Human wisdom works best when properly informed by revelation. Solomon proposes some lessons not obvious to human reasoning, but obviously useful when examined.
It’s difficult to say whether Solomon suggests in this first verse that we should be charitable or make wise investments. Possibly it’s both, since the whole point is you have to invest yourself and your resources into this life with a long term view. Whether you hope to reap a trade profit or a moral reward, you dare not allow yourself to worry about what you give up on the front side. That’s how life really works: He who refuses to invest can’t make any profit. The second verse advises a diverse portfolio, as well. The obvious point is that bean counters always know what they have but never gain anything. It’s the wrong mentality.
Accept your lot in life; seek your divine calling where you are. If you wait for the perfect conditions, you’ll miss God’s blessings. There is plenty He won’t reveal to you; it’s not necessary to control all the factors involved to reap the benefits of His blessings. Start early and be faithful until you can’t do any more. Invest yourself fully in the moment regardless what your human wisdom may try to tell you. God is not constrained by what you can understand.
Stop every now and then and see how good life is. Celebrate the little things because joy is waiting hidden in the insignificant as well as the things we consider great. Count your blessings; learn from your sorrows. Life is empty to those who are morally blind and think only in terms of human wisdom.
Don’t wait until you are older to embrace the peace of moral goodness. Most youthful diversions are harmless enough, but don’t let them run away with your soul. Don’t take things too seriously, getting worked up over trifles and silly disappointments. Don’t plot revenge. Put your own youth in perspective. Every generation before you remembers things from their youth they wish they could forget; listen when they explain why because you are not any smarter than they were.
