#ecclesiastes 11

The Value of Diligence

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 evil 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 how 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.

Youth and Old Age

7 Light is sweet, and it is pleasant for the eyes to behold the sun.

8 For if a man 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 mind, and put away pain from your body; for youth and the dawn of life are vanity. — Ecclesiastes 11 | Revised Standard Version (RSV) Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1946, 1952, and 1971 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. All rights reserved. Cross References: Job 11:12; Psalms 139:13; Ecclesiastes 6:5; Ecclesiastes 7:11; Ecclesiastes 9:7; Ecclesiastes 9:10; Ecclesiastes 12:1; Matthew 5:42; Matthew 10:42; Luke 6:30; Luke 12:19; John 3:8; Romans 14:10; 2 Corinthians 7:1; Galatians 6:9; 2 Timothy 2:22

Cast Your Bread upon the Waters

1 Cast thy bread upon the waters; for thou shalt find it after many days. 2 Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth. 3 If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth; and if a tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be. 4 He that observeth the wind will not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds will not reap. 5 As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, how the bones grow in the womb of her that is with child, even so thou knowest not the work of God who maketh all.

6 In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thy hand; for thou knowest not which shall prosper, whether this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.

7 Now the light is sweet, and pleasant is it to the eyes to see the sun; 8 but if a man live many years, and rejoice in them all, yet let him remember the days of darkness; for they shall be many: all that cometh is vanity.

DID YOU KNOW The phrase Carpe Diem often sounds adventurous, even impulsive, as though Scripture were inviting us to chase opportunity without restraint. Yet when the Bible calls us to “seize the day,” it is not urging recklessness but faithful courage—acting decisively within the will and wisdom of God. The Scriptures gathered here—Genesis 44; Hebrews 8–9; Ecclesiastes 11:1–4—invite us to see…

A Call to Bold Generosity “Cast your bread on the surface of the waters,for you will find it after many days.” “Divide your portion to seven, or even to eight,for you do not know what misfortune may occur on the earth.” The Limits of Human Knowledge “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,…

Wednesday, 5/7/25

SCRIPTURE:

Those who watch the wind blow will never sow, and those who observe the clouds will never reap. ~ Ecclesiastes 11:4

OBSERVATION:

Makes me realize just "watching the wind blow" - the work of the Holy Spirit (as Jesus described it to Nicodemus) - without actively engaging with Him is, like is repeated too often in Ecclesiastes, pointless, or "chasing after the wind..."

Instead, shouldn't I be leaning into the wind, embracing it, working with it, like a sailboat or windmill, instead of standing sheltered somewhere out of it, watching what it does, appreciating what it does, but not doing anything else?

The wind moves the clouds - but does the Spirit move me?

How do I respond?

APPLICATION:

Engage the Holy Spirit - the wind...

Lean into Him...

PRAYER:

Heavenly Father - Please forgive my standing idly by and allowing Your Holy Spirit to work around me without actively seeking to lean into His work and follow His lead - May I be of more and better use to You than my willful selfishness and weakness to distractions allow - In Jesus's Name, and only for Your glory and honor and coming Kingdom...

Leaning in... 

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Tomorrow wraps up Ecclesiastes - "something" says let's stay in the OT - maybe 1 Samuel?