1. Part 2: Ecclesiastes 11:3-6 (p559)

2. 1. Daring Approach to Life (v1)

3. Part 2: Ecclesiastes 11:3-6 (p559) 1. Daring Approach to Life (v1) 2. Diversification of Interests (v2)

4. Part 2: Ecclesiastes 11:3-6 (p559) 1. Daring Approach to Life (v1) 2. Diversification of Interests (v2) 3. Disregard of Circumstances (v3-5)

5. Part 2: Ecclesiastes 11:3-6 (p559) 1. Daring Approach to Life (v1) 2. Diversification of Interests (v2) 3. Disregard of Circumstances (v3-5) There’s nothing you and I can do about the rain. There’s nothing you can do about the tree or the unfortunate place it falls. So there is a sense of inevitability in verse 3.

6. Part 2: Ecclesiastes 11:3-6 (p559) 1. Daring Approach to Life (v1) 2. Diversification of Interests (v2) 3. Disregard of Circumstances (v3-5) The principle here is the same as not looking down from a high bridge or cliff’s edge.

7. Part 2: Ecclesiastes 11:3-6 (p559) 1. Daring Approach to Life (v1) 2. Diversification of Interests (v2) 3. Disregard of Circumstances (v3-5) The person who pays too much attention to his circumstances never gets anything done! (v4)

8. Part 2: Ecclesiastes 11:3-6 (p559) 1. Daring Approach to Life (v1) 2. Diversification of Interests (v2) 3. Disregard of Circumstances (v3-5) Luke 5:1-11, where Jesus tells Peter where to let down their nets, is an example of a favourable result despite an unfavourable circumstance.

9. Part 2: Ecclesiastes 11:3-6 (p559) 1. Daring Approach to Life (v1) 2. Diversification of Interests (v2) 3. Disregard of Circumstances (v3-5) Haggai 1:4-6, where God shows that he has not blessed an otherwise prosperous people, is an example of unfavourable results despite favourable circumstances.

10. Part 2: Ecclesiastes 11:3-6 (p559) 1. Daring Approach to Life (v1) 2. Diversification of Interests (v2) 3. Disregard of Circumstances (v3-5) Kevin DeYoung in his book Just Do Something, says Because we have confidence in God's will of decree, we can radically commit ourselves to His will of desire, without fretting over a hidden will of direction.

11. Part 2: Ecclesiastes 11:3-6 (p559) 1. Daring Approach to Life (v1) 2. Diversification of Interests (v2) 3. Disregard of Circumstances (v3-5) Two cautions: 1.Don’t completely disregard circumstances (Prov 22:3)

12. Part 2: Ecclesiastes 11:3-6 (p559) 1. Daring Approach to Life (v1) 2. Diversification of Interests (v2) 3. Disregard of Circumstances (v3-5) Two cautions: 1.Don’t completely disregard circumstances (Prov 22:3) 2.Don’t ignore or discount God’s personal leading (Acts 16:6-10)

13. Part 2: Ecclesiastes 11:3-6 (p559) 1. Daring Approach to Life (v1) 2. Diversification of Interests (v2) 3. Disregard of Circumstances (v3-5) Do not wait for the “right opportunity” to make positive changes to your spiritual life or disciplines.

14. Part 2: Ecclesiastes 11:3-6 (p559) 1. Daring Approach to Life (v1) 2. Diversification of Interests (v2) 3. Disregard of Circumstances (v3-5) Do not wait for the “right opportunity” to make positive changes to your spiritual life or disciplines. Do not wait for the “right opportunity” to share the gospel with a friend or neighbour. Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season. (2 Tim 4:2)

15. Part 2: Ecclesiastes 11:3-6 (p559) 1. Daring Approach to Life (v1) 2. Diversification of Interests (v2) 3. Disregard of Circumstances (v3-5) If you are living (as a believer or an unbeliever) in disobedience to God choose this day whom you will serve. (Joshua 24:15) Now is the day of salvation. (2 Cor 6:2)

16. Part 2: Ecclesiastes 11:3-6 (p559) 1. Daring Approach to Life (v1) 2. Diversification of Interests (v2) 3. Disregard of Circumstances (v3-5) 4. Diligence of Work (v6)

17. Part 2: Ecclesiastes 11:3-6 (p559) 1. Daring Approach to Life (v1) 2. Diversification of Interests (v2) 3. Disregard of Circumstances (v3-5) 4. Diligence of Work (v6) Morning and evening, when placed together, are often symbolic of completeness of time.

18. Part 2: Ecclesiastes 11:3-6 (p559) 1. Daring Approach to Life (v1) 2. Diversification of Interests (v2) 3. Disregard of Circumstances (v3-5) 4. Diligence of Work (v6) Charles Spurgeon: I think a godly plowmen ought to be the best man in the field and let no team beat him. When we are at work, we ought to be at it, and not stop the plow to talk, even though the talk may be about religion.

19. Part 2: Ecclesiastes 11:3-6 (p559) 1. Daring Approach to Life (v1) 2. Diversification of Interests (v2) 3. Disregard of Circumstances (v3-5) 4. Diligence of Work (v6) The exemplary woman of Proverbs 31 is an amazing example of the kind of diligence urged in Ecc 11:6. Her lamp does not go out at night.

20. Part 2: Ecclesiastes 11:3-6 (p559) 1. Daring Approach to Life (v1) 2. Diversification of Interests (v2) 3. Disregard of Circumstances (v3-5) 4. Diligence of Work (v6) All of our time belongs to the Lord and must be profitable.

21. Part 2: Ecclesiastes 11:3-6 (p559) 1. Daring Approach to Life (v1) 2. Diversification of Interests (v2) 3. Disregard of Circumstances (v3-5) 4. Diligence of Work (v6) I’m not saying that we must never rest or have exercise or entertainment. I mean that there are profitable ways to have those things and there are unprofitable ways to have those things. And there is a right amount of time to spend in those pursuits and there is too much time spent in them.

22. Part 2: Ecclesiastes 11:3-6 (p559) 1. Daring Approach to Life (v1) 2. Diversification of Interests (v2) 3. Disregard of Circumstances (v3-5) 4. Diligence of Work (v6) If there is anything we must be diligent about, it is the pursuit of God and spiritual growth.

23. Part 2: Ecclesiastes 11:3-6 (p559) 1. Daring Approach to Life (v1) 2. Diversification of Interests (v2) 3. Disregard of Circumstances (v3-5) 4. Diligence of Work (v6) A man who claims to love God but can’t muster up the desire to spend time in prayer and the Word is lying about his love.

24. Part 2: Ecclesiastes 11:3-6 (p559) 1. Daring Approach to Life (v1) 2. Diversification of Interests (v2) 3. Disregard of Circumstances (v3-5) 4. Diligence of Work (v6) If God’s church is a gym, it has far too many people with their names on its list who rarely pick up a weight.

25. Part 2: Ecclesiastes 11:3-6 (p559) Charles Spurgeon: God is not to be trifled with. He does not make immortal beings that they may sport like butterflies from flower to flower. He does not create souls and give them lives to spend in child’s play, fashionable frivolities, and killing of time. Yet in the face of eternity, life, death, heaven, and hell, multitudes upon multitudes are ruined simply because they neglect the great salvation, and are absolutely too idle to concern themselves about eternal matters.

26. Part 2: Ecclesiastes 11:3-6 (p559) Charles Spurgeon: God is not to be trifled with. He does not make immortal beings that they may sport like butterflies from flower to flower. He does not create souls and give them lives to spend in child’s play, fashionable frivolities, and killing of time. Yet in the face of eternity, life, death, heaven, and hell, multitudes upon multitudes are ruined simply because they neglect the great salvation, and are absolutely too idle to concern themselves about eternal matters.

27. Part 2: Ecclesiastes 11:3-6 (p559) 1. Daring Approach to Life (v1) 2. Diversification of Interests (v2) 3. Disregard of Circumstances (v3-5) 4. Diligence of Work (v6) We must put our hands to the plow and work with diligence, making the most of every opportunity because the days are evil. (Eph 5:16)