Ecclesiastes 11:6

"Sow your seed in the morning, and do not be idle in the evening, for you do not know whether morning or evening sowing will succeed, or whether both of them alike will be good."do not be idle in the evening" -"Let evening find thee still at work" (Knox). "The Hebrew says, 'Be busy early in the morning, and unto the evening let your hand keep at this task'" (Leupold p. 265).

"for you do not know" -here is the reason for such unremitting activity. Once again, man's inability to predict the future, even if it is only months in the future is demonstrated. The proper response to uncertainty isn't apathy, inaction or fear, but rather, trust in God and the redoubling of our efforts (Ephesians 5:16; 2 Timothy 4:2).

"both of them alike will be good" -i.e. both might be successful.

Points To Note:

2 "It is. stimulating call, with no thought of faltering, yet not trace of bravado or irresponsibility. The very smallness of our knowledge (Ecclesiastes 11:3), and control (Ecclesiastes 11:3), and the very likelihood of hard times (11L2) so frequently impressed on us throughout the book, become the reasons to bestir ourselves and show some spirit" (Kidner p. 98). 2. Note that God never says, "Sit back and just put everything into My hands." The response to the truth that God rules the world, is not sitting back, but rather, redoubling our efforts!

Youth, Old Age, And Death"Appropriately, the last major discourse of Ecclesiastes concerns the grim reality of aging and death and the need to enjoy the life one has under the sun. Nevertheless, this is not. hedonist's creed, for the demand that all be done in the fear of God stands behind and above the whole" (Garrett pp. 339-340).