Queen's Road Cell

  Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”; 2  before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened and the clouds return after the rain, 3  in the day when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men are bent, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those who look through the windows are dimmed, 4  and the doors on the street are shut—when the sound of the grinding is low, and one rises up at the sound of a bird, and all the daughters of song are brought low— 5  they are afraid also of what is high, and terrors are in the way; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along, and desire fails, because man is going to his eternal home, and the mourners go about the streets— 6  before the silver cord is snapped, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern,

  37  “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; 38  give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.” 39  He also told them a parable: “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? 40  A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher. 41  Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 42  How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother's eye. ( Luke 6:37-42)   Introduction More than 30 years ago t

  5  As you do not know the way the spirit comes to the bones in the womb of a woman with child, so you do not know the work of God who makes everything. 6  In the morning sow your seed, and at evening withhold not your hand, for you do not know which will prosper, this or that, or whether both alike will be good. 7  Light is sweet, and it is pleasant for the eyes to see the sun. 8  So if a person lives many years, let him rejoice in them all; but let him remember that the days of darkness will be many. All that comes is vanity. 9  Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes. But know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment. 10  Remove vexation from your heart, and put away pain from your body, for youth and the dawn of life are vanity. (Ecc 11:5-10) 1. What does Ecclesiastes teach us about the human sprit in  3:21, 11:5 and 12:7? What does 11:5 teach us

  Cast your bread upon the waters,      for you will find it after many days. 2  Give a portion to seven, or even to eight,      for you know not what disaster may happen on earth. 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 place where the tree falls, there it will lie. 4  He who observes the wind will not sow,      and he who regards the clouds will not reap. (Ecc 10:1-4) Qoheleth continues with his reflection on how to live wisely. 1. What might it mean to "cast your bread upon the waters"? (v.1-2) There are 3 possible interpretations of this difficult verse: It refers to giving to the poor, and that this whole section is on charity. It refers to maritime commerce, where long journeys and uncertainties were common It refers more generally to diversifying investments and efforts in life. There is a perspecitve on risk-taking. We have to make efforts. Not all our efforts will be su