看風的必不撒種．望雲的必不收割（傳11章）

看風的必不撒種．望雲的必不收割。（傳 11：4）

傳道書已接近尾聲，傳道者已漸漸在收斂結論。傳道書這裡提到，若只專注在今生，人生就會是虛空。傳道書並委婉地用「黑暗的日子」提到陰間、地獄，要我們還活著的人關注生命歸屬的問題：

人活多年、就當快樂多年．然而也當想到黑暗的日子、因為這日子必多、所要來的都是虛空。（傳 11：8）

讀傳道書時，必需要將整本聖經的人生觀相結合，才不至於看不懂，才不會只有抓到「人生虛空」的訊息。這裏說「人活多年、就當快樂多年」，但是何謂快樂？若我們只有將快樂停留在肉體、情慾的層次，那就要小心了！因為後面提到「然而也當想到黑暗的日子」，也就是死後的生命歸屬問題。人生若做對了事，永恆的未來就與黑暗無關，而必定是光明的永生天國；當然做錯事，或一直沒做對的事，就有地獄永刑作為永遠的家。但是無論是永生、還是永刑，「這日子必多」，因為都是永恆、永無止境。

每次想到時間「無止境」，我的腦子就會開始錯亂：「那到底是一種什麼樣的感覺？」人一旦進入永恆，若是進入永刑的人，就不能因為悔改，還可以有重考或補考的機會，此時一切善行都不再有功效，所以做什麼事「都是虛空」，應當小心。

然而，真正的快樂，就該如讚美詩240首「與主同樂」的歌詞一樣，是屬靈之樂。這樣的快樂、源頭是神；快樂的基本條件、就是不要犯罪，因為犯罪的人心中有恐懼，快樂不起來；快樂製造機，就是去做神所喜悅的事，並且得到神的讚美。所以傳道書這裡的「就當快樂多年」，其中的快樂，必須要進入信仰的屬靈之樂裡面，才能夠今生得快樂、將來也快樂，不致於要擔心未來那永恆黑暗的日子。

想要進入屬靈的喜樂，就要過著喜傳福音、竭力多作主工、敬神愛人的生活。而且正如標題經文所說的：不該一直在看風、也不該一直在望雲。「看風的」和「望雲的」就是指一直在等待好時機，不停地找藉口，永遠不肯行動的人。言下之意，也就是不要說：等我考上大學、等我退休後、等我有時間、等我買了房子之後，才願意盡心盡力來做事奉的工作。若只會這樣想，永遠也不會開始撒種、也永遠不能有所收穫。也許看似轟轟烈烈、功成名就的一生，卻將在神眼中只是一事無成、毫無價值的浪費生命，將來等候你的，就只有永刑成為永遠歸宿。

當將你的糧食撒在水面、因為日久必能得着。你要分給七人、或分給八人、因為你不知道將來有甚麼災禍臨到地上。（傳 11：1-2)

這節經文再次強調「施比受更為有福」的精神。「你的糧食」就是擁有的資源，包含錢財、人才、與生命。人若緊抓不放，認為這些都是我的，只能我可以獨自享用，不肯「撒在水面」，最後這些原本是神所賜的生命、能力，因為我們獨佔，使得最後對於永生一點幫助也沒有。最後即使好似擁有這一切，反倒使我們失去真正屬靈的生命。如主說的：

於是叫眾人和門徒來、對他們說：「若有人要跟從我、就當捨己、背起他的十字架來跟從我。因為凡要救自己生命的、〔生命或作靈魂下同〕必喪掉生命．凡為我和福音喪掉生命的、必救了生命。人就是賺得全世界、賠上自己的生命、有甚麼益處呢？人還能拿什麼換生命呢？」（可 8：34-37）

所以該如何做可以得到人生滿足的喜樂？「當將你的糧食撒在水面」、「你要分給七人、或分給八人」，也就是照神的旨意行善、照神的旨意接受職分，敬神愛人，善用神所給的一切資源，不要吝惜所付出的能力、財力、時間等，時候到了，必蒙神所報答。

正如：「雲若滿了雨、就必傾倒在地上．樹若向南倒、或向北倒、樹倒在何處、就存在何處。（傳 11：3）。」「雲若滿了雨」就是時候到了之意。「樹倒在何處，就存在何處」，樹為何會存在這的地方？是因為樹倒在這裡之故，也就是「一分耕耘，就有一分收穫」之意。因此：沒有耕耘，當然沒有收穫；不作工，當然得不到工價；不行善，當然沒有神的回報。

因此，不要再繼續看風了、也不要自以為是，還在望雲，趕快把握機會做該做的事、去做對於永生會加分的事。不要像醉酒的人一樣，被人罵他喝醉了，還自認為沒醉，不知悔改。

你們要謹慎行事、不要像愚昧人、當像智慧人．要愛惜光陰、因為現今的世代邪惡。不要作糊塗人、要明白主的旨意如何。不要醉酒、酒能使人放蕩、乃要被聖靈充滿。（弗 5：15-18）

He Who Watches the Wind Will Not Sow, And He Who Looks At The Clouds Will Not Reap.” (Ecclesiastes 11)

“He who watches the wind will not sow, and he who looks at the clouds will not reap.”  (Ecclesiastes 11:4, NASB)

As Ecclesiastes approaches its conclusion, the Preacher gradually draws things together. Here it tells us that if one focuses only on this present life, life becomes vanity. In a fine way, Ecclesiastes uses the phrase “days of darkness” to point to Sheol and even hell, reminding those who are still alive to consider the destination of life:

“Indeed, if a person lives many years, let him rejoice in them all; but let him remember the days of darkness, for they will be many. Everything that is to come will be futility.” (Ecclesiastes 11:8, NASB )

When reading Ecclesiastes, we must connect it with the worldview of the whole Bible; otherwise, we may misunderstand it and only grasp the message of “vanity.” Here says, “let him rejoice in them all,” but what is true joy? If our joy remains only at the level of the flesh and desires, we must be cautious. For it continues, “remember the days of darkness,” pointing to the issue of life after death.

If a person does what is right, the eternal future will have nothing to do with darkness but will surely be the bright, eternal kingdom of life. But if one does wrong, or continually fails to do what is right, then hell and eternal punishment will become the everlasting dwelling. Whether eternal life or eternal punishment, “the days will be many,” for both are everlasting and without end.

Whenever I think about “endless time,” my mind begins to struggle: what kind of state is that? Once a person enters eternity—if entering eternal punishment—there will no longer be any chance to repent, no retake, no second chance. At that time, all good deeds will no longer have any effect, and whatever is done will be futility. This should make us careful.

True joy, however, should be like the spiritual joy described in Hymn 240, “Rejoicing with the Lord.” This joy comes from God. The basic condition for joy is not to sin, because those who sin have fear in their hearts and cannot truly rejoice. The source of joy is doing what pleases God and receiving His approval. Therefore, the “rejoice” mentioned here must enter into spiritual joy—only then can we have joy in this life and in the life to come, without fear of those eternal days of darkness.

If we desire to enter into this spiritual joy, we must live a life of gladly preaching the gospel, striving to do more of the Lord’s work, and loving God and others. As the key verse says, we should not keep watching the wind or looking at the clouds. “Watching the wind” and “looking at the clouds” refer to those who are always waiting for the perfect opportunity, constantly making excuses, and never willing to act.In other words, do not say: “I will serve after I get into college,” “after I retire,” “after I have time,” or “after I buy a house.” If we only think this way, we will never begin to sow, and we will never reap anything. A life that appears successful and glorious may, in God’s eyes, be completely fruitless and without value. In the end, only eternal punishment may remain as one’s destiny.

“Cast your bread on the surface of the waters, for you will find it after many days. Divide your portion to seven, or even to eight, for you do not know what misfortune may occur on the earth.” (Ecclesiastes 11:1–2, NASB)

This passage again emphasizes the principle that it is more blessed to give than to receive. “Your bread” represents the resources we possess—money, talents, and life itself. If a person clings tightly to these, thinking they are solely for personal use and unwilling to “cast them on the waters,” then these gifts from God will ultimately bring no benefit to eternal life. Though one may seem to possess everything, one may instead lose true spiritual life. As the Lord said:

“And He summoned the crowd together with His disciples, and said to them, ‘If anyone wants to come after Me, he must "deny himself", take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what does it benefit a person to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul? For what could a person give in exchange for his soul?’” (Mark 8:34–37, NASB)

So how can we obtain a joyful and satisfying life? “Cast your bread on the waters” and “divide your portion to seven or eight”—that is, to do good according to God’s will, to accept responsibilities according to His will, to love God and others, and to make good use of all the resources He has given. Do not withhold your strength, wealth, or time. When the time comes, God will surely reward you.

As it is written:

“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.” (Ecclesiastes 11:3, NASB )

“If the clouds are full” means that when the time comes, things will happen. “Wherever the tree falls, there it lies” means that the result corresponds to what has been done—what one sows is what one reaps. Without labor,l there is no harvest; without work, no wages; without doing good, no reward from God.

Therefore, do not continue watching the wind or pridefully looking at the clouds. Hold the opportunity to do what ought to be done—do what adds value to eternal life. Do not be like a drunkard who, though rebuked, still insists he is not drunk and refuses to repent.

“So then be careful how you walk, not as unwise people but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, in which there is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit.” (Ephesians 5:15–18, NASB)

By Isaiah Kao