Reflections with Andy - Ecclesiastes 11 – We Are All Going to Die

In the end, the Teacher worries about what he cannot control. All our lives will come to an end upon this earth. But that truth can help us have a proper perspective.

In this reflection on Ecclesiastes 11, the Teacher continues offering wisdom sayings while wrestling with anxiety, uncertainty, and the temporary nature of life. Though Ecclesiastes often feels filled with angst and existential frustration, the chapter also points toward an important truth: life is fleeting, and recognizing that reality can bring wisdom and clarity. The devotion explores how human beings naturally worry about aging, death, and the uncertainties of the future, yet Scripture invites believers to hold those fears in perspective. While this life is beautiful and full of meaningful gifts, it is not ultimate. The worries consuming us now will eventually fade in light of eternity, and Christians can live with hope because there is something greater still to come in Christ.

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Well, good morning. Good to be with you on this Thursday morning as we continue together in Ecclesiastes. Today we’re going to be in Ecclesiastes chapter 11. We’ll read all of chapter 11 today, and then tomorrow we’ll finish with chapter 12, which will bring our time together in Ecclesiastes to an end.

Ecclesiastes 11 continues a theme we’ve seen the last couple of days. I mentioned yesterday that this section almost reads like Proverbs to me. It feels very much like the book of Proverbs—these short sayings of wisdom. And that makes sense if the Teacher of Ecclesiastes is indeed Solomon. While Ecclesiastes never explicitly says Solomon wrote it, the connection certainly fits with the wisdom tradition we see in Proverbs.

So today we’ll read Ecclesiastes 11:1–10—more sayings of wisdom from the Teacher:

“Cast your bread upon the waters, for after many days you will get it back. Divide your means seven ways, or even eight, for you do not know what disaster may happen on earth.

When clouds are full, they empty rain upon the earth; whether a tree falls to the south or to the north, in the place where the tree falls, there it will lie.

Whoever observes the wind will not sow, and whoever regards the clouds will not reap.

Just as you do not know how the breath comes to the bones in the mother’s womb, so you do not know the work of God, who makes everything.

In the morning sow your seed, and at evening do not let your hands be idle, for you do not know which will prosper, this or that, or whether both alike will be good.

Light is sweet, and it is pleasant for the eyes to see the sun.

Even those who live many years should rejoice in them all, yet let them remember that the days of darkness will be many. All that comes is vanity.

Rejoice, young man, while you are young, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Follow the inclination of your heart and the desire of your eyes, but know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.

Banish anxiety from your mind, and put away pain from your body, for youth and the dawn of life are vanity.”

I was talking to someone just yesterday, giving them advice about something I thought would genuinely help them, and I finally stopped and laughed and said, “Now listen, what I’m telling you to do is absolutely what you should do. It’s just not what I personally do.”

You know—do what I say, not what I do.

“Eat healthy and sleep well.”
Do I do that? Absolutely not.
But you should.

So I find it ironic that the Teacher says, “Banish anxiety from your mind.” Dude, all you’ve done for eleven chapters is be anxious. Ecclesiastes has been one long spiral of angst and worry and existential dread. I’ve joked several times that it reads like a ‘90s grunge album because it’s just full of anxiety and longing and frustration.

And yet here, near the end, he says, “Put away anxiety.”

But even then, he can’t quite let go of the darkness. Why should we put away anxiety? “Because youth and the dawn of life are vanity.” In other words: don’t worry about it, because you’re going to die anyway.

That really is one of the major themes of Ecclesiastes: we are all going to die.

As I’ve been decluttering my office and giving things away during this move, people keep joking, “Are you dying?” And I laugh and say, “Well…aren’t we all?”

That’s Ecclesiastes in a nutshell.

But I do think there’s wisdom in remembering that our lives are temporary. Psalm 90 says, “Teach us to number our days.” There’s wisdom in understanding that this life is not forever.

We live in an age that desperately tries to preserve youth. We dye the gray hair, fight aging, and pretend we’re not getting older. But aging is not failure. It’s part of being human. We grow old. We change. Eventually, we die.

And honestly, I think Ecclesiastes gives us permission to say out loud that sometimes that reality feels overwhelming.

Sometimes we feel anxious. Sometimes we feel insignificant. Sometimes we wonder if what we’re doing even matters.

The Bible doesn’t ignore those emotions. Neither do the Psalms. Neither does Ecclesiastes. Even Jesus prayed, “Take this cup from me.”

But here’s what I keep coming back to: understanding that life is temporary can also give us clarity.

That thing consuming your thoughts right now—that thing giving you anxiety and stealing your peace—how much will it matter in light of eternity?

Will it matter in a month? In five years? In fifty years? When we are standing with the Lord?

Probably not.

And that perspective can actually free us.

Now, I don’t want to diminish this life. I love this life. I love my wife and children. I love baseball games and concerts and good conversations. I love getting to preach the Gospel and tell people about Jesus. These things matter deeply to me.

But this life is not the end of the story.

There is something better coming.

There’s a great line from Switchfoot: “This flesh and blood is just a rental, and no one makes it out alive.”

That’s very Ecclesiastes, honestly.

And I think it echoes something profound: when we understand the temporary nature of this life, we begin to understand where our true home is.

The worries of this life, as real as they feel now, will pale in comparison to what awaits us in Christ.

So yes, keep an eternal perspective. Love this life. Cherish the people around you. Do good in the world. Enjoy the gifts God has given you.

But remember: this world is not the end.

There is something better coming.

Thanks for being with us today. Have a great rest of your day, and we’ll see you tomorrow as we finish Ecclesiastes together.