You Do Not Know Series

After going bankrupt in 1998, the Psychic Friends Network relaunched as a public company in 2012, promising to be “bigger, bolder, and better than ever.” In their investor presentation, they promised to “leverage an iconic brand name using new technologies and social media to re-establish Psychic Friends Network as the industry leader for daily horoscopes and psychic advice.” The company's website advertised, “We all want to know what our future holds… For centuries, great leaders have sought and found the vital psychic edge, and now, so can you!”

Their business plan forecasted $64 million in net income by 2015. But ironically, the first page of its investor presentation included this cautionary note: “Undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements because Psychic Friends Network can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct” (Jonathan Weil, “The Psychic Friends Network Cannot Predict Its Future,” Bloomberg, 10-19-12; www.PreachingToday.com).

So much for trusting their services. The point is, psychic, or otherwise, no one knows the future, so there are no assurances. And that has people very worried especially in these uncertain times.

Just last year (2022), Chapman University surveyed adults on 95 fears and discovered that as high as 85 percent of Americans live with a sense of impending doom. The top 10 fears of those who listed themselves as afraid or very afraid are as follows:

#1. Corrupt government officials 62.1%

#2. People I love becoming seriously ill 60.2%

#3. Russia using nuclear weapons 59.6%

#4. People I love dying 58.1%

#5. The U.S. involved in another world war 56.0%

#6. Pollution of drinking water 54.5%

#7. Not having enough money for the future 53.7%

#8. Economic/financial collapse 53.7%

#9. Pollution of oceans, rivers, and lakes 52.5%

#10. Biological warfare 51.5% (The Top 10 Fears in America 2022 Did your fears make the list? Chapman University, 10/14/22; www.PreachingToday.com).

Wow! If I were afraid of even half of those things, I’d want to crawl into a hole and give up on life. And that’s what some people do. But God calls believers to face an unknown future differently. If you have your Bibles, I invite you to turn with me to Ecclesiastes 11, Ecclesiastes 11, where the Bible gives very clear guidance on what to do when you do not know.

Ecclesiastes 11:1-2 Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days. Give a portion to seven, or even to eight, for you know not what disaster may happen on earth (ESV).

That phrase, “you do not know,” shows up four times in the first six verses—here in verse 2, twice in verse 5, and once in verse 6. So, what do you do when you do not know the future? Well, you don’t crawl into a hole and give up on life. No! You get out there and…

WORK DILIGENTLY.

Labor industriously. Do your job thoroughly.

Since life is risky and you do not know what disasters are ahead, invest broadly. Don’t “put all your eggs in one basket,” so to speak, but spread your ventures around.

Send out those trading ships. Sure, a storm may sink one or two of them, but eventually there will be a return on your investment. Even though the ancient Jews feared the sea, Solomon built a fleet of ships anyway. He loaded and sent them with goods to trade, and “once every three years the fleet of ships… used to come bringing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks,” according to 1 Kings 10 (1 Kings 10:22).

Now, you may not have a fleet of ships to send to various ports around the world, but you do have various interests in which to invest your time and money. Don’t just settle on one, because that one venture may come to a disastrous end. Instead, invest your time and money in various interests, so that at least one of them gives you a return on your investment.

Don’t let the fear of failure limit your options. Instead, let the fear of failure motivate you to expand your options. Invest broadly.

And then work regularly. Don’t wait for the perfect time to invest your energy. Get to work now and keep on working until you see success.

Ecclesiastes 11:3-4 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. He who observes the wind will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap (ESV).

If a farmer waits until the wind is just right, he will never plant any seeds. And if he waits until the clouds are all gone, he will never harvest any crops. Don’t wait for optimum conditions to start working. Get to work now and keep on working until you see success.