Death is Certain, Life is Not (Ecclesiastes 9:1-10:20)
What would we do today, if we knew we would die tomorrow? I would say goodbye to my loved ones. I would have a good meal with my wife, and tell her I love her. I would encourage my sons to trust in Jesus, and to take good care of their mother. I would write down how I’m thankful for my life. I would sing The Sands of Time are Sinking. What would you do, if this were your last day on earth?
Apple founder Steve Jobs died in 2011 after battling pancreatic cancer for seven years. About a year after his cancer diagnosis, Jobs said in a speech to university students, “Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything, all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure—these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important.”
Death is certain and life is not, so be wise, not foolish.
The prospect of death is clarifying indeed. It sharpens our focus, helping us see what really matters. People who know they are dying usually do not waste time. They will make the most of every remaining moment. Dying people who know they are dying are usually the most alive. For the rest of us, however, the reality of our mortality usually does not hit home. We live as though death is merely a distant possibility. Yet, death is inescapable. It is the one destination to which all of us are headed. The Preacher in Ecclesiastes wants us to remember death, that we might live well today. We have heard his observations and reflections concerning life under the sun. Now, as we near the end of Ecclesiastes, the Preacher takes an honest look at death. This is the big idea: Death is certain and life is not, so be wise, not foolish.
Death is certain, life is not (Ecc 9:1-6, 11-12)
In chapter 9, the Preacher observes three truths concerning death.
(1) Death happens to everyone (Ecc 9:1-3)
Look at Ecclesiastes 9:1-3. The Preacher observes how our lives are not ultimately ours to control; they are in the hand of God. It is good to be righteous and wise, but it does not entitle us to manipulate how we want our lives to turn out. God is God and we are not. And, he is not obliged to tell us everything. Whether it is love or hate, man does not know; both are before him. We will experience both good and bad times. When, what, how, and why — we simply do not know. Our lives are in God’s hand. This should humble us and move us to trust Him who rules over all things.
According to God’s plan, death happens to everyone. It is the same for all. Death levels the playing field. Whether moral or immoral, religious or irreligious, faithful or unfaithful, rich or poor, young or old, all will die. The same event happens to all. This is an evil, not in the sense that it is morally wrong but that it seems meaningless and unjust. Why should the good die, just like the bad? But the truth is that in God’s sight, all have sinned. We have all turned away from our Creator, who made us for His glory. Instead of living life God’s way, we seek to live our way without Him. As the Preacher said in Ecclesiastes 7:29, “God made man upright, but they have sought out many schemes.” We are all fallen sinners. Look at Ecclesiastes 9:3b: The hearts of the children of man are full of evil, and madness is in their hearts while they live, and after that they go to the dead.
To know death is certain is also to realise that I am a sinner in need of salvation. My sin problem is internal, in my heart. I cannot escape death because, according to God’s righteousness and justice, death is what I deserve for my sin. So, to remedy the problem of death, the problem of my sin must be dealt with. I need a Saviour from the outside who can make me clean from the inside-out.
(2) Death is final (Ecc 9:4-6)
Death is the destination from which there is no return. While there is life, we can still eat, drink, participate in relationships, and work. The living have the hope of making plans and doing things. But the dead have no part in life (Ecc 9:5-6). Their lot in life is no more, for they are gone and forgotten. For a while, the dead linger in our memories, but even these will fade away with time. Death is final. There is no coming back.
In this sense, life is better than death. Even a living dog is better than a dead lion. A lion is a powerful, majestic beast. But a dead lion cannot do anything. On the other hand, dogs were despised in Israel. Yet, it is better to be lowly and living, than to be dignified and dead. The Bible speaks of death as an enemy. It has intruded God’s good creation to rob us of strength and breath. It is an unwelcome guest, permanently interrupting and disrupting our lives.
(3) Death’s timing is uncertain (Ecc 9:11-12)
In football, there is a saying: “The ball is round.” It means the ball can go anywhere. We cannot predict where the ball may end up. Anything can happen in a football match. The favourites do not always win; every underdog has its day. Football is unpredictable, which makes it exciting to watch. For example, Argentina won the last World Cup in 2022, but not before they were beaten 1-0 by Saudi Arabia in the group stages in one of the biggest upsets ever in World Cup history.
Life is like football. Things do not turn out as expected. The best laid plans of mice and men often go astray. Listen to Ecclesiastes 9:11: “Again I saw that under the sun the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favour to those with knowledge, but time and chance happen to them all.” Our cleverness and competence are no guarantee or predictor of success. The fastest are not always first. The mightiest do not always win. The smartest will not always succeed. Circumstances and situations suddenly change. Life happens.
We assume life will turn out well if we are smart enough, strong enough, or good enough. In a safe and sheltered country like Singapore, especially, it is easy to think life can be managed. Maybe we idolise our ability to control life. We feel secure as long as we feel we are in control. But what happens when we realise life is beyond our control?
The Preacher prepares us for the hard realities of life under the sun. Our desire for control is fuelled by our pride. We want to live our way because we believe we can do it all. We do not need God. We imagine ourselves to be masters of our own fate, determiners of our own destiny. The Preacher bursts our bubble to disabuse us of our illusion of control. Life is uncertain. So, be humble and know we are not in charge.
Do not think so? The Preacher presents us with the clearest evidence of this: death. We have no idea when we will die. Listen to Ecclesiastes 9:12 — “For man does not know his time. Like fish that are taken in an evil net, and like birds that are caught in a snare, so the children of man are snared at an evil time, when it suddenly falls upon them.” We cannot predict when death comes. It sneaks up on us. A seemingly healthy person is struck with a terminal illness out of the blue. For example, the number of people with early-onset cancer (under the age of 50) is rising worldwide. The proportion of such patients has spiked by almost 80 per cent over the past 30 years. No matter how well we prepare, death always feels sudden and surprising. The threat of death can come from unexpected places, at unexpected times. As we have heard in the news, even the ground under our feet can give way. Life leaves us with a sinking feeling. We would like to think we are in control, but the Preacher likens us to fish and birds caught in a trap. Under the sun, we are helpless in the face of life’s uncertainties.
James 4:13-16 reminds us, “Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit” — yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.” Death is certain, life is not. How, then, will we live today?
Be wise, not foolish (Ecc 9:7-10, 13-18; 10:1-20)
The Preacher wants us to live wisely. So, he contrasts wisdom and folly, to show us how it is better to be wise. The Preacher observes six things about wisdom.
(1) Wisdom is better, yet undervalued (Ecc 9:13-17)
The Preacher has seen wisdom save a city from defeat. As the pen is mightier than the sword, so wisdom is stronger than an army. A poor, wise man can overcome a great king. Thanks to wisdom, salvation can come from a surprising source. In the world, might is right. But God has chosen what is weak, lowly and despised to shame the strong. God saves sinners through the apparent weakness of the cross. How can a crucified Christ save the world? But Jesus is the power and wisdom of God. The foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
However, wisdom is undervalued. The poor, wise man may have saved the city, yet no one remembered him. His wisdom is despised and his words are not heard. It is similar to what Isaiah says about the Suffering Servant of the Lord: “He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows… he was despised, and we esteemed him not.” To live wisely means to not live for the world’s approval. Do not treasure what this world treasures. To be wise, listen to the One who is truly wise. He came to please God, not man. He did not come to be served, but to serve and to lay down his life to save many from their sins. Like the poor, wise man, the Suffering Servant may not look impressive to the world. But it is good for us to listen to him. The words of the wise heard in quiet are better. The Servant “will not cry aloud or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; a bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench.” He is gentle and lowly. He invites us to learn from him, to find rest for our souls.
(2) Wisdom is better, yet vulnerable (Ecc 9:18-10:7)
A little folly can undo the benefits of wisdom. Look at Ecclesiastes 9:18 and 10:1: One sinner destroys much good. Dead flies make the perfumer’s ointment give off a stench; so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honour. For example, Moses, in a fit of anger, disobeyed God and struck the rock. Years of faithful service were undone by a moment of folly. As a result, God did not allow Moses to enter the promised land. Do not take sin lightly, thinking it is just a small sin. A little folly can ruin everything. Wisdom and folly are like water and oil — they do not mix. They lead us in opposite directions. Listen to Ecclesiastes 9:2: “A wise man’s heart inclines him to the right, but a fool’s heart to the left.” The fool walks on the wrong road. He cannot, or will not, follow directions.
In a broken world, wisdom is vulnerable. Folly often rules. This is the main point of Ecclesiastes 10:5-7. Life is upside-down under the sun. The social order is turned on its head. Ecclesiastes 10:6 says, “Folly is set in many high places.” Nevertheless, we should respond wisely to those in authority over us (Ecc 10:4). If the boss is angry or unreasonable, be patient. Keep calm and carry on. Do not be hasty and quit in a huff. Remember Proverbs 15:1: “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”
(3) Wisdom is for the real-world (Ecc 10:8-11)
The Preacher is honest about how life is hard under the sun. We need wisdom to navigate a dangerous world. This is the point of Ecclesiastes 10:8-9. Work suffers the consequences of the fall. After Adam disobeyed, God pronounced judgement on man’s work: “Cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life… By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for our of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” (Gen 3:17, 19)
Work is toil. Even ordinary tasks, like digging a pit, demolishing a wall, quarrying stones or splitting logs, can harm us. A good day at work is a bonus, not a given. The Preacher tells us to expect frustration and hardship. Living wisely means having the right expectations about work. Do not stop working, but work wisely. Look at Ecclesiastes 10:10-11. Do not add to our toil by using a blunt instrument; sharpen it. Wisdom does not make work easy, but it can make work more efficient and effective. Wisdom teaches us to do the right thing at the right time. Charm the snake before it bites. Wisdom plans ahead.
(4) The wise watch their words (Ecc 10:12-15)
Our words say a lot about who we really are on the inside. Jesus says, “Out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” (Lk 6:45) How do we tell if someone is wise or foolish? We listen to their words, says the Preacher. The wise watch their words. Look at Ecclesiastes 10:12. The words of the wise win him favour — they are gracious and life-giving. The fool’s words, however, will devour and destroy him. His words begin in foolishness and end in evil madness (Ecc 10:13). How do we use our words? To build up or to tear down, to encourage or to criticise? Do we speak God’s truth in love, or are we given to gossip? Do we talk behind someone’s back rather than talk with the person? “Let no corrupting talk come out of (our) mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.” (Eph 4:29)
The fool is opinionated, with much to say about anything and everything. He is quick to speak and slow to listen. He talks and talks, thinking he knows it all. The fool is full of pride and hot air. Listen to Ecclesiastes 10:14 — “A fool multiplies words, though no man knows what is to be, and who can tell him what will be after him?” May we be humble with our words. There is much about life under the sun that we simply do not know. The Preacher said in Ecclesiastes 5:2, “Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few.” Do not be like Job’s friends, who thought they knew everything and tormented Job with their bad advice. Do not be the proud know-it-all who says insensitive things to others who are suffering. Ecclesiastes 10:15 tells us the fool tires himself (and others) out by going around in circles, because he does not even know the way.
(5) The wise rule well (Ecc 10:16-20)
These verses contrast wise and foolish leaders. Wise leaders are disciplined and responsible. Foolish leaders, however, are self-indulgent and lazy. Ecclesiastes 10:19 says bread, wine, and money are good things in their proper place, but we should not idolise them. Be grateful for such gifts, but beware of gluttony or greed. The laziness of foolish leaders leads to disaster. Look at Ecclesiastes 10:18: The roof collapses and the rain leaks in.
Life is uncertain, but do not let that make us give up and stop caring about how we live.
Life is uncertain, but do not let that make us give up and stop caring about how we live. The Preacher is not promoting a fatalistic attitude that is passive and indifferent. Neither should we live for the self-centred pursuit of pleasure. It matters how we live. So, live wisely. If we are in a position of authority — whether in the workplace, school, church, or home — then use our authority for the good of others. Serve others sacrificially. Do not be lazy. Work diligently and faithfully while we can. And, if you are under authority, do not be complaining all the time. Look at Ecclesiastes 10:20. Our words have a way of coming back to bite us.
(6) The wise enjoy God’s gifts (Ecc 9:7-10)
Finally, the wise are grateful to God for the gifts He gives us to enjoy. Here, the Preacher repeats advice He has been giving throughout Ecclesiastes. Yes, all is vanity. Life is futile and fleeting. There is no lasting gain from all our toil under the sun. Death is certain, life is not. Yet, we do not have to pass our days in a grim and gloomy way. By not putting our hopes in this life, we are free to enjoy this brief life as a gift from God. The more we idolise something, the less we enjoy it because our idols end up owning and controlling us. Instead, see life as a library book we have on loan from God. It does not belong to us, but we can enjoy it while we have it.
This is the sixth time the Preacher is urging us to have joy amid toil. These verses expand on what has been said before. The main point is this: Rejoice by realising that everything is a gift from the good God. Listen to Ecclesiastes 9:7: “Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart, for God has already approved what you do.” Food and drink represent the simple pleasures of life. Do not pursue them in a self-indulgent way. Rather, receive them gladly and gratefully from the hand of a generous God. Be satisfied with our daily bread. Before each meal, give thanks like we truly mean it. Be whole-heartedly happy. Be boldly joyful, knowing that God is pleased when we take pleasure in His gifts. God is not a grudging giver. He seeks our joy; He approves of it. He wants us to be happy in Him! The ever-giving God wants us to share in His joy.
Therefore, love life and live fully. Knowing the certainty of death and the uncertainty of life ought to make us cherish every moment. Redeem the time and make our lives count for the Lord. Do not go about gloomily. Be encouraged by Ecclesiastes 9:8 — “Let your garments be always white. Let not oil be lacking on your head.” White clothes and oil are signs of celebration. So, rejoice always. It is God’s will that we give thanks in all circumstances.
Enjoy the relationships God has granted us. Look at Ecclesiastes 9:9 — “Enjoy life with the wife whom you love.” Husbands: God wants us to rejoice in and love the wife whom He has gifted us. Notice the Preacher does not say “endure life” or “put up with” our wife; he says enjoy. God commands joy. Like the other commands in the Bible, we are to intentionally obey. It will take commitment and effort. We will not always find it easy to love our wife or to enjoy life with her. But God is happy to help us do what He commands. Will we trust Him? Perhaps, if we make the effort to enjoy life with our wife, we will also make it easier for her to love us. Husbands: When was the last time we gave thanks to God for our wife? When was the last time we told our wife that we are thankful for her?
The bigger point is this: Treasure our loved ones while we can. Marriage is one example. But all of us — whether we are single, married or we have lost our spouse — are to cherish the relationships God has entrusted to us. Do not selfishly strive for gain at the expense of our family and friends. Love them all the days of (our) vain life that (God) has given (us) under the sun. We will not live forever; neither will they. Remember, everything is a gift. Whatever God gives us is (our) portion in life. God is working all things for the good of his people. We may not know why things turn out the way they do, but we can trust the One who knows all things.
Also, work hard while we can (Ecc 9:10). Have realistic expectations about work. Work is toil under the sun. So, do not look to work for fulfilment or lasting gain. Students, your exams are not everything; they are not even the most important thing about you. But do not slack off either. Work is not ultimate, but it is still important. Work is a gift from God. So, steward it well. Work hard and leave the outcomes to God. What we do matters, but how we do it matters even more. Whatever we do, do it with your might. “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.” (Col 3:23). Work for God’s glory, not for self-glory or for the world’s approval. Do not choose a job just based on how much money you can make; choose work that you can joyfully, wholeheartedly do. Work while we can. Sooner than we think, death will call time on our labour.
Living in a fallen world, death is certain and it will certainly put an end to everything. Our life is fleeting, like breath that appears momentarily and then vanishes. The Preacher has limited his perspective to life under the sun. But the rest of the Bible tells us there is more. God’s good gifts of food, drink, marriage, and work are not ultimate. They point beyond this life to an eternal reality yet to come. The gifts will be wonderfully redeemed, restored, transformed.
There will be a far greater feast. The prophet Isaiah looked forward to the day when God will “make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine”. He will “swallow up death forever (and) will wipe away tears from all faces” (Isa 25:6, 8). There will be a perfect marriage: God’s people will be presented to their Lord as a beautiful, radiant and holy bride. There will be true rest from work: A rest remains for the people of God. In the Lord, our toil and labour will not be in vain. The gifts we enjoy now are but a foretaste of what’s to come. Do not make them ultimate, for they are meant to whet our appetites for a much bigger and better banquet. These gifts stir our hope — a hope that can only be fulfilled in Jesus Christ. He who is fully God humbled Himself to live as a man among people like us. Jesus ate and drank with joy. It is striking the number of times the Gospels speak of Him having meals with others. Jesus feasted with sinners. He was not ashamed to identify Himself with those He had come to save.
Jesus lived and died under the sun, that we might have life beyond. Death is certain, because we have all sinned against God. But salvation is sure in Christ. Jesus took God’s judgement against sin on Himself, so that we can be forgiven and brought back to God if we trust in Him. Jesus died and rose from the dead, that we might have eternal life and the hope of glory. In Christ, we can look forward with certainty to a greater feast, a perfect marriage, and true rest. All may be vanity now, but it will not always be so. Jesus is coming back to make all things new. Death will certainly not have the last word. If we are in Christ, we shall surely be raised with Him. Our glory is certain.