Embrace Generosity and Diligence in the face of life's uncertainties.

The LORD be with You. (And with thy spirit) Let us Pray.

Heavenly Father. Help us to embrace the uncertainties of life with faith and courage. Guide us to take action and to sow seeds of goodness, even when we do not know what the future holds. May we trust in Your divine plan and timing, understanding that You are in control of all things.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Good morning, everyone. I want to start today by sharing a personal story. This year I have embraced the joys of gardening. Heather and I wanted to transform our hum drum back yard to a gardening wonderland. This spring, I got bitten by the gardening bug and started to meticulously prepare the soil, plant seeds, and tend to my plant crops with great care. I remember asking myself as I got the plants, 'how do I know that all this hard work will pay off? What if the weather is bad or the seeds don’t grow?'

In reality, we don’t always know what will happen, but we plant the seeds anyway. We trust that with time, effort, and a bit of faith, something good will come of it.

This memory came back to me as I was reflecting on Ecclesiastes 11:1-6. The passage speaks about casting your bread upon the waters and sowing your seed in the morning and evening, even though you do not know which will succeed. It’s a beautiful reminder of the importance of diligence, faith, and the acceptance of uncertainty in our lives. Just like many gardeners, we are called to take action and trust in the process, even when the outcome is uncertain."

The Preacher states two commands right off the bat. The first command we hear is in verse 1. “Cast your bread upon the waters.”

In a historical context the phrase is derived from an ancient agricultural practice. Farmers would cast seeds onto the waters of the Nile River or marshy grounds. When the waters receded, the seeds would take root in the fertile soil and grow.

In a broader symbolic sense, "waters" symbolize multitudes of people. The act of casting bread (or seeds) represents giving or performing acts of kindness and charity. The recipients of these acts may initially seem unlikely to return the favor or benefit from the kindness. However, just as seeds eventually grow, these acts of kindness can yield positive results over time.

Are we not called as children of God to cast our "bread"—our resources, time, love, and acts of kindness—upon the waters?

It may seem uncertain and risky, but God promises that our efforts will not be in vain. In due time, we will see the fruits of our faith and generosity, often in ways we never expected.

The phrase “cast your bread upon the waters” suggests that the kindness we show to others, even if it seems wasted at first, can come back to benefit us in the future. Those we help today may be the ones who help us tomorrow.

There is much work to do, but who will answer the call?

The second command from the Preacher, “Give a portion to seven, or even to eight.”

It is often interpreted as advice on diversification and generosity. We carry the notion of diversification and generosity, as a way to prepare for unforeseen events.

Diversification: The phrase suggests that one should not put all their resources or investments into a single venture. By spreading out your resources ("giving a portion to seven, or even to eight"), you reduce the risk of losing everything if one venture fails. This is similar to the modern financial advice of diversifying your investment portfolio.

Generosity: It also implies the importance of being generous and sharing your resources with others. By giving portions to multiple people, you are helping a broader range of individuals, which can create a more supportive and resilient community.

Jesus frequently taught about the importance of generosity and helping others. For example, in the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37), Jesus emphasizes the importance of helping those in need, regardless of their background. This aligns with the idea in Ecclesiastes of giving to many, as you do not know who might need help.

The verse also highlights the importance of being prepared for uncertainties. We can apply this by being spiritually, emotionally, and practically prepared for life's unpredictability through prayer, study, and wise planning. This may well reflect the need for diversity in investing, which is sound wisdom, but let us not forget there is also a spiritual application as well. The meaning seems to be that we should be liberal because we may not long have the power of giving, but may ourselves come into misfortune, and need help.

We can see this spiritual application in the Gospel of Matthew by what Jesus taught about storing up treasures in heaven rather than on earth (Matthew 6:19-21). By being generous and helping others, believers are investing in their spiritual future, much like the advice in Ecclesiastes to diversify and be prepared for the unknown.

“For you know not ” is a key phrase in this section. These four words reminds us that man is ignorant of the future, but he must not allow his ignorance to make him so fearful that he becomes either careless or paralyzed.

On the contrary, not knowing the future should make us more careful in what we plan and what we do.

We should recognize that this verse encourages generosity. We must learn to see all people as our Lord sees them. We tend to support certain causes or help certain people, but I fear that we may be lacking compassion as the Lord desires.

Jesus frequently taught about the importance of generosity and helping others. For example, in Luke 6:38, Jesus says, "Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you." This aligns with the idea in Ecclesiastes of giving generously without knowing what the future holds.

Let us continue to Verse 3-4, which contrasts the clouds with the tree. Clouds are always changing. They come and go, and the farmer hopes they will spill their waters on his fields. Trees are somewhat permanent. They stand in the same place, unless a storm topples them; and then they lie there and rot.

“If the clouds are full of rain...” In a literal sense, clouds full of rain will eventually release the rain onto the earth. Metaphorically, it can imply that when a person or situation reaches a certain point, action or change is inevitable.

“And if a tree falls... there it will lie” indicate that certain events or outcomes are final and unchangeable. Once a tree falls, it lies where it has fallen, whether to the south or to the north. This can be interpreted to mean that some things in life are beyond our control and must be accepted as they are.

In verse 4 it cautions to not sit around waiting for ideal circumstances. this verse discusses the unpredictability of life and the importance of taking action despite uncertainties. The verse suggests that those who are overly cautious or constantly waiting for perfect conditions will never take action. In agricultural terms, a farmer who waits for the perfect weather to plant or harvest will never get anything done.

Just as farmers must trust that the conditions will eventually be right for sowing and reaping, believers are called to trust in God's sovereignty and timing. Jesus taught about the importance of faith and trust in God, even when circumstances seem uncertain (Matthew 6:25-34).

The verse also warns against procrastination and waiting for perfect conditions, which can lead to inaction. Jesus' ministry was marked by urgency and a call to immediate action. He called His disciples to follow Him without delay (Matthew 4:18-22) and urged people to respond to the Gospel message promptly (Luke 9:59-62).

In conclusion in Verses 5-6. “As you do not know the way the spirit comes to the bones in the womb of a woman with child...”

The scripture reminds us that we do not know the way the spirit comes to the bones. This journey of the spirit into the physical form is a divine act, orchestrated by God Himself. It is a reminder of our limitations as humans and the boundless wisdom of our Creator. Just as we cannot see the wind but feel its presence, we cannot see the spirit's journey but witness its result in the miracle of a newborn child.

In our quest for knowledge, we must also embrace the unknown. There are aspects of life and creation that are beyond our grasp, and that is where faith comes in. We are called to marvel at the wonders of God's creation and to trust in His infinite wisdom and love.

In verse 6:

The verse begins with a simple yet profound instruction, "In the morning sow your seed." This is a call to action, urging us to start our day with purpose and effort. Sowing seeds is a metaphor for the work we do, the goals we pursue, and the kindness we extend to others. It reminds us that the early hours of our day are precious and should be used wisely.

The verse continues, "and in the evening withhold not your hand." This teaches us the importance of perseverance. Even as the day progresses and we grow tired, we are encouraged to continue our efforts. Life is unpredictable, and we cannot foresee which of our actions will bear fruit. Therefore, we must remain steadfast and committed, not giving up when challenges arise.

"For you do not know which will prosper, this or that, or whether both alike will be good." This part of the verse acknowledges the uncertainty of life. We cannot predict the outcomes of our actions with certainty. However, this uncertainty should not deter us. Instead, it should inspire us to diversify our efforts and trust that, in due time, our hard work will yield positive results.

Underlying this message is a profound trust in God's plan. While we may not know which of our efforts will succeed, we can have faith that God sees our diligence and will bless our endeavors in ways we may not expect. Our role is to remain faithful and diligent, trusting that God will bring about the best possible outcomes.

Once upon a time, there lived a humble farmer named Lucius . Lucius was known for his diligence and unwavering faith. Every morning, as the sun began to rise, he would head out to his fields with a bag of seeds slung over his shoulder. He would scatter the seeds across the fertile soil, trusting that they would grow into a bountiful harvest.

One day, a curious young boy named David approached Lucius and asked, "Why do you sow seeds every morning and continue working in the evening? Isn't it enough to just plant once and wait?"

Lucius replied, "David, let me tell you a story. Many years ago, I only sowed my seeds in the morning, thinking that was enough. But one year, a terrible storm came and washed away all the seeds I had planted. I was left with nothing to harvest.

He continued, "In the morning, I sow my seeds with hope and faith. But in the evening, I do not withhold my hand. I continue to work, tend to the fields, and plant more seeds. You see, David, we do not know which seeds will prosper. Some may grow strong and bear fruit, while others may not. By sowing in both the morning and the evening, I increase my chances of a plentiful harvest."

The verse acknowledges the uncertainty of which efforts will prosper, this lesson resonates with Jesus' teaching about trusting God with the unknown. For example, in Matthew 6:34, Jesus says, "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

Conclusion

I would encourage us to apply these principles to our daily lives.

Be Generous: Be generous with our time, talents, and resources, reflecting Christ's love.Take Action: I Urge you to step out in faith, even when the outcome is uncertain, trusting that God is in control. Trust in God: Remember to rely on God's wisdom and sovereignty, just as Jesus did.

"In Ecclesiastes 11:1-6, we are reminded of the importance of generosity, the courage to act amidst uncertainty, and the trust in God's sovereign plan. As followers of Christ, we are called to embody these principles in our lives.

Jesus Himself taught us to give freely, to trust in God's provision, and to step out in faith. Let us be encouraged to live generously, act boldly, and trust deeply in our Lord, knowing that He holds our future in His hands. In Christ, we find our hope and our strength.

In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost Amen.