Day 179: Ecclesiastes 11-Generosity~Live To Give

1 Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days. 2 Give a portion to seven, or even to eight, for you know not what disaster may happen on earth. 3 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.

4 He who observes the wind will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap. 5 As you do not know the way the spirit comes to the bones in the womb of a woman with child, so you do not know the work of God who makes everything.
6 In the morning sow your seed, and at evening withhold not your hand, for you do not know which will prosper, this or that, or whether both alike will be good.
7 Light is sweet, and it is pleasant for the eyes to see the sun.
 
8 So if a person lives many years, let him rejoice in them all; but let him remember that the days of darkness will be many. All that comes is vanity. 9 Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes. But know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.10 Remove vexation from your heart, and put away pain from your body, for youth and the dawn of life are vanity.
 
Meditation
Joy flows from generosity, first receiving the generosity of God’s grace then sharing generously with others.
 
The Preacher of Ecclesiastes is constructing a worldview of wisdom, an above the sun perspective for life. Vanity describes life under the sun, a life centered on ourselves. If earthly prosperity, prominence, power, and possessions purchased fullness and happiness then the preacher would be full and happy! But he is empty, chasing wind. The remedy is both counter cultural and counter intuitive.
 
“Cast your bread upon the waters” is a command to share resources in the ecosystem of life. Have you fed bread to fish?  It will not return as bread. Live open handedly, willing to give to “seven, even eight.” (2) Generosity is an investment knowing disaster and storms will come (3-4). Generosity births love in the ecosystem of life.
 
Do not wait for the right wind to be generous (5) because God sovereignly gives life. Sow seeds (6) at all times so light will shine through generosity (7).
 
Real rejoicing is found in living open-handedly with all this world has to offer (8-9).  Jesus agrees, teaching “It is more blessed to give than to receive… to find your life you must lose your life.” (Matthew 7:2; John 12:25)
 
Richly Dwelling
-Are you generous with all you have or do you calculate to keep what you can and spend on yourself? How does God’s grace touch your heart and help you open your hands?
 
-Wisdom compels us to be generous every day and in every season. Why is this season difficult for you to be generous?
 
-What are three ways you can grow in generosity? Be specific in naming how you can GIVE more, living openhandedly for the benefit and blessing of others.
 
Key Verse
4 He who observes the wind will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap.