“He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds
shall not reap.”–Ecclesiastes 11:4.
Sow when the time comes, whatever wind blows. Reap when the times
comes, whatever clouds are in the sky. There are, however, qualifying
proverbs, which must influence our actions. We are not to discard
prudence in the choice of the time for our work. “To every thing there
is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven.” It is well to
sow when the weather is propitious. It is wise to “make hay while the
sun shines.” Cut your corn when there is the probability of getting it
dry.
But Solomon here is pushing the other side of the matter. He had seen
prudence turn to idleness; he had noticed some people wait for a more
convenient season, which never came. He had observed sluggards making
excuses, which did not hold water. So he, with a blunt word, generalizes, in
order to make the truth more forcible. Not troubling about the exceptions to
the rule, he states it broadly thus: “Take no notice of winds or clouds. Go
one with your work whatever happens. ‘He that observeth the wind shall not
sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.’”
I. The first thought that is suggested by these words is this: NATURAL
DIFFICULTIES MAY BE UNDULY CONSIDERED. A man may observe the wind, and regard
the clouds a great deal too much, and so
neither sow nor reap.
Note here, first, that in any work this would hinder a man. In any
labour to which we set our hand, if we take too much notice of the
difficulties, we shall be hindered in it. It is very wise to know the
difficulty of your calling, the sorrow which comes with it, the trial
which arises out of it, the temptation connected therewith; but if you
think too much of these things, there is no calling that will be carried
on with any success. Poor farmers, they have a crop of hay and cannot
get it in; they may fret themselves to death if they like, and never earn a
penny for a seven years’ fretting! We say of their calling that it is
surrounded with constant trouble. They may lose everything just at the
moment when they are about to gather it in. The seed may perish under
the clods when it is first sown. It is subject to blight and mildew, and
bird, and worm, and I know not what beside; and then, at the last, when
the farmer is about to reap the harvest, it may disappear before the
sickle can cut it. Take the case of the sailor. If he regards winds and
clouds, will he ever be put to sea? Can you give him a promise that the
wind will be favourable in any of his voyages, or that he will reach his
desired haven without a tempest? He that observeth the winds and
clouds, will not sail; and he that regardeth the clouds will never cross
the mighty deep. If you turn from the farmer and the sailor, and come
to the trader, what tradesman will do anything if he is always worrying
about the competition, and about the difficulties of his trade, which is
so cut up that there is no making a living by it? I have heard this, I
think, about every trade, and yet our friends keep on living, and some
of them get rich, when they are supposed to be losing money every
year! He that regardeth the rise and fall of prices, and is timid, and will
do no trading because of the changes on the market, will not reap. If
you come to the working-man, it is the same as with those I have
mentioned; for there is no calling or occupation that is not surrounded
with difficulties. In fact, I have formed this judgment from what friends
have told me, that every trade is the worst trade out; for I have found
somebody in that particular line who has proved this to a
demonstration. I cannot say that I am an implicit believer in all I hear
about this matter. Still, if I were, this would be the conclusion that I
should come to, that he that observed the circumstances of any trade or
calling, would never engage in it at all; he would never sow; and he
would never reap. I suppose he would go to bed, and sleep all the four-
and-twenty hours of the day; and after a while, I am afraid he would
find it become impossible even to do that, and he would learn that to
turn, with the sluggard, like a door on its hinges, is not unalloyed
pleasure after all.
Well now, dear friends, if there be these difficulties in connection with
earthly callings and trades, do you expect there will be nothing of the
kind with regard to heavenly things? Do you imagine that, in sowing
the good seed of the kingdom, and gathering the sheaves into the
garner, you will have no difficulties and disappointments? Do you
dream that, when you are bound for heaven, you are to have smooth
sailing and propitious winds all the voyage? Do you think that, in your
heavenly trading, you will have less trials than the merchant who has
only to do with earthly business? If you do, you make a great mistake.
You will not be likely to enter upon the heavenly calling, if you do
nothing else but unduly consider the difficulties surrounding it.
But, next, in the work of liberality this would stay us. This is Solomon’s
theme here. “Cast thy bread upon the waters:” “Give a portion to seven, and
also to eight;” and so on. He means, by my text, that if anybody occupies his
mind unduly with the difficulties connected with liberality, he will do
nothing in that line. “He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that
regardeth the clouds shall not reap..” “How am I to know,” says one, ” that
the person to whom I give my money is really deserving? How do I know what he
will do with it? How do I know but what I may be encouraging idleness or
begging? By giving to the man, I may be doing him real injury.” Perhaps you
are not asked to give to an individual, but to some great work. Then, if you
regard the clouds, you will begin to say, “How do I know that this work will
be successful, the sending of missionaries to a cultivated people like the
Hindoos? Is it likely that they will be converted?” You will not sow, and you
will not reap, if you talk like that; yet there are many who do speak in that
fashion. There was never an enterprise started yet but somebody objected to
it; and I do not believe that the best work that Christ himself ever did was
beyond criticism; there were some people who were sure to find some fault
with it. “But,” says another, “I have heard that the management at
headquarters is not all it ought to be; I think that there is too much money
spent on the secretary, and that there is a great deal lost in this direction
and in that.” Well, dear friend, it goes without saying that if you managed
things, they would be managed perfectly; but, you see, you cannot do
everything, and therefore you must trust somebody. I can only say, with
regard to societies, agencies, works, and missions of all kinds, “He that
observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not
reap.” If that is what you are doing, finding out imperfections and
difficulties, it will end in this, you will do nothing at all.
“This article originally appeared here at Bible Bulletin Board.”
