WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.779 Well, amen and good morning, church family. As 00:00:02.779 --> 00:00:05.559 I said earlier, we are back in Ecclesiastes, 00:00:05.700 --> 00:00:07.160 and as you heard in the call to worship, we're 00:00:07.160 --> 00:00:09.259 going to be confronted with pursuing generosity 00:00:09.259 --> 00:00:11.539 and wisdom. And it's not just to the end of seeing 00:00:11.539 --> 00:00:14.740 you fill the baby bottles or increase church 00:00:14.740 --> 00:00:19.199 giving. It's really seeing the heart of God in 00:00:19.199 --> 00:00:22.379 generosity. And even connecting with last week, 00:00:22.379 --> 00:00:24.800 as some of you might remember, that we're called 00:00:24.800 --> 00:00:27.960 to a risky life and we're called to be generous 00:00:27.960 --> 00:00:32.289 with risk. No guarantees, but yet it's a worthwhile 00:00:32.289 --> 00:00:35.390 endeavor when done according to the Lord. Go 00:00:35.390 --> 00:00:37.369 ahead if you have your Bibles and open to Ecclesiastes 00:00:37.369 --> 00:00:41.189 chapter 11. Last time we wrapped up with the 00:00:41.189 --> 00:00:44.649 theme of wisdom versus folly. And one of the 00:00:44.649 --> 00:00:47.890 repeated themes of last time was that sometimes 00:00:47.890 --> 00:00:51.350 a fool is put into leadership. And no, I'm not 00:00:51.350 --> 00:00:54.429 making any political commentary whatsoever. That's 00:00:54.429 --> 00:00:57.369 reality. You can think about it at work. You 00:00:57.369 --> 00:00:58.909 can think about it in politics. You can think 00:00:58.909 --> 00:01:01.369 about it throughout history. That is reality. 00:01:01.850 --> 00:01:04.890 Sometimes the leader is inexperienced. Sometimes 00:01:04.890 --> 00:01:08.829 they are just plain foolish. Now you can't stop 00:01:08.829 --> 00:01:12.349 it. It's not good for the people, but it is an 00:01:12.349 --> 00:01:16.189 opportunity for God's people to trust him, to 00:01:16.189 --> 00:01:19.629 pursue wisdom, and to be thankful even for little 00:01:19.629 --> 00:01:23.209 things. Now a common response to a foolish king 00:01:23.209 --> 00:01:26.079 or to... foolish leadership might be to hoard 00:01:26.079 --> 00:01:29.819 resources for yourself to look out for yourself 00:01:29.819 --> 00:01:33.079 because you don't know what's going to come next. 00:01:33.739 --> 00:01:37.500 I know many people today do the same, buy resources 00:01:37.500 --> 00:01:40.840 and store items for the future in case of a natural 00:01:40.840 --> 00:01:44.280 disaster, a nuclear fallout, government collapse, 00:01:44.560 --> 00:01:47.019 etc. And look, I am not coming for the preppers 00:01:47.019 --> 00:01:51.859 here. If that's you, don't be mad. There's room 00:01:51.859 --> 00:01:54.239 for conversation, I think, actually, about wisely 00:01:54.239 --> 00:01:56.799 approaching the dynamic of just simple freeze 00:01:56.799 --> 00:01:58.439 -dried food and potable water. I don't think 00:01:58.439 --> 00:02:00.500 that that's a foolish thing in and of itself. 00:02:00.700 --> 00:02:03.540 But Solomon is going to have words for those 00:02:03.540 --> 00:02:07.959 who put too much trust, too much emphasis on 00:02:07.959 --> 00:02:12.099 their own provision. The reality, though, for 00:02:12.099 --> 00:02:14.900 an overbearing leadership is that the people 00:02:14.900 --> 00:02:18.699 often become prone to only look out for themselves. 00:02:21.590 --> 00:02:24.129 It's clear the biblical record Solomon was very 00:02:24.129 --> 00:02:27.270 hard on the people. You think about all those 00:02:27.270 --> 00:02:29.870 building projects he pursued. They weren't free. 00:02:31.389 --> 00:02:35.930 They didn't just get funded by trade deals. No, 00:02:35.969 --> 00:02:37.750 again, I'm not making a commentary about today, 00:02:37.949 --> 00:02:42.909 okay? Taxes went up. So did labor. The people 00:02:42.909 --> 00:02:45.250 had to work hard. There's a testimony. You don't 00:02:45.250 --> 00:02:46.729 have to turn there. I'm just going to paraphrase 00:02:46.729 --> 00:02:49.330 it. But there's a testimony in 2 Chronicles 10. 00:02:50.349 --> 00:02:53.430 The people appealed to Solomon's son, Rehoboam, 00:02:53.509 --> 00:02:56.930 to lighten their load. They said their yoke was 00:02:56.930 --> 00:02:59.229 heavy under your father, under your father Solomon. 00:02:59.990 --> 00:03:03.150 Now in his foolishness, Rehoboam, he listens 00:03:03.150 --> 00:03:05.710 to young advisors, his friends that he grew up 00:03:05.710 --> 00:03:08.210 with. He rejected the counsel of the older men, 00:03:08.289 --> 00:03:11.330 the older counselors who were with him. Then 00:03:11.330 --> 00:03:13.990 he foolishly said that he would be harsher than 00:03:13.990 --> 00:03:17.449 his father. That his father, disciplined with 00:03:17.449 --> 00:03:20.189 whips, but that he would discipline with, some 00:03:20.189 --> 00:03:25.090 of you remember, scorpions. That's what Rehoboam 00:03:25.090 --> 00:03:28.729 said. Now, what do you think that harshness of 00:03:28.729 --> 00:03:32.750 Rehoboam did to the people? How do you think 00:03:32.750 --> 00:03:36.129 you would respond if you appealed for a lighter 00:03:36.129 --> 00:03:39.069 load, for less burden, and yet you were told 00:03:39.069 --> 00:03:42.669 that it's only going to get 10 times worse? How 00:03:42.669 --> 00:03:47.250 would you respond? Well, in the biblical testimony, 00:03:47.930 --> 00:03:50.509 The people rejected Rehoboam. They rejected his 00:03:50.509 --> 00:03:52.270 leadership. They rejected the house of David. 00:03:52.849 --> 00:03:55.590 And they all went their own way to look out for 00:03:55.590 --> 00:03:59.710 themselves. Harsh leadership and hard times often 00:03:59.710 --> 00:04:03.110 lead to people being selfish. Now, with that 00:04:03.110 --> 00:04:05.590 as our stage, we can read Ecclesiastes chapter 00:04:05.590 --> 00:04:08.330 11, verses 1 through 6. Let's go ahead and stand 00:04:08.330 --> 00:04:11.129 for the reading of God's word. I'm just going 00:04:11.129 --> 00:04:13.129 to preface real briefly the statements here. 00:04:13.710 --> 00:04:15.770 They're not very familiar with our context today, 00:04:15.849 --> 00:04:18.129 but we are going to walk through each one of 00:04:18.129 --> 00:04:19.970 them so that we can have a clear understanding 00:04:19.970 --> 00:04:23.870 of God's word. Ecclesiastes chapter 11, verses 00:04:23.870 --> 00:04:27.550 one through six. Cast your bread on the surface 00:04:27.550 --> 00:04:30.350 of the waters and you will find it after many 00:04:30.350 --> 00:04:33.550 days. Divide your portion to seven or even to 00:04:33.550 --> 00:04:36.670 eight for you do not know what calamity may occur 00:04:36.670 --> 00:04:40.180 on the earth. If the clouds are full, they empty 00:04:40.180 --> 00:04:42.399 the rain upon the earth. And whether a tree falls 00:04:42.399 --> 00:04:44.879 toward the south or the north, wherever the tree 00:04:44.879 --> 00:04:48.360 falls, there it lies. He who watches the wind 00:04:48.360 --> 00:04:50.779 will not sow, and he who looks at the clouds 00:04:50.779 --> 00:04:53.980 will not reap. Just as you do not know the path 00:04:53.980 --> 00:04:56.500 of the wind and how bones are formed in the womb 00:04:56.500 --> 00:04:59.399 of a pregnant woman, so you do not know the work 00:04:59.399 --> 00:05:03.180 of God who works all things. Sow your seed in 00:05:03.180 --> 00:05:05.379 the morning. And do not put your hands down in 00:05:05.379 --> 00:05:07.680 the evening, for you do not know whether morning 00:05:07.680 --> 00:05:10.839 or evening sowing will succeed, or whether both 00:05:10.839 --> 00:05:14.980 of them alike will be good. Amen. You may be 00:05:14.980 --> 00:05:21.879 seated. Now, I doubt much of that made sense. 00:05:23.740 --> 00:05:26.160 Not our context, but I pray by the end of our 00:05:26.160 --> 00:05:28.540 time today that you're going to have a firm grasp 00:05:28.540 --> 00:05:31.180 of Solomon's wisdom here regarding generosity. 00:05:31.870 --> 00:05:33.829 Let me quickly remind us of the progress we've 00:05:33.829 --> 00:05:36.610 made so far. So looking at the outline of the 00:05:36.610 --> 00:05:42.730 book. There we go. We're nearing the end. I'm 00:05:42.730 --> 00:05:44.529 not going to read all the portions of it, but 00:05:44.529 --> 00:05:47.490 you see that we fall within this larger final 00:05:47.490 --> 00:05:50.389 section of prescription, the prescription for 00:05:50.389 --> 00:05:52.370 living with vanity and practical encouragements 00:05:52.370 --> 00:05:54.670 to consider as Solomon makes his observations 00:05:54.670 --> 00:05:58.470 about life. So now let's come back to that thinking 00:05:58.470 --> 00:06:00.850 in the beginning about a harsh yoke promoting 00:06:01.600 --> 00:06:04.459 a leader or a government that's so oppressive 00:06:04.459 --> 00:06:07.019 and bringing suffering that people's response 00:06:07.019 --> 00:06:09.480 is just to hoard things for themselves, keep 00:06:09.480 --> 00:06:11.560 it for themselves because you don't know how 00:06:11.560 --> 00:06:15.920 much harder it can be. Can you think of any similarities 00:06:15.920 --> 00:06:22.860 among circumstances or situations today? Did 00:06:22.860 --> 00:06:25.120 it come to your mind how natural it is for people 00:06:25.120 --> 00:06:30.720 to hoard resources? Toddlers do it really good. 00:06:33.970 --> 00:06:36.170 Now sure, you might be thinking, but Adam, there's 00:06:36.170 --> 00:06:40.170 kindness at times, right? In hard times, I hear 00:06:40.170 --> 00:06:43.009 on the news the testimony of kindness. Sure, 00:06:43.149 --> 00:06:45.250 God's common grace can show up through all kinds 00:06:45.250 --> 00:06:47.269 of situations, but don't you think it's much 00:06:47.269 --> 00:06:49.269 more normal that when humans go through hard 00:06:49.269 --> 00:06:53.529 times, they keep things for themselves? You know, 00:06:53.569 --> 00:06:57.310 after World War II, it was common to hear testimonies 00:06:57.310 --> 00:06:59.209 of Germans who lived near concentration camps 00:06:59.209 --> 00:07:01.329 saying that they didn't know what was going on. 00:07:03.180 --> 00:07:06.259 They had no clue such evil was happening right 00:07:06.259 --> 00:07:08.600 next to them. No clue why those horrible smells 00:07:08.600 --> 00:07:13.199 kept coming from the smokestacks. Did they really 00:07:13.199 --> 00:07:18.879 have no idea? I'm not here to judge a heart, 00:07:18.920 --> 00:07:22.120 but I can ask a question. Was it more convenient, 00:07:22.379 --> 00:07:27.360 more comfortable, more safe to feign ignorance? 00:07:29.560 --> 00:07:32.709 How about today? Take socialism. Some of you 00:07:32.709 --> 00:07:34.110 know what's happening in Cuba. Some of you pay 00:07:34.110 --> 00:07:36.569 attention to the news. Yes, there's a blockade. 00:07:36.569 --> 00:07:38.810 Resources are scarce in the country. But do you 00:07:38.810 --> 00:07:40.350 know the reality of life in that country even 00:07:40.350 --> 00:07:44.050 before the blockade? They have a corrupt government. 00:07:45.350 --> 00:07:48.110 The top leaders, those in power, they get everything. 00:07:49.029 --> 00:07:51.569 While the average common person has suffering. 00:07:53.389 --> 00:07:56.189 Cuba's government, like all socialist government, 00:07:56.370 --> 00:07:58.269 it's no different, sees great wealth and prosperity 00:07:58.269 --> 00:08:01.129 for that top level of people, those who are in 00:08:01.129 --> 00:08:04.720 power. And then there's immense suffering, widespread 00:08:04.720 --> 00:08:07.839 suffering for common people. And I've seen this 00:08:07.839 --> 00:08:11.560 around the world. It's not a narrative of politics. 00:08:11.920 --> 00:08:16.500 This is reality of life under the sun. So if 00:08:16.500 --> 00:08:20.959 Rehoboam didn't learn and Cuba's leaders haven't 00:08:20.959 --> 00:08:24.860 learned, what does that teach you about the human 00:08:24.860 --> 00:08:28.819 heart? See, corruption and selfishness are at 00:08:28.819 --> 00:08:31.420 the core of every human heart apart from God. 00:08:32.169 --> 00:08:34.309 And that's where Solomon's wisdom comes to bear. 00:08:34.429 --> 00:08:38.110 He recognizes that he was a harsh leader. The 00:08:38.110 --> 00:08:42.250 people said it. Your father was harsh. He did 00:08:42.250 --> 00:08:44.970 tax too much. He put too much pressure and burden 00:08:44.970 --> 00:08:49.049 on the people. He was not a perfect leader. But 00:08:49.049 --> 00:08:52.210 he learned. And what he learned, he applied. 00:08:52.509 --> 00:08:55.809 And it applies not only to leaders, but also 00:08:55.809 --> 00:08:59.240 to those under leaders. I hope that throughout 00:08:59.240 --> 00:09:01.440 this series, it's become clear to you that the 00:09:01.440 --> 00:09:04.679 materialistic life or hoping in this world and 00:09:04.679 --> 00:09:07.360 the things that this world offers, I pray that 00:09:07.360 --> 00:09:09.639 it's become clear to you that that's what Solomon 00:09:09.639 --> 00:09:12.840 is warning us about. Don't find your hope. Don't 00:09:12.840 --> 00:09:15.179 find your treasure. Don't find your trust in 00:09:15.179 --> 00:09:19.720 things here and now. It's all vanity, he says, 00:09:19.879 --> 00:09:22.779 right? It's a breath. It's a vapor. It's soap 00:09:22.779 --> 00:09:28.399 bubbles. So enjoy it while you can. Because life 00:09:28.399 --> 00:09:31.259 is fleeting, but make sure your treasure is sure 00:09:31.259 --> 00:09:34.799 in the life to come. We need to learn that possessions 00:09:34.799 --> 00:09:38.759 and wealth don't produce joy by themselves. Now, 00:09:38.779 --> 00:09:42.639 yes, money and wealth can bring moments of pleasure. 00:09:43.000 --> 00:09:46.139 Sure, it can. It can bring happiness and wonderful 00:09:46.139 --> 00:09:49.580 memories and more. But to have a meaningful or 00:09:49.580 --> 00:09:53.720 significant life, you need more than memories 00:09:53.720 --> 00:09:57.700 and happy thoughts. The cure for a vain life 00:09:57.700 --> 00:10:02.379 is one of meaning and one of purpose. Now, in 00:10:02.379 --> 00:10:04.200 the previous chapter, Solomon taught us this 00:10:04.200 --> 00:10:07.000 boomerang principle. Some of you know this saying 00:10:07.000 --> 00:10:10.620 that what goes around comes around. See, it's 00:10:10.620 --> 00:10:13.919 common. Now, it's a norm. It's not a promise 00:10:13.919 --> 00:10:17.639 that generally things go that way. What he tells 00:10:17.639 --> 00:10:19.620 us in the previous chapter, you should avoid 00:10:19.620 --> 00:10:22.580 speaking wicked things about the king. Why? Because 00:10:22.580 --> 00:10:25.750 it may come back on you. and the harm may befall 00:10:25.750 --> 00:10:28.570 you. So that's the negative side of it. But now 00:10:28.570 --> 00:10:30.750 he's going to teach us that the boomerang principle 00:10:30.750 --> 00:10:35.350 can also apply to righteousness. What you do 00:10:35.350 --> 00:10:38.809 may come back to you. So now look down at the 00:10:38.809 --> 00:10:43.889 text, chapter 11, verse 1. Cast your bread, for 00:10:43.889 --> 00:10:49.350 you may find it after many days. Now scholars 00:10:49.350 --> 00:10:52.819 are split on the meaning and application. Some 00:10:52.819 --> 00:10:55.460 think that it's all about investment strategy, 00:10:55.700 --> 00:10:58.740 while others think that its focus is on charity. 00:10:59.179 --> 00:11:01.539 Now, in both cases, the same principle is at 00:11:01.539 --> 00:11:04.519 play. Whether you invest or you're kind to others, 00:11:04.700 --> 00:11:06.379 you don't know the future, and a blessing may 00:11:06.379 --> 00:11:10.519 come back to you. Now, the reason that I'm convicted 00:11:10.519 --> 00:11:13.519 towards the meaning and application of generosity 00:11:13.519 --> 00:11:17.419 is historical context and hermeneutical continuity. 00:11:17.620 --> 00:11:19.159 I know it's fancy words, but we're going to explain 00:11:19.159 --> 00:11:21.759 it. Now, some of you have heard of the Jewish 00:11:21.759 --> 00:11:25.740 Targum. It's an Aramaic version of the Old Testament 00:11:25.740 --> 00:11:28.679 text. It's not really a translation, but it's 00:11:28.679 --> 00:11:32.100 a version with historical and theological context, 00:11:32.120 --> 00:11:34.840 kind of like a commentary or an interpretation 00:11:34.840 --> 00:11:38.039 within the text, expanding on the original text 00:11:38.039 --> 00:11:40.799 to make it more clear and relatable. It came 00:11:40.799 --> 00:11:44.179 about because after the Babylonian exile of the 00:11:44.179 --> 00:11:47.539 Hebrew people, the common language was no longer 00:11:47.539 --> 00:11:51.720 Hebrew. They didn't understand their Old Testament 00:11:51.720 --> 00:11:55.539 text. So to solve the problem, a translator would 00:11:55.539 --> 00:11:58.360 stand alongside the reader of Torah and translate 00:11:58.360 --> 00:12:02.480 verses into Aramaic on the spot. And over centuries, 00:12:02.600 --> 00:12:04.899 those oral translations were then standardized. 00:12:05.039 --> 00:12:07.840 They were expanded upon and eventually they were 00:12:07.840 --> 00:12:10.799 written down. Now for this very passage, the 00:12:10.799 --> 00:12:13.080 Jewish Targum says this. I want to show you it. 00:12:13.679 --> 00:12:16.320 Give your nourishing bread to the poor who go 00:12:16.320 --> 00:12:19.110 in ships upon the surface of the water. For after 00:12:19.110 --> 00:12:21.710 a period of many days, you will find its reward 00:12:21.710 --> 00:12:27.309 in the world to come. Now, while the Targum is 00:12:27.309 --> 00:12:30.470 not an authoritative or inerrant word of God, 00:12:30.610 --> 00:12:34.549 it did serve as an intentional commentary of 00:12:34.549 --> 00:12:37.730 the word up to that point. And it would be immensely 00:12:37.730 --> 00:12:39.909 more accurate in identifying intent and purpose 00:12:39.909 --> 00:12:42.110 than anything we would imagine today, orders 00:12:42.110 --> 00:12:46.029 of magnitude centuries later. Further, there's 00:12:46.029 --> 00:12:48.289 an old Arabic proverb that actually reads very 00:12:48.289 --> 00:12:52.309 similarly to this. It says, do good, throw your 00:12:52.309 --> 00:12:55.070 bread on the waters, and one day you will be 00:12:55.070 --> 00:12:59.450 rewarded. Now, it's very likely Solomon was using 00:12:59.450 --> 00:13:02.889 this commonplace metaphorical proverb to help 00:13:02.889 --> 00:13:06.389 people not to be stingy, even if you have a harsh 00:13:06.389 --> 00:13:09.850 leader, even if times are difficult. But be careful 00:13:09.850 --> 00:13:12.649 to think that the motivation for giving is only 00:13:12.649 --> 00:13:16.379 personal benefit. I read in our call to worship 00:13:16.379 --> 00:13:19.980 today, 1 Timothy 6, and it shared straight from 00:13:19.980 --> 00:13:21.659 the mouth of Paul, but really from the heart 00:13:21.659 --> 00:13:23.860 of God, that our motivation should be first to 00:13:23.860 --> 00:13:27.759 set our hope on God, not riches and not things. 00:13:28.799 --> 00:13:31.019 Second, that same passage says that in doing 00:13:31.019 --> 00:13:34.220 so, in being generous, in letting go of things 00:13:34.220 --> 00:13:36.940 of this earth, we actually lay hold of that which 00:13:36.940 --> 00:13:40.899 is life, meaning that life is more than having. 00:13:41.360 --> 00:13:46.470 Life is about giving. So this principle is further 00:13:46.470 --> 00:13:48.769 expounded upon by Solomon in the next verse of 00:13:48.769 --> 00:13:51.850 Ecclesiastes chapter 11. Verse 2 encourages what 00:13:51.850 --> 00:13:54.710 investors think is the diversifying principle. 00:13:55.909 --> 00:13:58.389 But it's actually closer to a few more passages. 00:13:58.409 --> 00:14:01.350 I want to show you a connection here. Proverbs 00:14:01.350 --> 00:14:03.889 30, 15 says this. The leech has two daughters, 00:14:04.110 --> 00:14:07.230 give and give. There are three things it will 00:14:07.230 --> 00:14:09.629 not be satisfied for that will not say enough. 00:14:10.169 --> 00:14:13.419 And then it goes on to list. Proverbs 30, verse 00:14:13.419 --> 00:14:30.039 18 says, Proverbs 30, verse 21 says, Proverbs 00:14:30.039 --> 00:14:40.139 30, verse 29 says, See, this way of writing, 00:14:40.669 --> 00:14:43.230 you know, three, then four, seven, then eight 00:14:43.230 --> 00:14:46.649 in this case. It's a Hebrew poetry device. Here's 00:14:46.649 --> 00:14:48.929 what it's designed to do. To help the listener 00:14:48.929 --> 00:14:52.889 think more broadly, not to just limit yourself. 00:14:53.230 --> 00:14:54.669 You know, it's like when you're making a list, 00:14:54.710 --> 00:14:56.110 you're like, okay, I know that one, I know that 00:14:56.110 --> 00:14:57.629 one. Oh yeah, and I forgot there's that one too. 00:14:58.070 --> 00:15:01.149 It's the same thing as a poetry device. Each 00:15:01.149 --> 00:15:03.250 one of those examples on the screen go on to 00:15:03.250 --> 00:15:05.250 provide lists and emphasizing the increasing 00:15:05.250 --> 00:15:07.509 nature of such things. They're not meant to be 00:15:07.509 --> 00:15:09.960 exhaustive. They're meant to point you to think 00:15:09.960 --> 00:15:12.980 more broadly, to not just say there's one thing, 00:15:13.039 --> 00:15:15.139 there's not two things, there's three, oh wait, 00:15:15.200 --> 00:15:18.980 there's four, to help you think beyond a limited 00:15:18.980 --> 00:15:22.940 number. So Solomon here in chapter 11, verse 00:15:22.940 --> 00:15:25.720 two, is saying that when it comes to generosity, 00:15:26.000 --> 00:15:31.639 don't limit yourself. Your generosity should 00:15:31.639 --> 00:15:35.620 be so broad, so indefinite. that you don't limit 00:15:35.620 --> 00:15:38.340 yourself to an exact number. So when you're generous 00:15:38.340 --> 00:15:41.080 to others, you consider what you can do within 00:15:41.080 --> 00:15:43.340 your means, but can you help seven people, he 00:15:43.340 --> 00:15:46.460 says. He says, great, but don't stop at seven, 00:15:46.519 --> 00:15:49.059 because if you see another person be willing 00:15:49.059 --> 00:15:53.100 to go to eight, that's the encouragement. Your 00:15:53.100 --> 00:15:55.860 giving, your generosity, it shouldn't have artificial 00:15:55.860 --> 00:16:00.000 self -made limits. At the end of verse two then, 00:16:00.059 --> 00:16:02.159 and going into the next verse in verse three, 00:16:02.379 --> 00:16:05.240 Solomon gives the rationale. for this kind of 00:16:05.240 --> 00:16:09.600 extreme generosity. He says, you don't know what 00:16:09.600 --> 00:16:13.120 kind of calamity may come. I'll put the text 00:16:13.120 --> 00:16:15.139 on the screen and hopefully you're still turned 00:16:15.139 --> 00:16:18.179 there as well. It's astounding that he gives 00:16:18.179 --> 00:16:20.360 that as the rationale because it's the exact 00:16:20.360 --> 00:16:23.179 same rationale the selfish person has to hoard 00:16:23.179 --> 00:16:26.340 things for themselves. The selfish person, they 00:16:26.340 --> 00:16:28.860 save up for themselves because they're worried 00:16:28.860 --> 00:16:32.129 about the calamity that may come, right? They 00:16:32.129 --> 00:16:34.509 store those treasures on earth because they focus 00:16:34.509 --> 00:16:36.350 here and now like something bad is going to happen. 00:16:36.690 --> 00:16:39.970 Solomon says, be radically generous because bad 00:16:39.970 --> 00:16:43.610 things are going to happen. It is so opposite 00:16:43.610 --> 00:16:47.169 of the world. He says, be radically generous 00:16:47.169 --> 00:16:52.970 because you know the storm is coming. Here's 00:16:52.970 --> 00:16:55.909 the reality. Even if you try to avoid earthly 00:16:55.909 --> 00:17:00.769 calamity, you can't. You can't. Solomon knows 00:17:00.769 --> 00:17:02.649 disaster is coming for Israel. That's actually 00:17:02.649 --> 00:17:05.589 in the history. But he also knows the principle 00:17:05.589 --> 00:17:10.710 of eternal judgment. Verse 3 talks of a storm 00:17:10.710 --> 00:17:13.329 coming, that nothing can prevent that tree from 00:17:13.329 --> 00:17:16.430 falling. And that it falls, it's kind of just 00:17:16.430 --> 00:17:18.349 a given. What matters is kind of where it ends 00:17:18.349 --> 00:17:22.130 up. Now, throughout God's word, storms, they 00:17:22.130 --> 00:17:25.009 often indicate hard times, but they also often 00:17:25.009 --> 00:17:28.829 indicate judgment. Just think of the flood in 00:17:28.829 --> 00:17:32.470 Noah's day. It was a massive worldwide storm 00:17:32.470 --> 00:17:36.809 to do what? To judge the earth for the wickedness 00:17:36.809 --> 00:17:41.049 of mankind. Now, a storm that's powerful enough 00:17:41.049 --> 00:17:44.390 to topple trees is no small thing. Yet think, 00:17:44.410 --> 00:17:46.509 friends, think about this. Think of the wealthy 00:17:46.509 --> 00:17:48.410 in our age who think they are impervious to any 00:17:48.410 --> 00:17:54.049 kind of natural disaster. The hubris, the pride 00:17:54.049 --> 00:17:57.309 of mankind, it knows no bounds. We trust so much 00:17:57.309 --> 00:18:00.380 in our ability. to evade hardship that we think 00:18:00.380 --> 00:18:06.099 we can outsmart calamity. True? I dare you to 00:18:06.099 --> 00:18:09.119 try to prove that wrong. It's written everywhere. 00:18:10.200 --> 00:18:12.400 Now, that doesn't mean that calamity is awesome, 00:18:12.460 --> 00:18:14.599 great, and that we should want it. But it points 00:18:14.599 --> 00:18:17.500 out our pride in thinking that we can avoid it. 00:18:18.619 --> 00:18:21.299 So humans, what do we struggle with? We struggle 00:18:21.299 --> 00:18:23.940 with storing up treasures for ourselves here 00:18:23.940 --> 00:18:26.299 and now. We want to accumulate, save for our 00:18:26.299 --> 00:18:28.880 future. And then we often become very self -focused 00:18:28.880 --> 00:18:32.039 in that endeavor. And Solomon continues to challenge 00:18:32.039 --> 00:18:34.980 then towards generosity and really a commitment 00:18:34.980 --> 00:18:39.099 to generosity here and now, not later. So go 00:18:39.099 --> 00:18:42.519 ahead and look at verses four to six. Verse four 00:18:42.519 --> 00:18:46.000 to six, I want to read them again. He says, he 00:18:46.000 --> 00:18:48.359 who watches the wind will not sow and he who 00:18:48.359 --> 00:18:51.039 looks at the clouds will not reap. Just as you 00:18:51.039 --> 00:18:52.920 do not know the path of the wind or how bones 00:18:52.920 --> 00:18:54.799 are formed in the womb of the pregnant woman, 00:18:54.980 --> 00:18:57.400 so you do not know the work of God who works 00:18:57.400 --> 00:19:00.339 all things. Sow your seed in the morning. Do 00:19:00.339 --> 00:19:01.960 not put your hands down in the evening, for you 00:19:01.960 --> 00:19:03.920 do not know whether morning or evening sowing 00:19:03.920 --> 00:19:06.799 will succeed or whether both of them alike will 00:19:06.799 --> 00:19:10.539 be good. First, in verse 4, he points out there's 00:19:10.539 --> 00:19:13.680 no advantage in waiting to be generous for the 00:19:13.680 --> 00:19:15.920 future. That's what he's pointing out. If you 00:19:15.920 --> 00:19:18.420 keep watching for the wind, you'll never sow. 00:19:18.990 --> 00:19:22.150 you won't plant. You'll miss the opportunity 00:19:22.150 --> 00:19:24.750 to do good and judgment will come before you 00:19:24.750 --> 00:19:28.930 know it. That storm is coming. Those who delay 00:19:28.930 --> 00:19:31.509 their generosity until they're ready, they're 00:19:31.509 --> 00:19:33.609 never gonna understand the real meaning and significance 00:19:33.609 --> 00:19:37.490 of life. They'll be too focused on material things. 00:19:37.730 --> 00:19:40.430 They're going to miss the reality of spiritual 00:19:40.430 --> 00:19:45.690 and eternal things, what we were meant for. Solomon 00:19:45.690 --> 00:19:48.789 is telling us this. Stop being cloud watchers. 00:19:49.349 --> 00:19:53.329 Stop being future predictors. Be generous today 00:19:53.329 --> 00:19:55.849 while you have an opportunity to do good and 00:19:55.849 --> 00:20:00.789 before it's too late. He doubles down on that 00:20:00.789 --> 00:20:02.869 challenge to commit to generosity by underscoring 00:20:02.869 --> 00:20:07.210 the reality of the unknowableness of God's plans. 00:20:08.109 --> 00:20:11.869 We can't predict the future. Even our best technology 00:20:11.869 --> 00:20:16.029 only guesses, only guesses at the potential path 00:20:16.029 --> 00:20:19.490 or impact. of a hurricane. Some of you remember 00:20:19.490 --> 00:20:23.329 Hurricane Milton in 2024. Forecasters said it 00:20:23.329 --> 00:20:26.250 was going to be apocalyptic, that it would be 00:20:26.250 --> 00:20:29.630 history altering for the region of Tampa Bay. 00:20:30.410 --> 00:20:33.769 And while it was in the Gulf, wherever you decide 00:20:33.769 --> 00:20:39.250 the Gulf is, it sustained winds of 180 miles 00:20:39.250 --> 00:20:42.750 per hour. That's no small thing. Now, meteorologists, 00:20:42.769 --> 00:20:46.309 they warned of a 15 -foot -tall storm surge. 00:20:46.829 --> 00:20:49.990 of water, basically a wall of water that would 00:20:49.990 --> 00:20:53.710 end up making the region unrecognizable. Now, 00:20:53.730 --> 00:20:56.089 Hurricane Milne, it did make landfall, and there 00:20:56.089 --> 00:20:59.349 was damage to certain areas, but it was nothing 00:20:59.349 --> 00:21:02.630 like what they feared. In fact, the storm had 00:21:02.630 --> 00:21:05.950 shifted directions south of Tampa, and because 00:21:05.950 --> 00:21:08.410 of the counterclockwise nature of the storm, 00:21:08.509 --> 00:21:11.950 they actually had a reverse surge. And so instead 00:21:11.950 --> 00:21:14.769 of a 15 -foot -tall wall of water, residents 00:21:14.769 --> 00:21:18.490 woke up to a bay drained dry down to the mud. 00:21:20.710 --> 00:21:23.009 Tragically, yes, some people still lost their 00:21:23.009 --> 00:21:25.950 lives through direct damage of the storm, falling 00:21:25.950 --> 00:21:28.910 trees and debris. Actually, there were tornadoes 00:21:28.910 --> 00:21:32.289 that popped up further away because of the change 00:21:32.289 --> 00:21:34.589 that happened at a higher level with the altitude 00:21:34.589 --> 00:21:38.349 and the winds. The initial estimates, though, 00:21:38.410 --> 00:21:41.650 of casualties for that storm event were orders 00:21:41.650 --> 00:21:43.470 of magnitude larger than what actually happened. 00:21:45.230 --> 00:21:48.849 Verse 5 here in the text reminds us that we don't 00:21:48.849 --> 00:21:52.950 know the path of the wind. We don't know how 00:21:52.950 --> 00:21:55.890 bones are formed in the womb of a pregnant woman. 00:21:56.490 --> 00:21:58.890 And so we don't know the work of God who works 00:21:58.890 --> 00:22:02.049 all things. Therefore, our approach to generosity, 00:22:02.230 --> 00:22:04.990 to caring for others, should be with an emphasis 00:22:04.990 --> 00:22:08.450 on today, not waiting for a more optimal time. 00:22:09.299 --> 00:22:11.880 Finally, in verse 6, Solomon makes his most clear 00:22:11.880 --> 00:22:15.019 appeal to timely generosity. He draws us back 00:22:15.019 --> 00:22:17.180 to that sowing and reaping principle again in 00:22:17.180 --> 00:22:19.819 verse 4. And that cautioned against waiting for 00:22:19.819 --> 00:22:21.920 an optimal time to give. It cautioned against 00:22:21.920 --> 00:22:24.559 watching the wind and seeing when to go. Instead, 00:22:24.700 --> 00:22:29.359 he says, reader, listener, sow from morning until 00:22:29.359 --> 00:22:33.559 evening. All the time. The rationale is you don't 00:22:33.559 --> 00:22:35.619 know which time is going to be more successful. 00:22:36.200 --> 00:22:37.940 morning or evening. You don't know where God 00:22:37.940 --> 00:22:40.460 is going to use your generosity for the best 00:22:40.460 --> 00:22:43.660 results. So take every opportunity to do good 00:22:43.660 --> 00:22:47.420 morning until night. Now, if you understand all 00:22:47.420 --> 00:22:50.339 of that, you have a handle on Ecclesiastes 11, 00:22:50.480 --> 00:22:52.960 one through six. Now you can understand the casting 00:22:52.960 --> 00:22:56.259 your bread and all of that, hopefully. Now to 00:22:56.259 --> 00:22:57.960 the casual reader, it is one of the more difficult 00:22:57.960 --> 00:23:00.099 passages to decipher because those phrasings 00:23:00.099 --> 00:23:02.160 aren't common to us today. Those are ancient 00:23:02.160 --> 00:23:04.900 Near East sayings. But I know that some, especially 00:23:04.900 --> 00:23:07.000 if you've ever read any commentaries on this, 00:23:07.099 --> 00:23:09.059 are going to lean towards an investment principle 00:23:09.059 --> 00:23:12.759 when you read. But I want to explain why it isn't 00:23:12.759 --> 00:23:14.500 the primary application and why it would actually 00:23:14.500 --> 00:23:19.539 be a bad interpretation here. First, some of 00:23:19.539 --> 00:23:21.519 you may see the diversification principle in 00:23:21.519 --> 00:23:24.960 verses 1 through 2 and divide your portion among 00:23:24.960 --> 00:23:27.400 many. But I would ask, how do you tie that in 00:23:27.400 --> 00:23:30.200 with verse 5, that you don't know what's going 00:23:30.200 --> 00:23:33.269 to happen? Now, sure, preventing against calamity 00:23:33.269 --> 00:23:36.109 could make some sense with a diverse portfolio 00:23:36.109 --> 00:23:38.869 of stocks, right? One thing fails and another 00:23:38.869 --> 00:23:41.589 may succeed. But when you look at verse 5, do 00:23:41.589 --> 00:23:43.970 you really think that Solomon is reminding us 00:23:43.970 --> 00:23:45.730 that we don't know the work of God only to tell 00:23:45.730 --> 00:23:48.009 us he might bless you financially with one stock 00:23:48.009 --> 00:23:53.470 over another? Is that what he's spending his 00:23:53.470 --> 00:23:59.589 time talking about? You don't know. Tesla's rising. 00:24:02.589 --> 00:24:05.349 See, my problem is it reeks so much of eisegesis 00:24:05.349 --> 00:24:08.849 or reading our own life into the text. A second, 00:24:08.890 --> 00:24:10.869 I think that Targum explanation that dates back 00:24:10.869 --> 00:24:13.970 to the, really the Babylonian exile period is 00:24:13.970 --> 00:24:17.049 a helpful context for this passage. I want you 00:24:17.049 --> 00:24:20.069 to look at it again. It says, give your nourishing 00:24:20.069 --> 00:24:21.950 bread to the poor who go in ships upon the surface 00:24:21.950 --> 00:24:23.569 of the water for after a period of many days, 00:24:23.589 --> 00:24:24.890 you'll find this reward in the world to come. 00:24:24.970 --> 00:24:29.049 The emphasis is to serve who? The poor. Now, 00:24:29.069 --> 00:24:30.809 the Targum is very specific. It doesn't even 00:24:30.809 --> 00:24:33.509 say just don't give your scraps or your leftovers. 00:24:33.650 --> 00:24:36.049 It says don't give your scraps. Give your nourishing 00:24:36.049 --> 00:24:39.930 bread. Give your best. Give that which helps 00:24:39.930 --> 00:24:42.730 you. Give your valuable, consumable resource 00:24:42.730 --> 00:24:46.670 to desperate travelers. And further, these travelers, 00:24:46.789 --> 00:24:49.170 they're sailing away. So the reward isn't even 00:24:49.170 --> 00:24:51.910 for here and now. The reward is for the world 00:24:51.910 --> 00:24:55.559 to come. And it's a fascinating dynamic. But 00:24:55.559 --> 00:24:57.599 even if you reject that Targum, even if you reject 00:24:57.599 --> 00:24:59.420 the Aramaic explanation, you're like, no, I got 00:24:59.420 --> 00:25:01.599 to cling to the Hebrew text. Amen. Now think 00:25:01.599 --> 00:25:04.200 about the practicality of bread sitting on water. 00:25:06.559 --> 00:25:09.579 What happens to bread that sits on water after 00:25:09.579 --> 00:25:15.660 many days? Is it there? Have you ever fed ducks 00:25:15.660 --> 00:25:20.059 in water? I mean, does the bread last? Even if 00:25:20.059 --> 00:25:21.539 the ducks don't eat, I mean, ducks eat the bread, 00:25:21.579 --> 00:25:24.339 right? But no, it becomes soggy within minutes. 00:25:26.029 --> 00:25:29.990 Within days, it's going to be completely disintegrated. 00:25:30.390 --> 00:25:33.670 It will not be there. So let me ask, how in the 00:25:33.670 --> 00:25:39.690 world would you find it after many days? Think 00:25:39.690 --> 00:25:43.569 who said this? He's the wisest, most observant 00:25:43.569 --> 00:25:48.549 man the world has ever seen. So is he pulling 00:25:48.549 --> 00:25:54.970 your leg? Now see, here's the thing. Even ancient 00:25:54.970 --> 00:25:57.190 people, thought about what happens after you 00:25:57.190 --> 00:26:01.650 die. That's why there was that old Arabic proverb, 00:26:01.829 --> 00:26:04.250 and I quoted it earlier. It said, do good, throw 00:26:04.250 --> 00:26:06.349 your bread on the waters, and one day you'll 00:26:06.349 --> 00:26:08.950 be rewarded. And you see that contrasted with 00:26:08.950 --> 00:26:12.789 Ecclesiastes 11 .1. See, the purpose is not to 00:26:12.789 --> 00:26:15.470 go and find disintegrated bread after many days. 00:26:16.569 --> 00:26:20.039 It's to find a future reward. Now, I would say 00:26:20.039 --> 00:26:21.819 this regarding that investment principle. Any 00:26:21.819 --> 00:26:24.779 reasonable financial advisor should not try to 00:26:24.779 --> 00:26:27.339 apply this to financial investment strategies. 00:26:27.839 --> 00:26:30.819 You want a financial advisor to tell you about 00:26:30.819 --> 00:26:33.759 consistent yields and long -term patterns. That's 00:26:33.759 --> 00:26:35.759 what you want. You don't want them saying, yeah, 00:26:35.839 --> 00:26:39.859 maybe, maybe someday you'll get a reward. So 00:26:39.859 --> 00:26:41.619 Christian teachers, when they try to tie it in, 00:26:41.700 --> 00:26:44.440 I think they're missing the nature of necessary 00:26:44.440 --> 00:26:49.150 risk when you live for Jesus. Last week I spoke 00:26:49.150 --> 00:26:51.809 of the Christian life being intrinsically risky. 00:26:52.369 --> 00:26:56.269 And yes, that even involves generosity because 00:26:56.269 --> 00:27:01.089 you don't determine the outcome of it. When you're 00:27:01.089 --> 00:27:03.369 generous to others, you can't force an outcome. 00:27:04.730 --> 00:27:06.789 Here's the reality. Sometimes people receive 00:27:06.789 --> 00:27:10.069 generosity and they multiply the outcome for 00:27:10.069 --> 00:27:12.789 good. And sometimes people receive generosity 00:27:12.789 --> 00:27:17.029 and they don't steward it well. Your generosity, 00:27:17.049 --> 00:27:19.829 though, doesn't change based on the outcome. 00:27:20.130 --> 00:27:22.970 You may choose to be generous elsewhere if somebody 00:27:22.970 --> 00:27:26.670 is not being faithful or wise with your generosity, 00:27:26.670 --> 00:27:30.710 but your heart of generosity should not change. 00:27:31.410 --> 00:27:35.390 It's a spiritual dynamic. But in the financial 00:27:35.390 --> 00:27:37.990 world, friends, it would be crazy for an advisor 00:27:37.990 --> 00:27:41.269 to tell you, hey, so this stock I want you to 00:27:41.269 --> 00:27:45.220 invest in, it has never performed. It has always 00:27:45.220 --> 00:27:51.059 lost money. But after you die, it might be worth 00:27:51.059 --> 00:27:56.119 something. It also might not. Who knows? So I 00:27:56.119 --> 00:27:59.019 can't lean in to an investment application here. 00:28:00.039 --> 00:28:02.460 Even though many commentators, many supposed 00:28:02.460 --> 00:28:04.940 Ecclesiastes experts think that it might be. 00:28:05.079 --> 00:28:07.160 I'm just going to add that many of those who 00:28:07.160 --> 00:28:09.799 think that this passage is good financial advice, 00:28:10.079 --> 00:28:14.079 they reject Solomonic authorship. I mean, that 00:28:14.079 --> 00:28:15.859 should be your first indication, like, wait, 00:28:15.900 --> 00:28:18.200 okay, you don't think it was Solomon, then how 00:28:18.200 --> 00:28:20.740 do we know if he's good with money? They also 00:28:20.740 --> 00:28:22.759 don't see any hope in the key phrase, vanity 00:28:22.759 --> 00:28:24.299 of vanities. They think it's the most depressing 00:28:24.299 --> 00:28:26.119 book in the whole entire Bible and would rather 00:28:26.119 --> 00:28:30.460 avoid it. But while this passage clearly isn't 00:28:30.460 --> 00:28:32.779 about financial advice, I understand why people 00:28:32.779 --> 00:28:34.900 sometimes see it, but let me encourage with a 00:28:34.900 --> 00:28:37.380 hermeneutical principle. I used that phrase earlier. 00:28:37.460 --> 00:28:39.519 Here's what I mean. When we study God's word, 00:28:39.680 --> 00:28:43.890 our first goal is to understand authorial intent 00:28:43.890 --> 00:28:46.950 than to interpret the passage for what it meant 00:28:46.950 --> 00:28:50.230 at the time that it was written. Now, side note, 00:28:50.250 --> 00:28:52.309 it becomes a little more difficult if you don't 00:28:52.309 --> 00:28:54.369 know who the author is, but we cover that in 00:28:54.369 --> 00:28:56.490 the introductory sermon to this series. You can 00:28:56.490 --> 00:28:59.309 go check that out. Now, in aiming for the interpretation 00:28:59.309 --> 00:29:02.730 or the meaning of a passage, we are working to 00:29:02.730 --> 00:29:05.950 understand timeless truth. What would God teach 00:29:05.950 --> 00:29:09.849 any generation learning from his word? Now, in 00:29:09.849 --> 00:29:13.019 this passage, The clear meaning is toward radical, 00:29:13.220 --> 00:29:18.700 risky, and yet wise generosity. Generosity here 00:29:18.700 --> 00:29:21.400 and now, generosity without limit, generosity 00:29:21.400 --> 00:29:24.240 without expectation, and generosity with eternal 00:29:24.240 --> 00:29:28.200 life in mind. That's primary. So our first applications 00:29:28.200 --> 00:29:30.799 should come from that singular intended meaning. 00:29:31.019 --> 00:29:33.859 Be generous. Don't put your limits on giving. 00:29:34.039 --> 00:29:37.119 Be generous as a pattern of life. Value the right 00:29:37.119 --> 00:29:39.299 things the right way. And the list could go on. 00:29:40.910 --> 00:29:43.029 The question is, can we make secondary applications? 00:29:44.190 --> 00:29:49.390 Yes, we could. We can. Maybe that's where investment 00:29:49.390 --> 00:29:52.869 diversification or financial advice could come 00:29:52.869 --> 00:29:56.049 into view. Is diversifying wealth a wise thing 00:29:56.049 --> 00:29:58.529 to do? I mean, yeah, it probably is if you're 00:29:58.529 --> 00:30:01.970 able. But does this passage teach about that? 00:30:02.990 --> 00:30:06.269 No, it really doesn't. There are other passages 00:30:06.269 --> 00:30:09.160 that would give that indication. I'm not even 00:30:09.160 --> 00:30:10.440 going to give the examples because it's not the 00:30:10.440 --> 00:30:12.380 point of the sermon, but there are other passages 00:30:12.380 --> 00:30:15.380 that speak about wealth and investments and diversifying 00:30:15.380 --> 00:30:19.279 to test yields, but not this one. So the issue 00:30:19.279 --> 00:30:20.940 that I have with that financial interpretation 00:30:20.940 --> 00:30:23.500 is it's not whether diversification is helpful. 00:30:23.700 --> 00:30:27.740 It can be. It probably is. My issue is that to 00:30:27.740 --> 00:30:31.000 change the meaning of the text and to focus on 00:30:31.000 --> 00:30:34.740 finances would rob you, the reader, of an opportunity 00:30:34.740 --> 00:30:38.420 to worship God in light of the intended meaning. 00:30:39.599 --> 00:30:43.240 And see, that's why it's so important for shepherds, 00:30:43.240 --> 00:30:46.539 for pastors and preachers to labor in their study 00:30:46.539 --> 00:30:49.420 of God's word, to understand it rightly, and 00:30:49.420 --> 00:30:52.640 then to rightly apply the word of truth. And 00:30:52.640 --> 00:30:54.539 that's something that I want to thank Jeff for, 00:30:54.619 --> 00:30:57.369 that week after week. He comes in to do faithful 00:30:57.369 --> 00:31:00.589 study, bringing us a variety of potential meanings 00:31:00.589 --> 00:31:02.690 that scholars wrestle with, and then sharing 00:31:02.690 --> 00:31:05.529 his conviction over which one seems most reasonable, 00:31:05.670 --> 00:31:08.390 truthful, and honorable to the text in light 00:31:08.390 --> 00:31:13.750 of his study. My final thought on why generosity 00:31:13.750 --> 00:31:16.930 is the focus here is regarding consistency with 00:31:16.930 --> 00:31:20.789 Solomon. Throughout this letter, he challenges 00:31:20.789 --> 00:31:24.819 the reader to think beyond today. to think beyond 00:31:24.819 --> 00:31:27.859 this life. And he keeps telling the reader, your 00:31:27.859 --> 00:31:30.700 life is more than what you see here and now. 00:31:31.579 --> 00:31:33.740 It's not a hopeless letter. It's only hopeless 00:31:33.740 --> 00:31:37.519 if you find your best life here and now. He keeps 00:31:37.519 --> 00:31:40.660 driving the reader to think about God, to think 00:31:40.660 --> 00:31:44.119 about life in terms of eternality, not temporal 00:31:44.119 --> 00:31:48.480 things. So it doesn't fit that here he would 00:31:48.480 --> 00:31:51.259 be advocating for either A, financial wisdom 00:31:51.259 --> 00:31:53.000 to get a better return on investment here and 00:31:53.000 --> 00:31:56.200 now, or B, even charity for a return blessing 00:31:56.200 --> 00:32:01.079 for you here and now. Instead, he seems to be 00:32:01.079 --> 00:32:04.000 teaching the reader that life should be lived 00:32:04.000 --> 00:32:08.759 in view of what's to come. If you know the storm 00:32:08.759 --> 00:32:12.259 is coming, if you know that judgment is coming, 00:32:12.730 --> 00:32:15.769 then live in light of where you plan to be when 00:32:15.769 --> 00:32:19.369 all is said and done. Where is your tree gonna 00:32:19.369 --> 00:32:24.289 fall? It will fall. Is it gonna fall in God's 00:32:24.289 --> 00:32:28.329 everlasting kingdom with Christ? Or is it gonna 00:32:28.329 --> 00:32:33.210 fall on the other side? So as you look at Ecclesiastes 00:32:33.210 --> 00:32:35.750 11, one through six, my prayer is that you see 00:32:35.750 --> 00:32:38.670 the beauty of God's calling for your generosity. 00:32:39.549 --> 00:32:42.329 More than focusing on wealth, accumulation, or 00:32:42.329 --> 00:32:44.609 financial blessing, God calls us to something 00:32:44.609 --> 00:32:46.910 better. And that's why Paul's instruction to 00:32:46.910 --> 00:32:49.750 Timothy in 1 Timothy 6 for the wealthy of this 00:32:49.750 --> 00:32:51.869 age to give generously, set our hope in God, 00:32:51.950 --> 00:32:54.509 is so applicable here. We read it earlier today, 00:32:54.710 --> 00:33:07.680 but let's read it again. It says, Command them 00:33:07.680 --> 00:33:10.460 to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous 00:33:10.460 --> 00:33:12.720 and ready to share, storing up for themselves 00:33:12.720 --> 00:33:15.839 the treasure of a good foundation for the future, 00:33:16.000 --> 00:33:19.440 so that they may take hold of that which is life 00:33:19.440 --> 00:33:24.279 indeed. Now God teaches us through Paul some 00:33:24.279 --> 00:33:29.779 1 ,000 years after Solomon. He says that riches 00:33:29.779 --> 00:33:34.660 are uncertain. And so let me ask, if God doesn't 00:33:34.660 --> 00:33:37.819 change, Were riches certain in Solomon days? 00:33:40.700 --> 00:33:43.799 No. It's been consistent throughout human history 00:33:43.799 --> 00:33:46.259 because it's a fallen, unpredictable, broken 00:33:46.259 --> 00:33:50.339 world. Riches aren't certain, but there is one 00:33:50.339 --> 00:33:53.500 who is certain. And that's the key, that if we 00:33:53.500 --> 00:33:57.400 grasp who God is, what he has done in and through 00:33:57.400 --> 00:34:00.660 Christ, then we get to respond with worship and 00:34:00.660 --> 00:34:04.759 take hold of that which is actually life. And 00:34:04.759 --> 00:34:07.140 you guys know we teach this all the time. Worship 00:34:07.140 --> 00:34:10.420 is more than singing. It's not not singing. It 00:34:10.420 --> 00:34:12.019 is singing, but it's more than just singing. 00:34:12.079 --> 00:34:15.619 It's a whole person orientation of life. You 00:34:15.619 --> 00:34:18.019 give yourself over to the one that you worship. 00:34:19.079 --> 00:34:21.360 The caution is always make sure that's not yourself. 00:34:22.320 --> 00:34:25.760 Make sure that's not this life that you worship 00:34:25.760 --> 00:34:28.519 in light of convictions from God's word. And 00:34:28.519 --> 00:34:31.840 so worship is always action. There's action involved. 00:34:33.169 --> 00:34:35.690 This generosity then that Solomon speaks of, 00:34:35.750 --> 00:34:38.369 that Paul speaks of, it's rooted in worship or 00:34:38.369 --> 00:34:41.889 response to the one who holds eternity in his 00:34:41.889 --> 00:34:44.849 hands. The one who judges the living and the 00:34:44.849 --> 00:34:48.289 dead. The one who has the keys to eternal life. 00:34:48.889 --> 00:34:51.250 So my prayer is that you see generosity not as 00:34:51.250 --> 00:34:53.489 something you're just responsible to do, like, 00:34:53.570 --> 00:34:55.510 oh, I guess I gotta do this. No, that you would 00:34:55.510 --> 00:34:58.150 see it as a blessing that you get to do it and 00:34:58.150 --> 00:35:01.269 you only get to do it here. You don't get to 00:35:01.269 --> 00:35:06.030 do it later. It's for now. So it's a privilege. 00:35:06.849 --> 00:35:09.130 It's something you get to do because you know 00:35:09.130 --> 00:35:12.230 who holds your life. Because you know where you're 00:35:12.230 --> 00:35:15.570 going. You know where you're going to fall. So 00:35:15.570 --> 00:35:17.070 my prayer is that you wouldn't see generosity 00:35:17.070 --> 00:35:19.969 just as an opportunity to look good in God's 00:35:19.969 --> 00:35:23.170 eyes or to get something good in return here 00:35:23.170 --> 00:35:26.210 and now. That's works righteousness. But that 00:35:26.210 --> 00:35:28.710 you would see generosity as an opportunity to 00:35:28.710 --> 00:35:31.750 bring blessing to others. To encourage them to 00:35:31.750 --> 00:35:36.280 believe. to share of your trust in Christ, to 00:35:36.280 --> 00:35:38.119 point them to the one who owns a cattle on a 00:35:38.119 --> 00:35:41.159 thousand hills, to help them not find their hope 00:35:41.159 --> 00:35:43.260 in things here and now, but to help them set 00:35:43.260 --> 00:35:45.639 their gaze on eternity, things that actually 00:35:45.639 --> 00:35:48.780 matter. So in principle, Solomon is teaching 00:35:48.780 --> 00:35:51.599 us to give. And yes, that could include tithes 00:35:51.599 --> 00:35:53.199 and offerings. It's not a sermon, though, on 00:35:53.199 --> 00:35:54.780 getting you to just give more money. And yes, 00:35:54.860 --> 00:35:57.420 it could involve giving to the baby bottle boomerang 00:35:57.420 --> 00:35:59.940 or other things. But it's more about your heart 00:35:59.940 --> 00:36:02.920 of generosity than it is on what you have and 00:36:02.920 --> 00:36:04.519 what you're just trying to give financially. 00:36:04.699 --> 00:36:07.039 So it includes finances, but it's not limited 00:36:07.039 --> 00:36:11.719 to finances. It's your time. It's your effort. 00:36:12.639 --> 00:36:16.230 It's your schedule. It's your plans. It's all 00:36:16.230 --> 00:36:20.250 of you. So give without knowing what's going 00:36:20.250 --> 00:36:23.690 to come back to you. Give without setting limitations 00:36:23.690 --> 00:36:28.449 on how much. Give what's valuable to you. Give 00:36:28.449 --> 00:36:31.670 to bless. Give because you can't take things 00:36:31.670 --> 00:36:34.969 of this earth with you in the life to come. Give 00:36:34.969 --> 00:36:37.349 with thoughts, though, of that life to come. 00:36:38.710 --> 00:36:41.090 And I'm thankful that I've seen a heart of generosity 00:36:41.090 --> 00:36:43.289 among our members here at Oak Hill for many years. 00:36:44.710 --> 00:36:46.849 My own family, we've been those who have received 00:36:46.849 --> 00:36:48.489 generous support in times of need. I remember 00:36:48.489 --> 00:36:51.150 early on, there were some members who are still 00:36:51.150 --> 00:36:53.989 with us today here who blessed our family in 00:36:53.989 --> 00:36:56.869 times of need with groceries, with gift cards 00:36:56.869 --> 00:36:59.690 for groceries, with diapers, when we didn't know 00:36:59.690 --> 00:37:02.289 what we were gonna do and they richly supplied 00:37:02.289 --> 00:37:05.670 and we didn't even ask them. Just their heart 00:37:05.670 --> 00:37:09.250 of generosity came forward. We see the generosity 00:37:09.250 --> 00:37:11.510 in this church when the support for missions 00:37:11.510 --> 00:37:14.130 goes beyond what we ask. And over the years, 00:37:14.650 --> 00:37:16.429 We bless churches and servants of the Lord around 00:37:16.429 --> 00:37:20.389 the world. Myanmar, Romania, Kenya, Uganda, Madagascar, 00:37:20.389 --> 00:37:24.150 Zimbabwe, and there's more. Incredible. I've 00:37:24.150 --> 00:37:26.090 seen our church be generous in meeting practical 00:37:26.090 --> 00:37:28.369 needs. Simple things like rides to the airport. 00:37:28.570 --> 00:37:30.170 Man, we do a lot of traveling here. I'm just 00:37:30.170 --> 00:37:32.250 going to throw that out. A lot of traveling. 00:37:32.309 --> 00:37:34.510 We also do a lot of moving here in this church 00:37:34.510 --> 00:37:38.650 too. Meals, you know, when people are sick, when 00:37:38.650 --> 00:37:41.250 babies come, when there are, you know, surgeries 00:37:41.250 --> 00:37:45.340 and the like. Now, as you hear these encouragements, 00:37:45.440 --> 00:37:47.960 you know, even if you're somebody who has modeled 00:37:47.960 --> 00:37:52.239 serving in a generous way, my encouragement is 00:37:52.239 --> 00:37:55.880 excel still more. Excel still more. Keep showing 00:37:55.880 --> 00:37:58.940 that your treasures are not of this world. Keep 00:37:58.940 --> 00:38:01.320 showing that. Keep showing that you're building 00:38:01.320 --> 00:38:04.039 the kingdom that is to come. Cast your bread 00:38:04.039 --> 00:38:07.519 upon the waters because you're not expecting 00:38:07.519 --> 00:38:10.219 an immediate return. You're focusing on trusting 00:38:10.219 --> 00:38:13.610 the Lord with the ultimate outcomes. Now, being 00:38:13.610 --> 00:38:17.230 generous is difficult for you. Begin to pray 00:38:17.230 --> 00:38:19.829 that God's going to help you see this as a matter 00:38:19.829 --> 00:38:22.949 of worship, as a matter of gratitude. Because 00:38:22.949 --> 00:38:25.889 if you're saved, you have every spiritual blessing 00:38:25.889 --> 00:38:29.050 in Christ. Your generosity then is the outflow 00:38:29.050 --> 00:38:31.829 of Christ's generosity to you. You've received 00:38:31.829 --> 00:38:37.369 much, so give much. If you're not saved here 00:38:37.369 --> 00:38:41.750 today, and all of this sounds wild, just crazy, 00:38:42.519 --> 00:38:44.840 Come talk to myself, come talk to another elder 00:38:44.840 --> 00:38:48.260 after church and hear why we would promote such 00:38:48.260 --> 00:38:53.099 wild, risky, and radical generosity. At the end 00:38:53.099 --> 00:38:55.099 of the day, here's the reality. We must all come 00:38:55.099 --> 00:38:58.639 before the Lord, every single one of us, and 00:38:58.639 --> 00:39:01.380 we must all and we will all recognize that only 00:39:01.380 --> 00:39:05.619 he can save unto eternity. No good that we've 00:39:05.619 --> 00:39:08.440 done, no works that we've done, no amount of 00:39:08.440 --> 00:39:12.699 generosity can save us. But the only way that 00:39:12.699 --> 00:39:14.820 we are going to have and lay hold of eternal 00:39:14.820 --> 00:39:20.320 life is by letting go. Letting go of the temporary 00:39:20.320 --> 00:39:24.619 entanglements we have here on earth. And loosening 00:39:24.619 --> 00:39:27.940 our hold of this life, we're able to grasp the 00:39:27.940 --> 00:39:31.860 eternal life of Christ. That's the reality. I'm 00:39:31.860 --> 00:39:34.039 going to put some questions on the screen for 00:39:34.039 --> 00:39:36.039 you to consider. In a moment, I'll pray as we 00:39:36.039 --> 00:39:40.550 transition. As you look at these questions, I 00:39:40.550 --> 00:39:43.070 do this every single time, but please consider 00:39:43.070 --> 00:39:46.030 them seriously. Consider them for your own heart. 00:39:46.150 --> 00:39:48.570 Consider them for yourself. Don't just say, oh, 00:39:48.570 --> 00:39:50.989 it's another question. Think about it. Not for 00:39:50.989 --> 00:39:53.570 my sake, but for yours. That you would consider 00:39:53.570 --> 00:39:57.550 generosity in light of God's word and who Christ 00:39:57.550 --> 00:40:00.329 is. In a moment, I'll pray for us as we wrap 00:40:00.329 --> 00:40:08.849 up. Father, I'm sure that when Some of us may 00:40:08.849 --> 00:40:10.389 have seen the call to worship today. We might 00:40:10.389 --> 00:40:11.849 have thought this is just another giving sermon. 00:40:13.010 --> 00:40:16.289 This is just another push to give more finances, 00:40:16.389 --> 00:40:19.869 get more money, a push for a tie -in with the 00:40:19.869 --> 00:40:23.170 baby bottle boomerang. Father, I pray by the 00:40:23.170 --> 00:40:26.630 end, everyone here has seen that the push towards 00:40:26.630 --> 00:40:29.349 generosity is because of you, because of your 00:40:29.349 --> 00:40:32.090 character, who you are and what you've done in 00:40:32.090 --> 00:40:34.989 Christ. My prayer for each and every one of us 00:40:34.989 --> 00:40:37.500 here today is that we would understand That a 00:40:37.500 --> 00:40:39.539 heart of generosity is only rooted in Christ. 00:40:39.679 --> 00:40:42.699 We are selfish. We hold on to things. We hoard 00:40:42.699 --> 00:40:47.780 things for ourselves. We don't share. Yet you 00:40:47.780 --> 00:40:53.239 richly share. Every one of us born into sin and 00:40:53.239 --> 00:40:55.719 yet by your grace some are saved. Some are drawn 00:40:55.719 --> 00:40:58.559 near to you. Some are given of your everlasting 00:40:58.559 --> 00:41:02.699 eternal blessings. Rescued, redeemed, given new 00:41:02.699 --> 00:41:07.599 hope and new life. drawn from the pit of despair 00:41:07.599 --> 00:41:11.679 and given new hope. That's the reality for those 00:41:11.679 --> 00:41:15.300 who are in Christ and not by works that we've 00:41:15.300 --> 00:41:18.480 done. So therefore our generosity in response, 00:41:18.579 --> 00:41:22.460 it is not to earn your favor. We can't do that. 00:41:24.420 --> 00:41:28.920 Our generosity then is simply a response of worship. 00:41:29.559 --> 00:41:32.739 It's a response of gratitude. Seeing what you 00:41:32.739 --> 00:41:34.820 have done in Christ and saying, everything I 00:41:34.820 --> 00:41:38.739 have is yours. Every bit of wealth, every bit 00:41:38.739 --> 00:41:41.820 of time, every bit of energy, it's all yours. 00:41:42.920 --> 00:41:45.380 If we're called to be living sacrifices, that's 00:41:45.380 --> 00:41:48.519 all of us. The whole person, not just part of 00:41:48.519 --> 00:41:52.440 us. So I ask, help us to think well and wisely 00:41:52.440 --> 00:41:56.760 about being generous. Giving of ourselves, yes, 00:41:56.800 --> 00:41:59.739 our finances, but of course the rest of us, our 00:41:59.739 --> 00:42:03.760 time, our effort, our thoughts, yes, even our 00:42:03.760 --> 00:42:08.179 prayers. that we give our lives over for others, 00:42:08.280 --> 00:42:11.039 for the good of others, because that is what 00:42:11.039 --> 00:42:14.860 you have done. So help us to pursue radical and 00:42:14.860 --> 00:42:20.440 risky but wise generosity. God, we thank you 00:42:20.440 --> 00:42:23.500 for the character of generosity you display perfectly 00:42:23.500 --> 00:42:27.199 in Christ. We ask that you would help us understand 00:42:27.199 --> 00:42:29.800 and comprehend that kind of selfless generosity, 00:42:30.019 --> 00:42:35.280 that we would model his life. that we would follow 00:42:35.280 --> 00:42:40.719 his example, giving of himself. So conform our 00:42:40.719 --> 00:42:43.699 hearts to yours. May we set our hope on you. 00:42:44.159 --> 00:42:47.019 May we take hold of that which is truly life 00:42:47.019 --> 00:42:50.780 by letting go of this temporary one and the things 00:42:50.780 --> 00:42:55.559 that are so sparkly at one moment and so dim 00:42:55.559 --> 00:43:00.380 the next. We ask it now as we transition to praise 00:43:00.380 --> 00:43:02.440 and song that you would lift our hearts and voices. 00:43:03.239 --> 00:43:05.300 that we would exalt the name of Christ, that 00:43:05.300 --> 00:43:08.440 we would find our hope, our joy in the slain 00:43:08.440 --> 00:43:13.079 lamb who died for our sins and yet now lives, 00:43:13.260 --> 00:43:16.579 who rescues sinners from the destruction, the 00:43:16.579 --> 00:43:20.199 calamity that is sure to come, and who gives 00:43:20.199 --> 00:43:23.679 new and living hope to all who trust in him. 00:43:24.480 --> 00:43:28.619 We praise your name, Jesus, and we pray in your 00:43:28.619 --> 00:43:29.719 name. Amen.