Ecclesiastes 11:1-6 says,...Bible reading week 13, day 1

Today's verses are Ecclesiastes 11:1-6, which read,

v.1 - Cast your bread on the surface of the waters, for you will find it after many days.

I guess this is a reference of throwing seed on a wet ground to see if it will grow.  The seed would be of a grain, probably wheat, which would be eventually become bread.  This farmer does so but it doesn't take at this time but it was a test run.  Maybe it was too wet or maybe the seed was no good.  I idea is that a step was taken in a certain direction to see if a next step in the direction is taken.  And so we have that phrase in our culture to "cast your bread on the water."  So much comes from the Bible and it begs the question, "What is he testing?"

v.2 - Divide your portion to seven, or even to eight, for you do not know what misfortune may occur on the earth.

The testing is in the area of generosity.  This person is dividing up the his reserves in portions to be able to give away to those who are in need.  They are planning ahead to the opportunity to not just help one or two but seven or eight.  Solomon is challenging us to be the person who is able to help in these kinds of needs to many.  We are able to do this but most likely in the typical American culture we would need to stop indulging ourselves to be more generous to others.  The shift would be to our benefit in a more eternal way than enjoying the temporal thrills of self satisfaction. 

v.3,4  - If the clouds are full, they pour out rain upon the earth; and whether a tree falls toward the south or toward the north, wherever the tree falls, there it lies.  He who watches the wind will not sow and he who looks at the clouds will not reap.

The farmer is looking to the sky and the clouds.  He is putting up his finger to feel the direction of the wind.  Are the clouds full of rain?  Are they rain clouds?  Is the wind from the north or from the south?  These are things he is observing but he is not in control of, rather they are in control of him and his actions.  He is at the mercy of them.  Something else must come into play if we can not control everything and that is trust.  You have to trust the One who does control what you can not control.  

v.5 - Just as you do not know the path of the wind and how bones are formed in the womb of the pregnant women, so you do not know the activity of God who makes all things.

Solomon is unpacking this word picture.  He identifies the One who is in control and of course it is God.  We are checking the wind but God is directing it.  We are amazed at the formation of the baby in the womb but God is forming it.  God is the one who makes it all happen and we have to trust in His process even though we don't understand with certainty all His activity.  We attribute that harvest and that baby to God.  Remember the testing here is the area of generosity and providing for others in need in the face of continual hounding to consume.  If I plan to give and then do give, will I have enough for myself?  Will God provide from me if I am the one in need?  This will stretch me beyond my comfort zone but I will experience God's provision and which is better?

v.6 - Sow your seed in the morning and do not be idle in the evening, for you do not know whether morning or evening sowing will succeed, or whether both of them alike will be good.

Solomon comes back to another "good" that exists in this world of vanity and that is to be at work.   So test the waters and throw out that seed in faith that it will grow but keep working.  Don't sit back and let the weeds grow up in the garden.  Be about the work of a farmer and ready to harvest when it comes either morning or evening.  We are to be a generous people unto others as God is with us and that takes us being industrious with what God has provided to us.  We are to be generous with our time, with our resources, with our compassion, with our knowledge, with our spiritual gifts, with our...and you get the picture.  

Will this really work?  If I give more away will God really provide what I need?  I think one of the hurdles to jump is being content in what you need and not always going for what you want.  Our houses and garages are full of a lot of "wants" that we really didn't need.  We were looking for those "wants" to fill some void that could have been filled by God but rather we pushed Him aside to fill it with shiny thing.  What if you were being generous and content with your needs being meet and God brought you along a "want?"  Wouldn't that "want" mean so much more to you?  A lot of our "wants" are collecting dust.  But "wants" provided by God are treasured for we know they came from Him.  How does that happen?  By being generous with what God has given us to use for His glory by helping others in need as we live and work in the realm of our needs.  Let us pray.

"Lord, our society entices our 'wants.' They sell our 'wants.'  They gloss over our 'needs' and go for the resources that we could be dividing up to help others and say use it for yourself instead.  They rob us of seeing You bless us with our obedience to Your instruction.  Help us to not be sold a bill of goods today.  Amen."

Pastor Adam