Ecclesiastes 11:1-4
Some things in life just must be done. We must brush our teeth unless we want them to rot out of our head. We must fill our car with gas unless we want to be stranded by a useless vehicle. We must reap the harvest unless we want to starve.
Solomon wrote that if a man observes the wind, he won’t sow his seed. If a man looks at the clouds, he may not reap his harvest. Sowing must be done, whether there is wind or not, and reaping must be done, whether there is rain coming or not. Looking at the circumstances will change nothing, so just do what must be done.
In regards to helping your fellow man, or giving to those in need, we must often do what must be done, with little regard as to the circumstances. Jesus told us in Matthew 10:42, “Whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward”. Even if the giving of this gift is not done in church, or in an offering, it is still a precious gift, and you will not lose your reward.
When we “cast our bread upon the waters”, we are letting it flow down the river, going where it needs to go. And just as it is nearly impossible to pull something back once the river begins to take it where it may, we must give in similar fashion into the work of the Lord; with no strings attached. Don’t give with a demand put on your gift that you must have a say as to how it is used and where it goes. If you cannot give into the work of a ministry that you trust, you shouldn’t give anyhow. Paul told New Testament believers to give, “not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7).
The Psalmist said that a man that disperses goods to the poor will be exalted with honor (Psalms 112:9). When Solomon spoke of helping others, he knew that you would not always know the outcome, nor would you always receive benefit yourself. Sometimes we give to others, and get nothing in return, yet we give anyhow because we know the evil that abounds on the earth, and we may be of some comfort to someone in our gift. This is why he says, “withhold not thine hand” (Ecclesiastes 11:6).
If you give for no other reason, give for the great things that Christ has done for you. Remember that Abraham paid tithes to Melchizedek in response to Melchizedek bringing forth bread and wine (Genesis 14:18). As soon as Abraham had a revelation of the Body and the Blood, giving became easy. You cannot pay God back, neither should you try, but you do owe a debt of love to the whole world. When you see opportunity today to be a giver, take that opportunity. It will not only brighten your day, but it may make all of the difference to one who is hurting.
“Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth” (Ecclesiastes 11:2).
Some things in life just must be done. We must brush our teeth unless we want them to rot out of our head. We must fill our car with gas unless we want to be stranded by a useless vehicle. We must reap the harvest unless we want to starve.
Solomon wrote that if a man observes the wind, he won’t sow his seed. If a man looks at the clouds, he may not reap his harvest. Sowing must be done, whether there is wind or not, and reaping must be done, whether there is rain coming or not. Looking at the circumstances will change nothing, so just do what must be done.
In regards to helping your fellow man, or giving to those in need, we must often do what must be done, with little regard as to the circumstances. Jesus told us in Matthew 10:42, “Whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward”. Even if the giving of this gift is not done in church, or in an offering, it is still a precious gift, and you will not lose your reward.
When we “cast our bread upon the waters”, we are letting it flow down the river, going where it needs to go. And just as it is nearly impossible to pull something back once the river begins to take it where it may, we must give in similar fashion into the work of the Lord; with no strings attached. Don’t give with a demand put on your gift that you must have a say as to how it is used and where it goes. If you cannot give into the work of a ministry that you trust, you shouldn’t give anyhow. Paul told New Testament believers to give, “not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7).
The Psalmist said that a man that disperses goods to the poor will be exalted with honor (Psalms 112:9). When Solomon spoke of helping others, he knew that you would not always know the outcome, nor would you always receive benefit yourself. Sometimes we give to others, and get nothing in return, yet we give anyhow because we know the evil that abounds on the earth, and we may be of some comfort to someone in our gift. This is why he says, “withhold not thine hand” (Ecclesiastes 11:6).
If you give for no other reason, give for the great things that Christ has done for you. Remember that Abraham paid tithes to Melchizedek in response to Melchizedek bringing forth bread and wine (Genesis 14:18). As soon as Abraham had a revelation of the Body and the Blood, giving became easy. You cannot pay God back, neither should you try, but you do owe a debt of love to the whole world. When you see opportunity today to be a giver, take that opportunity. It will not only brighten your day, but it may make all of the difference to one who is hurting.
“Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth” (Ecclesiastes 11:2).
