34. Living By Faith and Not By Sight

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Hymns: RHC 43 God Is Still On the Throne, 400 Every Moment of Every Day, 399 I Am Thine, O Lord

Study of the Book of Ecclesiastes

(Remember Now Thy Creator)

Living by Faith and Not By Sight

Ecclesiastes 9:11-18

11 I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all. 12 For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them. 13 This wisdom have I seen also under the sun, and it seemed great unto me: 14 There was a little city, and few men within it; and there came a great king against it, and besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it: 15 Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man. 16 Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless, the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard. 17 The words of wise men are heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools. 18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war: but one sinner destroyeth much good.

 

OUTLINE

(1) “Cause” But Not the Effect (v11-13)

(2) The Example (v14-18)

 

INTRODUCTION

There is a contrast between the life of faith in the living and true God and the life lived by man’s own ingenuity and strength. The former brings true reward and success, peace and joy, the other can bring endless disappointments and misgivings. This was Solomon’s assessment of life under the sun.

This advice was given to him by his father David:

Psalm 127:1-2 A Song of degrees for Solomon. Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.

Seeking after God and abiding in His will is true profit as Solomon admitted in Proverbs 3:5-7 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

2 Corinthians 5:7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

Such a life of faith sees the sovereign hand of God in determining actions and outcomes. And we align ourselves to His will whether in action or in reaction.

Self-determination does not guarantee a determined outcome in life. Therefore, it makes one ponder how we should approach what we do and it begs the question why we do what we do?

For the Christian, we do that which is in accordance to God’s revealed Word in the Scriptures. And God promises His blessings upon our efforts and His reward crowning our obedience to His will. This is the life of faith.

Solomon likened life under the sun as a race. As in a race, the fastest and the strongest and the wisest and the most able often wins it! But this is not always so, he observes. How come? Because the God factor has been neglected. It fact, the God factor is the determining factor to the outcome of any events under the sun. This is the unsaid but sobering implicit truth given in this passage.

He tells us in the preceding passage the profile of a satisfied believer living a life of faith:

  • Enjoy the fruits of your labour (v7)
  • Be always pure, and always happy (v8)
  • Enjoy your marriage (v9)
  • Give Your best effort to all that you do fpr God’s glory (v10)

(1) “Cause” But Not the Effect (v11-13)

11 I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.

Solomon recognizes that outcomes are not so easily tracable to its apparent causes. He gives the example of a race and observes that the fastest and strongest does not necessarily win the race of life. The obvious factors contributing to the desired outcome do not always add up. He is redefining for us common misnomer concerning “success” factors in life.

He does not say “do not be fast, do not be strong, do not be wise”. What he is saying that being fast, being strong and being wise is not a sure-win formula for life. He is telling us to take a step back, wise-up, life is not as straight forward as what you think you know. The mysterious God factor makes the man’s best analysis void. Therefore, you need to add God to the equation of life and you will find that it will all add up.

When Israel came out of Egypt, they were a fleeing multitude of men and women without weaponry and yet the powerful pursuing army of the Egyptians could not stop the Exodus!

Bridges said well, “They need a balance on the other side – humility – self-distrust. Let them be here reminded, that the best means, and the most powerful agency, will not ensure success; and that, when they have done the work, they must commit the event to God…’The fortune of war’ (so called) may take an unfavourable turn. Men of wisdom continue to be poor, and gifted with no very successful favour.”[1]

He further applies, “Oh! Christian – do not you dins it hard to possess gifts, and not to rest in them? – to have riches, and not to trust in them? – to exercise simple dependence upon God, as if we had and were nothing? Far is he from discouraging the use of means. He would only direct us in the use of them not to “sacrifice to our net.” (Hab. 1:16). There is, indeed, an adaption of these means to the end, and a tendency to work the proposed end. But with all men’s practised and persevering efforts, the issue is with God – Time and change happeneth unto them all.”

We cannot determine whether the outcome of events is favourable or unfavourable but we must see the hand of God and how it works out the ‘counsel of His own will.’ (Ephesians 1:11).

James 4:13-17 Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: 14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. 15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. 16 But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil. 17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

  • Not Self-Willed Independence (v13-14)
  • But Godly Dependence (v15)
  • Repent of All Willful Independence (v16-17)

Recall, we studied this text during our 2014 Watch Night Service.

The adverb “now” in the opening statement “go to now” conveys a sense of urgency. There is a great burden that has to be discharged for God’s people from the Lord.

Here James is speaking to Christians, but Christians with a worldly mindset, one foot in the world. This worldly mindset may not be easily visible. They are still coming to church, reading God’s Word, doing the normal routines that Christians do to seek God. It is not an open enmity toward God but an attitude of self-sufficiency in planning our daily life activities in total disregard of God.[2]

James is sounding off a warning to them. Be careful. If you are planning to do this and do that without consulting God and His will, do take time to take stock. You may even know what is God’s will but you are ignoring it and carrying on with your plans. Before you get carried away with your plans. James says I want you to realize one thing about life. You are not in control of your future. You do not know what will happen tomorrow. In fact, we do not know what will happen in the next 10 minutes, let alone, to know what is in tomorrow or next year as we enter 2014.

These businessmen are assuming that they would wake up tomorrow, and would safely get to the city, that their business venture will be successful within a year and no one will rob them of their projected income. They were presuming all of these things about an unknown future that they had no control of and no guarantees about.[3]

James says, “You will face disappointment with such a mindset, with such a way of willful way of life.” Just like the rich man in Jesus’s parable who built great barns and tore down his barns to build even greater barns.

Luke 12:19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. 20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? 21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

James tells us truthfully – life is a vapour. A vapour exists momentarily for a moment and the next moment it’s gone. Life is like that. It is frail. And that life is short and death is certain. The most healthy young person among us could easily be dead anytime by the most unexpected way. Life is described here as a vapour in the Bible. It is fleeting and transitory. We need to realize this truth and allow it to sink down our hearts that we may awake from our self-reliance.

12 For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them. 13 This wisdom have I seen also under the sun, and it seemed great unto me:

Success or failure does not depend upon man’s effort, but upon God’s supreme will. [Bridges]

But this passage has a deeper message. It is speaking to those who are Christians but who are resolute at times to walk their own way, in their own strength, by their own wisdom. This is the description of a believer who is walking out of the will of God. When a believer is out of the will of God, he becomes a troublemaker and not a peacemaker.[4]

When the Christian walks out of God’s will, trouble looms in the horizon. “Too many Christians”, one pastor observed, “look on the will of God as bitter medicine they must take, instead of seeing it as the gracious evidence of the love of God. Our God is a God of love. He desires the very best for His children. He wants us to realize this and not go our own way.”

We say in our 3rd Anniversary message that the Lord can return anytime. It will be a regrettable time if we are not prepared and watchful but are wanton and wayward!

(2) The Example (v14-18)

14 There was a little city, and few men within it; and there came a great king against it, and besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it: 15 Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man. 16 Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless, the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.

Value wisdom as the gift of God. Learn also to prepare for disappointment. Work for the best interest of your fellow-creatures; but not for their approbation or reward. Let not praise be our motive. [Bridges] It was God who told Joseph of the coming famine that enabled him to warn Pharaoh and prepared grain sufficient to weather the famine thereby saving his own family who will come to Egypt from Canaan for refuge.

There was a similar story in the history of David where a woman’s wisdom was the deliverance of the city.

2 Samuel 20:14-22 And he went through all the tribes of Israel unto Abel, and to Beth-maachah, and all the Berites: and they were gathered together, and went also after him. And they came and besieged him in Abel of Beth-maachah, and they cast up a bank against the city, and it stood in the trench: and all the people that were with Joab battered the wall, to throw it down. Then cried a wise woman out of the city, Hear, hear; say, I pray you, unto Joab, Come near hither, that I may speak with thee. And when he was come near unto her, the woman said, Art thou Joab? And he answered, I am he. Then she said unto him, Hear the words of thine handmaid. And he answered, I do hear. Then she spake, saying, They were wont to speak in old time, saying, They shall surely ask counsel at Abel: and so they ended the matter. I am one of them that are peaceable and faithful in Israel: thou seekest to destroy a city and a mother in Israel: why wilt thou swallow up the inheritance of the LORD? And Joab answered and said, Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy. The matter is not so: but a man of mount Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri by name, hath lifted up his hand against the king, even against David: deliver him only, and I will depart from the city. And the woman said unto Joab, Behold, his head shall be thrown to thee over the wall. Then the woman went unto all the people in her wisdom. And they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri, and cast it out to Joab. And he blew a trumpet, and they retired from the city, every man to his tent. And Joab returned to Jerusalem unto the king.

17 The words of wise men are heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools.

The words of the wise, spoken in quiet and unobtrusiveness, may be little thought of at the time, and yet may command attention, when circumstances bring them out. [Bridges]

God’s people are to take time to ponder the word of God carefully and imbibed His wisdom.

Swindoll observed well, “Our world is filled with propaganda, flashy advertising, and advice motivated by money and greed. In politics, mudslinging is often the norm, and the one with the blackest dirt and farthest throw will often end up on top. They quiet, reasonable, wise person who gently dispenses godly counsel is often trampled underfoot because the rat race isn’t won that way. You see, people often prefer the loudest authority or the latest self-help fad to the wise counsellor who calmly speaks the unpopular truth.”[5]

He further applied, “Are you struggling with ethics in your workplace, fighting against immorality in your relationships, or wrestling with marital or family conflict at home? If so, where are you turning for advice and counsel for these things?…And what do the following passages suggest regarding our source of life-changing truth and godly counsel?”

Psalm 1:1-2 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

Proverbs 13:10 Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.

 2 Timothy 3:16-17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

 2 Timothy 4:2-5 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war: but one sinner destroyeth much good.

A foolish, reckless lifestyle that fails to heed God’s warning signs concerning the rate race can ruin many lives. The pursuit of success drag us down and lead us away from God’s Word and Spirit – our unerring guides for life. It can cause us to ignore godly counsellors who seek to reveal to us His wisdom. Only by stepping out of the rat race of life will we begin to experience real success and satisfaction on God’s terms, not ours. We do this by changing out attitudes toward achieving the futile goal and altering out actions in a way that places emphasis on the important things of in life rather than vain pursuits. [Swindoll][6]

Psalm 20:7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.

 

CONCLUSION

May God help us to live by faith and not by sight.

[1] Charles Bridges, Ecclesiastes, Banner of Truth Trust, 1992, 227.

[2] D. Edmond Hiebert, James, BMH Books, 2002, 249.

[3] Steve Cole, Life is a Vapor, 11 Sept 2005, 2.

[4] Warren Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary New Testament Volume 2, Cook, 2001, 370.

[5] Charles R. Swindall, Living on the Ragged Edge – Workbook (Finding Joy in a World Gone Mad), W Publishing Group, 2005, 187.

[6] Ibid., 189.