Wise Enough to Risk
Book of Ecclesiastes • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Bible Reading
Bible Reading
As Israel transitioned from a farming culture to a trade-based economy, many grew afraid of taking risks. They hoarded resources, waited for perfect conditions, and longed for security.
Solomon challenges this instinct. He teaches that God has intentionally designed life with uncertainty, not to paralyze us, but to drive us toward bold, faith-filled action.
What is risk? An action that exposes you to the possibility of loss or injury
Throughout Scripture, faith-driven risk is not just permitted—it’s praised.
Abraham left everything
Esther risked death
The wise servant invested his talents. But the one who buried his gift in fear? He was rebuked as “wicked and slothful” (Matt. 25:26).
Text: Ecclesiastes 11:1–6
Introduction: Life is risky business
Introduction: Life is risky business
How many in here would admit to being “risk adverse.” Many are too afraid to raise their hands.
You might say, "I’m not just risk-averse—I’m risk-allergic. I break out in anxiety every time someone says, 'Let’s try something new.'
Double knot shoes to walk on carpet.
You triple-check the weather before going to the mailbox.
You read the terms and conditions… and highlight them.
Get chicken tenders no matter where you eat.
You bring a backup umbrella for your backup umbrella.
In many ways it feels like that is wisdom; my brother and his friends jumping a ramp.
Risk is unavoidable so better learn to embrace it.
Risk is unavoidable so better learn to embrace it.
Risk exists because we don’t know the future.
God takes no risks but calls us on us to do so.
God intends for us to live and act without knowing outcomes.
Examples of Everyday Uncertainty
Examples of Everyday Uncertainty
You don’t know:
You don’t know if your health will fail tomorrow.
You don’t know if a crisis will interrupt your plans.
You don’t know if your job or income is secure.
You don’t know how others will respond to your obedience.
You don’t know if your efforts will succeed or fail.
Conclusion: We are not God. We live with risk—by design.
Transition: Four times in six verses the Solomon reminds us: “you do not know.”
Transition: Four times in six verses the Solomon reminds us: “you do not know.”
1. Because life is uncertain, faith-filled action is wise. v.1-2
1. Because life is uncertain, faith-filled action is wise. v.1-2
A. Three Common Interpretations
A. Three Common Interpretations
Ecclesiastes 11:1 “1 Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.”
Charitable Giving View:
“Give alms, and you will eventually be rewarded.”
Commercial Investment View:
“Send your goods across the seas, and after many days you will profit from your trading.”
Paradoxical Wisdom View:
“Do something that seems contrary to popular opinion, and it can lead, paradoxically, to a good result.”
We may not know exactly what this verse means, but the main point is clear: take bold steps of faith, even when you don't see results right away or aren't sure how things will turn out.
B. Faith acts even when the return is delayed or invisible.
B. Faith acts even when the return is delayed or invisible.
What animal do you picture when you think of WISDOM? Let me do an brief impersonation and let me know what you notice. (watching, big eyed, not action)
Whether interpreted as commerce, charity, or general wisdom, the point is this: take action and trust God with the results.
To live without risk is to waste your life.
We walk by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7
If we wait for clarity, we may never move.
C. Generosity in risk is a visible form of faith.
C. Generosity in risk is a visible form of faith.
Ecclesiastes 11:2 “2 Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.”
Giving to seven or eight reflects extravagant, open-handed faith.
True faith is not cautious hoarding but courageous sharing.
Faith trusts God to multiply what we release.
Transition: Sow, even when the outcome is uncertain. Bless, even when the return is unknown. This is risk rooted in worship.
Transition: Sow, even when the outcome is uncertain. Bless, even when the return is unknown. This is risk rooted in worship.
2. Waiting for certainty will paralyze your obedience. v.3-4
2. Waiting for certainty will paralyze your obedience. v.3-4
A. Some things are certain, but much of life remains unpredictable.
A. Some things are certain, but much of life remains unpredictable.
Ecclesiastes 11:3 “3 If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth: and if the tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be.”
Rain falls.
Trees stay where they fall.
But we don’t get to know where our efforts will land or how long fruit will take to grow.
This ambiguity is by design.
B. Watching the wind leads to fruitless delay.
B. Watching the wind leads to fruitless delay.
Ecclesiastes 11:4 “4 He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.”
Overthinking, over analyzing, always waiting for “better conditions” keeps us from planting anything.
Some of us may be frozen in time waiting for the perfect conditions to act.
C. God doesn’t call us to certainty, but to obedience.
C. God doesn’t call us to certainty, but to obedience.
Like the servant who buried his talent (Matt. 25), those who freeze in fear are wasting opportunities. (5,2,1 talents)
Letter with about the perils of indecision.
A decision must be made at some point, and it’s no good waiting indefinitely for a sign from heaven that will solve the difficulty without further trouble. Even the ecumenical movement has to make up its mind and is therefore subject to error, like everything human. But to procrastinate and prevaricate simply because you’re afraid of erring, when others—I mean our brethren in Germany—must make infinitely more difficult decisions every day, seems to me almost to run counter to love. To delay or fail to make decisions may be more sinful than to make wrong decisions out of faith and love.
To delay or fail to make decisions may be more sinful than to make wrong decisions out of faith and love.
3. Not knowing what God will bless, we give Him everything. v.5-6
3. Not knowing what God will bless, we give Him everything. v.5-6
A. The “unknown” is no excuse for passivity.
A. The “unknown” is no excuse for passivity.
Ecclesiastes 11:5 “5 As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all.”
We don’t know how the wind moves or how bones grow—so why demand to know how your work will turn out before acting?
We do not always know how and where God is working.
So what will we do?
B. Take every opportunity available—both morning and evening.
B. Take every opportunity available—both morning and evening.
Ecclesiastes 11:6 “6 In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.”
Obedience is risk. And it is right to risk for the cause of God.
This is not gambling; it’s faithful, diversified diligence, knowing that God might bless one effort, the other, or both.
C. Our job is to sow—God’s job is the increase.
C. Our job is to sow—God’s job is the increase.
Don’t count your success by immediate results. Just keep sowing.
Dairy of David brainerd,
"When I really enjoy God, I feel my desires of him the more insatiable, and my thirstings after holiness the more unquenchable.… Oh, that I may never loiter on my heavenly journey! God has been pleased to do more by me in this affair than I could have expected, and in a disproportionate manner to my endeavours."
4. How do we know it’s time to take the risk?
4. How do we know it’s time to take the risk?
A. When fear—not wisdom—is the obstacle.
A. When fear—not wisdom—is the obstacle.
2 Timothy 1:7 “7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”
If you’ve prayed, discerned, and counted the cost, but you’re still hesitating—is it wisdom, or is it fear?
If your hesitation is rooted in a desire for guarantees, comfort, or control—that’s not faith. That’s fear.
B. When the risk reflects God’s character and mission.
B. When the risk reflects God’s character and mission.
1 Corinthians 10:31 “31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”
Does this opportunity extend the kingdom? Reflect God’s generosity? Serve His people? Then act.
Our great and only concern should be for the promotion of God’s glory in this world.
Die to self and live body for Him.
C. When you no longer need safety to be secure.
C. When you no longer need safety to be secure.
One of the saddest stories in history. Young man, with wealth comes to Jesus but in his fear he could not leave his security to follow Christ. It was just too risky for him. Luke 18
If we are secure in Christ, we are free to fail, because we cannot lose what matters most.
Selah rock climbing.
If God gave His Son, won’t He provide everything else we need for joyful obedience? Romans 8:32 “32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?”
In Romans 8:37, the phrase "in all these things we are more than conquerors" teaches that victory doesn't come by avoiding hardship, but through enduring it with Christ.
Paul doesn’t deny the suffering believers face—in fact, he lists it plainly in verse 35:
Tribulation: crushing trouble and hardship
Distress: tight places that feel inescapable
Persecution: hostility for Christ’s sake Famine and nakedness: lacking even basic needs
Peril: life-threatening danger
Sword: even execution
This means obedience to Christ includes real risk, even unto death
The promise is clear: nothing—not even the sword—can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Risk for the cause of God is not only right, it is victorious.
5. When we read the Bible we should take note of the risks taken, the ones avoided, and the consequences of both.
5. When we read the Bible we should take note of the risks taken, the ones avoided, and the consequences of both.
Paul summarizes stories in the OT with this Romans 15:4 “4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.”
Three Old Testament examples of faithful risk-taking in uncertain situations:
Three Old Testament examples of faithful risk-taking in uncertain situations:
Joab: Surrounded by enemies, Joab divides his army and prepares for battle without knowing the outcome. He entrusts the result to God, saying, “Be of good courage, and let us play the men for our people, and for the cities of our God: and the LORD do that which seemeth him good.” (2 Sam. 10:12)
Esther: Facing possible death, Esther chooses to approach the king on behalf of her people, declaring, “so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.” (Esth. 4:16)
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: Refusing to worship Nebuchadnezzar’s image, they face the fiery furnace with bold faith, saying, “Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us… But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods.” (Dan. 3:17–18)
Each example shows that faithful obedience often involves risk, but trusting God with the outcome is always right.
Hope is the great power to love people in the face of serious danger.
God-given hope creates the power to risk for the sake of others.
Paul spoke to the Colossians of “the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven” (Col. 1:5).
We also have stories of those afraid to risk.
We also have stories of those afraid to risk.
When Israel stood on the edge of the Promised Land, Caleb and Joshua urged the people to trust God and move forward, despite the giants in the land. But the people were gripped by fear, longing for the illusion of safety in Egypt rather than risking obedience to God.
Caleb and Joshua said:
Numbers 14:7–9 (KJV)
7 And they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land.
8 If the LORD delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey.
9 Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the LORD is with us: fear them not.
The people refused to listen and even sought to stone them. As a result, they wandered in the wilderness for forty years—a generation lost to fear, not failure.
The lesson is clear: to avoid risk in the name of safety can lead to wasted lives and missed blessings. Obedience may be risky, but faithless caution can be deadly.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Four times in six verses the Teacher reminds us: “you do not know.”
That refrain exposes our pride in needing control and certainty. But Scripture turns that uncertainty into a call for bold faith.
Because God does know, and because He makes everything (v.5), we can labor with courage.
So stop watching the wind. Stop waiting for the clouds to clear. Sow. Give. Speak. Serve. Because your labor in the Lord is not in vain. You don’t need certainty—you need faith. And God will be faithful to bless it.
Wisdom tells us because life is uncertain, risk taking is a necessary part of the obedient Christian life.
