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a generous response to vanity Daniel Patz, Lead Pastor Grace Church, Sunday Worship Ecclesiastes 11:1-6 June 5th, 2011
Ecclesiastes 11:1-6 ESV (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.
INTRODUCTION Thoughts About this Book--Ecclesiastes 1. All is vanity under the sun. Vanity: elusiveness, vaporous, futility, disatisfying in itself, frustrating Under the Sun: life in this world apart from a God-perspective Life is like making daily sandcastles on an ocean’s beach. You build it and it is washed away daily by the tide. Ecclesiastes 1:14-15 ESV (14) I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind. (15) What is crooked cannot be made straight, and what is lacking cannot be counted. 2. This along with everything else is God’s doing. This vanity is not an “oops” to God and His ways. This is all part of His plan. God made the tide. God instructs us to build castles on the beach. There is a time and season for everything and only He controls those times and seasons. Ecclesiastes 9:1 ESV But all this I laid to heart, examining it all, how the righteous and the wise and their deeds are in the hand of God. Whether it is love or hate, man does not know; both are before him. 3. Joy is possible in the midst of this vanity because of God’s grace. To those who trust in His wisdom, power and love – God gives them the ability to make a new castle every day with joy and laugh at the reality that tomorrow’s tide will wash it away. Ecclesiastes 5:19-20 ESV (19) Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil--this is the gift of God. (20) For he will not much remember the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with joy in his heart. 4. Wisdom recognizes our dependence on God for everything and trusts in Him while acting in obedience to His commands.
2 IMPORTANT POINTS 1. Recognize that ultimately everything is out of our hands 2. Embrace the things presently in our hands with godly action (joy, eat, love, give)
This passage calls us to a life of GENEROSITY in the midst of vanity. “Cast your bread upon the waters.” Instead of being paralyzed by vanity – act. The godly act in generosity. Ps. 37:21 – says that the righteous are generous Proverbs 14:21 – the godly are blessed because they are generous Proverbs 14:31 – the one who looks down on the poor, insults their Maker – generosity honors God. In Deuteronomy 15:7-14 – God people were commanded to show generosity to the poor and needy.
Here are six things this passage says about this: 1. Be generous with…AN INVESTMENT MINDSET (v. 1) Ecclesiastes 11:1 ESV Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days. Command: “cast your bread upon the waters” Promise: “for you will find it after many days” Here and all throughout the Bible, we are commanded to have an investment mentality when giving. We give knowing that we will receive from the Lord. We trust in Him. Proverbs 28:27 ESV Whoever gives to the poor will not want, but he who hides his eyes will get many a curse. Proverbs 19:17 ESV Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will repay him for his deed. 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 ESV (6) The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. (7) Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. (8) And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. Luke 6:38 ESV give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you." The Key – TRUST IN THE LORD! 2. Be generous in spite of…POSSIBLE BAD TIMES IN THE NEAR FUTURE (v. 2) Ecclesiastes 11:2 ESV Give a portion to seven, or even to eight, for you know not what disaster may happen on earth. He doesn’t say – well, you know that hard times comes around so make sure you hoard. Give seven or eight portions because you might not have it to give later on. Be generous now when you can. This doesn’t mean we should be foolish and not prepare. It warns us from a worldly attitude of self-sufficiency. 3. Be generous in…A BROAD OR DIVERSE WAY (v. 2) Ecclesiastes 11:2 ESV Give a portion to seven, or even to eight, for you know not what disaster may happen on earth. Here he says – give to seven or eight…be broad in your generosity. It might mean – don’t put all your eggs in one basket in your investment. Give as you are able and as your heart finds it to give. 4. Be generous without…WORRYING ABOUT THE PERFECT TIMING TO ACT (vv. 3-4) Ecclesiastes 11:3-4 ESV (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. There never will be the ideal time – the time is now to do the work of giving. Too many have the mind set – “when I am secure, than I can’t wait to give.” He guards against laziness and perfectionism. 5. Be generous while…ACCEPTING YOUR LIMITS AND GOD’S OWNERSHIP (v. 5) Ecclesiastes 11:5 ESV 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. Be generous and know that you can control everything. God made everything and is in control. Act in the duties that He has called you and recognize that you know very little. Trust in Him. Proverbs 3:5-6 6. Be generous even though…THE OUTCOME SEEMS UNPREDICTABLE (v. 6) Ecclesiastes 11:6 ESV 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. Sow and trust God. Don’t be lazy. You never know where the fruit will thrive. It is in God’s hands.
CONCLUSION Money Time Parenting Serving others Giving the Gospel
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