The Cambridge Dictionary defines “INACTIVITY” as “the state of doing nothing”. The Webster Merriam Dictionary defines “INACTIVE” as “Sedentary; Indolent, Sluggish; Being out of use”.
Today, I am going to show you according to ancient wisdom, that inactivity is the opposite of productivity. And inactivity carries consequences. Let’s get started.
The ancient book of Ecclesiastes tells us in chapter 11 verse 3, “If the clouds are full of rain, they empty themselves on the earth, and if a tree falls to the south or to the north, in the pace where the tree falls, there it will lie.” If you think you understand what Solomon is saying in full, please take a more in-depth look.
Does this single verse tell us the whole story regarding what Solomon is teaching us? No. In a recent episode I covered verses 1-2 which speaks to the importance of taking risk in order to get ahead in life. Here, in verse 3, Solomon builds off that initial truth in that if we fail to take any risk and remain “inactive”, we forfeit being “productive”. And that is a sin. In verse two Solomon tells us that there is wisdom in diversified investment because nobody knows what might happen to each investment. In verse three he better clarifies his point in telling us that there is an inevitable sequence and finality in many of life’s events, including our investments, and all of our long-term and daily activities. The bottom line is that if we fail to be active, we by default choose to be “inactive”-doing nothing.
I want to point out two simple observations about what Solomon meant in Ecclesiastes 11:3 specifically (which says again says) ”If the clouds are full of rain, they empty themselves on the earth, and if a tree falls to the south or to the north, in the place where the tree falls, there it will be”?
OBSERVATION #1: Regardless of which way a “TREE FALLS” someone is going to get the use of its wood, who stop worrying that it did not fall on your side (or even hoping that it will).
OBSERVATION #2): Solomon uses the illustration of a farmer. In the areas of farming, Solomon maintained that the farmer must act wisely despite the uncertainties of nature. Farming is full of risk. Some aspects of nature are relatively predictable (i.e. rain clouds bringing rain). But others are unpredictable (i.e. wherever a tree falls), and the truth is that most are out of human control (v.3).
Solomon make clear in verse 3 that there is an inevitable sequence and finality in many of life’s events; and that is more often than not out of our control. Some will say, “If it’s out of my control, why should I do anything?” My answer is that we are to try in the first place to do “something” and leave the results in God’s hand or we risk APATHY or being “apathetic”, which the Cambridge Dictionary defines as “showing no interest or energy and unwilling to take action, especially over something important”. Did you get that? Failing to exert yourself, expend the energy and having an unwilling heart to take action to do something that is very important is to be slothful.
Solomon says in verse 4, “He who observes the wind will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap”. Switching to this example of sowing seed and reaping a harvest, Solomon urges his readers not to sit around waiting for the most opportune moment to work, but to be diligent and constantly working (producing). In the end, man’s control is limited as the future is as beyond one’s control as the acts of God in nature-the falling of “RAIN”, the uprooting of “A TREE” by a gale. So waiting for just the right moment to plant a tree, the annual harvest or even your grass seed (when there is no rain in “THE CLOUDS” to threaten the rippende harvest) will result in inactivity.
Looking ahead to verses 5-6, Solomon tells us that in watching for “THE WIND”, a farmer has no ideas which “PATH” (direction) it will take. He is as ignorant of that as he is of something he cannot see such as a baby’s “BODY” being “FORMED IN” it’s “MOTHER WOMB”. Man cannot know the future or “THE WORK OF GOD” who has made and controls “ALL THINGS”. This takes faith and trust in God, and requires to submit to God’s will and not our own desires when in contrast to God.
IN CONCLUSION, Solomon here urges us to work diligently, planting our “SEED” all day long, because we (like the farmer) do “NOT KNOW WHICH” sowing will “SUCCEED, WHETHER THIS OR THAT, OR WHETHER BOTH” would “DO EQUALLY AS WELL”. Through the examples Solomon gives us regarding the maritime trade in verses 1-2, and one from farming in verses 3-4; 6, Solomon urges us towards constant, diligent effort and prudent diversified investment of their energies and resources, recognizing that all is in God’s sovereign control.
THE BOTTOM LINE God is showing us through Solomon is that we, like the farmer who cannot allow their inability to predict or control nature to paralyze them into “INACTION” (v.4), we too in the same way ought not stop being productive in all God has given us to do on this earth. Since God’s ways are as inscrutable as the formation of the baby in the womb or the direction of the wind (v.5), you and I, like the wise farmer ought to work hard and wisely and plan for many contingencies (v.6).
In closing, let’s be careful to avoid “INACTIVITY”, meaning “being in a state of doing nothing”, “Sedentary; Indolent, Sluggish; or Being out of use” in doing business and serving the Lord. Because in the end, inactivity is the opposite of productivity, and inactivity carries consequences. And that is why “INACTIVITY is the great enemy of productivity”
