko. Dia merindukan kita untuk berhenti bermain aman. Dalam Pengkhotbah 11: 1-6, Salomo akan menyampaikan dua insider tips yang akan membantu kita untuk mengambil risiko dan menghindari bermain aman. 1. Diversifikasi investasi Anda (11: 1-2) 0,423 Ini mungkin mengejutkan Anda bahwa Salomo menawarkan nasihat keuangan saat ia mendekati akhir Pengkhotbah. Namun, buku ini adalah turun dan kotor, seluk-beluk relevan dengan kehidupan kita di dunia. Dengan demikian, di kedua ayat pertama Salomo mengatakan, "Karena hidup begitu pasti, menyebar investasi keuangan Anda keluar." Dalam 11: 1 ia menulis, "Cast roti Anda pada permukaan air, untuk Anda akan menemukan setelah beberapa hari . "Apa di dunia berarti ayat yang aneh ini? Mungkin Anda seperti saya dan dalam pikiran Anda sejumlah pengalaman muncul. Cast roti Anda pada permukaan air ... dan itu akan kembali kepada Anda basah atau berjamur ... dan burung-burung camar akan memakannya ... dan ibumu akan marah pada Anda untuk bermain dengan food.424 Anda ini gagasan aneh harus menyebabkan kita untuk meminta pertanyaan, "Apa titik Salomo?" Saya akan menyarankan bahwa kata "cor" 425 lebih baik diterjemahkan "kirim" (NRSV) 0,426 kerja ini mengacu pada perusahaan komersial laut trade.427 Selanjutnya, istilah "roti" mengacu pada gandum dan gandum yang roti produced.428 Solomon sangat terlibat dalam perdagangan internasional dengan merchants.429 tak terhitung jumlahnya Kemudian seperti sekarang, salah satu komoditas perdagangan utama gandum. Para pedagang hari Salomo akan memuat kapal sajiannya dan mengirim mereka. Bangsa Israel "pengecoran [mereka] roti di atas air." Tapi perhatikan bahwa dengan Salomo, kata jamak: "dilemparkan roti Anda pada perairan." Dengan kata lain, tidak menaruh semua biji-bijian dalam satu kapal. Masukan gandum di beberapa kapal, dan mengirimkannya dengan cara diversifikasi sehingga jika salah satu kapal harus tenggelam, Anda akan tidak ruined.430 kata lain, "Jangan menaruh semua telur Anda dalam satu keranjang." diversifikasi portofolio Anda. Alih-alih menempatkan gandum Anda di perahu dan mengirimnya off, Anda bisa menyimpannya dan membuat roti. Itu akan menjadi taruhan yang aman karena Anda akan mempertahankan kontrol dari gandum dan roti Anda. Tapi itu semua Anda akan memiliki. Jelas, ketika Anda mengirim biji-bijian yang memiliki seberang laut Anda mengambil risiko. Anda mungkin pernah melihat atau kembali lagi. Ada berbagai risiko seperti bajak laut, bangkai kapal, dan pedagang yang tidak bermoral. Namun, ada juga prospek menerima kembali dividen. Dikatakan, "Sebuah kapal di pelabuhan aman, tapi itu tidak apa kapal yang dibangun untuk." 431 Sebenarnya, setiap jenis investasi membutuhkan iman. Tidak ada yang berani, tidak diperoleh. Tidak ada resiko, tidak ada imbalan. Jadi Salomo mengatakan, "Jangan bermain aman-mengambil risiko." Pikiran 11: 1 diulang dan membuka di 11: 2. Seperti yang sering dilakukan dalam Kitab Suci, kasus ini pertama dinyatakan dalam angka untuk menarik perhatian kita, dan kemudian pernyataan literal biasa diberikan untuk menghindari semua kemungkinan kesalahpahaman. Jadi 11: 2 adalah sebuah komentar pada 11: 1. Salomo menempatkan seperti ini: "Bagilah porsi Anda sampai tujuh, atau bahkan delapan, karena engkau tidak tahu apa yang mungkin terjadi kemalangan di bumi." Di sini Salomo jelas mendorong kita untuk keragaman investasi kami. Ungkapan "untuk tujuh atau bahkan delapan" adalah pola Perjanjian Lama x + 1,432 Solomon berbicara tentang mencoba setiap jalan ada dan kemudian menambahkan satu lagi. Alasan untuk membagi porsi Anda adalah "Anda tidak tahu apa yang misfortune433 dapat terjadi di bumi." Pasar saham bisa drop, nilai rumah Anda bisa menurun, Jamsostek bisa habis, dan Medicare mungkin tidak cukup. Sejumlah kemalangan keuangan bisa, dan kemungkinan besar akan, terjadi. Dalam terang ini, Anda dan saya harus mempersiapkan diri untuk yang terbaik dari kemampuan kita. Ungkapan "Anda tidak tahu" ditemukan empat kali dalam 11: 2-6. Ini telah menjadi tema umum di seluruh Pengkhotbah (lih 1:13; 3:10, 11; 8:17). Allah dan karya-Nya dan cara-cara tidak dapat sepenuhnya diketahui oleh manusia yang jatuh, tetapi bisa kita percaya kepada-Nya karena apa yang kita tahu! harapan Allah adalah bahwa kita akan menginvestasikan uang kita dengan bijak. Mungkin semua uang Anda telah berada di bank dan Anda hampir tidak gambar bunga. Anda mungkin perlu mempertimbangkan untuk membeli saham atau rumah sewa. Anda mungkin perlu mendaftarkan anak-anak Anda dalam program GET (Dijamin Belajar Pendidikan) 0,434 Jangan melakukan semua harta seseorang untuk usaha tunggal. Carilah cara terbaik untuk menginvestasikan uang yang Tuhan telah dipercayakan kepada Anda. Tapi jangan jatuh untuk setiap skema kaya-cepat atau bisnis multi level marketing. . Sebelum Anda menyadarinya, Anda sudah menghabiskan semua uang Anda Pandangan alkitabiah datang ke ini: Sejak Tuhan yang tahu masa depan, kita seharusnya membuat rencana kami, menggunakan otak kita, mempelajari situasi, mengambil semua faktor menjadi pertimbangan, mencari nasihat bijak, melakukan yang terbaik yang kita bisa, dan kemudian menyerahkan hasilnya kepada Allah. Jangan sembrono-itulah jalan kehancuran tertentu; tapi tidak duduk di tangan Anda baik. Investasikan uang Anda, mengambil kesempatan Anda, tidur seperti bayi, dan biarkan Tuhan mengurus future.435 Jangan bermain aman-mengambil risiko. [Mengapa Anda harus diversifikasi investasi Anda? Karena Anda tidak tahu apa yang akan terjadi di masa depan. Kenyataan ini akan terutama ditarik keluar di bagian berikut mana Salomo mengatakan ...] 2. Menangkap peluang Anda (11: 3-6). Pada bagian ini, Salomo mengatakan bahwa kita tidak bisa menunda kursus kami tindakan. Kita harus "merebut hari" -Carpe Deim. Dalam 11: 3-5, Salomo memberikan pengamatan tentang cara hal-hal yang, sementara di 11: 6 dia memberikan aplikasi-praktis "jadi apa" dari bagian itu. Dalam 11: 3 Salomo menulis, "Jika awan penuh, mereka mencurahkan hujan di atas bumi; dan apakah pohon tumbang ke selatan atau ke arah utara, di mana pun pohon itu jatuh, ada terletak. "Manusia pengalaman, tetapi tidak dapat memprediksi atau kontrol, peristiwa kehidupan mereka (tema berulang dalam Pengkhotbah). Kita perlu membedakan antara hal-hal tentang yang kita dapat melakukan apa-apa dan mereka tentang apa yang kita bisa. Karena kita tidak bisa berhenti pola alam (saat hujan atau di mana pohon jatuh), kami punya pekerjaan yang lebih baik untuk menemukan sesuatu yang lain untuk do.436 Intinya adalah sederhana: Jangan buang waktu Anda dengan urusan Allah! "Bumi adalah Tuhan dan kepenuhan daripadanya" (Mzm 24: 1 KJV). Biarkan Tuhan menjadi Allah; Dia dapat perhatian sendiri dengan tanggung jawab-Nya. Ketika kita melakukannya, kita akan menyadari semua bahwa kita harus menyibukkan diri dengan. Dalam 11: 4 Salomo menulis, "Dia yang mengawasi angin tidak akan menabur dan dia yang melihat awan tidak akan menuai." Pepatah ini mengkritik orang-orang yang yang terlalu berhati-hati. Para petani yang menunggu saat yang paling tepat untuk tanaman, ketika tidak ada angin untuk menerbangkan benih, dan menuai, jika tidak ada hujan untuk merusak panen matang, tidak akan pernah melakukan apa-apa tapi duduk-duduk menunggu saat yang tepat . Dan, benih tetap di gudang. Salomo menasihati kita untuk tidak menjadi seperti petani ini. Jangan menunggu untuk kondisi untuk menjadi sempurna, karena itu tidak akan pernah terjadi. Memang benar bahwa angin dan hujan mungkin datang dan menghancurkan panen. Pekerjaan hari ini mungkin akan hancur dan Anda mungkin harus melakukannya lagi besok. Tapi tidak apa-apa. Pekerjaan hari ini mungkin berhasil serta besok. Dan jika demikian, maka Anda akan dapat menuai hasilnya untuk keduanya. Jangan bermain aman-mengambil risiko. Tidak ada waktu yang lebih baik dari sekarang untuk melangkah keluar dalam iman. Jadi berhenti menunda-nunda! Jadilah constantly.437 rajin Jika kita menunggu sampai kita "punya waktu" untuk melakukan sesuatu yang kita tidak akan pernah. "Kesempatan yang sempurna" dimulai saat-saat kita masih can.438 Jangan menaruh apa yang Tuhan telah menempatkan di dalam hati Anda dari hari lain. Tidak ada waktu yang tepat untuk memiliki anak-anak. Kami tidak pernah memiliki uang cukup, energi, atau kesabaran. Setelah Anda memiliki anak-anak, jangan menunggu waktu yang tepat untuk menghabiskan waktu dengan mereka. Sebelum kau tahu itu, anak-anak Anda akan tumbuh dewasa. Jika Anda sudah menikah, jangan menunggu untuk suami atau istri untuk menjadi semua yang Anda inginkan. Mulailah menuangkan hidup Anda ke pasangan Anda sekarang. Jangan menunggu sampai Anda memiliki waktu luang, lebih banyak uang, atau kesehatan yang lebih baik. Jika Anda seorang mahasiswa, berusaha untuk mencapai semua impian Anda hari ini. Jangan puas menetap-bagi kekristenan. Jika Anda saat ini tidak melayani, terlibat hari ini. Jika kita menunggu sampai kita kurang sibuk, sampai kita merasa benar, sampai