Ecclesiastes – Chapter 11

He who observes the wind will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap. Ecclesiastes 11:4 – Soon to be closing out his book, Solomon is giving some last statements of wisdom. Here the king looks at the example of a farmer who is only looking at the wind and the clouds. While likely having some great conversations with his farmer buddies about what the changes in wind might mean and what the clouds on the horizon could mean for their crops, the idea behind the verse is that if all they do is look at the clouds and never actually get to sowing and reaping, then they’ll have no harvest. Essentially Solomon is saying that if all you do is talk about doing something, but never actually do it, there is no blessing of a harvest at the end. While we can easily apply this concept to so many areas of life, let’s connect it with the idea of generosity that is spoken about in the verses prior in the chapter. So often we talk about being generous with the blessings God has given us. That we’ll use our time more for the Lord’s work, that we’ll give more to the ones around us that are in need, that we’ll begin to use our talents more at church. All are wonderful things, yet are also things that can remain in the “talking about” stage and never moving into the this actually doing them stage. If the Lord is directing you somehow to be generous with what you have, move away from just observing the wind and actually begin sowing. Move away from simply talking about it and actually do it. People are not helped by our good intentions, they are helped when our hands reach out to them. Whether it’s giving of your physical blessings to someone in need or you being generous with your time so someone can know Jesus better, let’s move into the stage of actually doing what we say we’re going to do. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 3396

Remove vexation from your heart, and put away pain from your body, for youth and the dawn of life are vanity. Ecclesiastes 11:10 – Set aside this pursuit of sin for life is short and we have a purpose. This chapter is filled with the message to give and show love to those around you for tomorrow is unsure. This selfish pursuit of fleshly desires gets us nowhere but darkness and helps no one, not even ourselves. I want us all to deeply consider the value of each moment we have in life. Our days are short and we must take full advantage of each minute we have. Leaning into sin though isn’t taking advantage of our days for God. God deserves you using your life for Him, part of your life though includes today. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 845

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. Ecclesiastes 11:6 – Always seek out ways to help others. This passage reminds us that we can’t always foresee how the seeds we plant may grow. Maybe in the morning we plant the seed of kindness in someone and later that day we open our hands to someone to come and eat with us. God may use both, just one, or neither in that day in a special way, but what we do know is if we never planted any seeds or offered out our hands then we’ve given God nothing to work with. No fruit will grow where no seeds have been planted. What seed can you plant today? In what ways can you choose to not withhold your hand from someone? Give God someone beautiful to work with today and watch the masterpiece He can create. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1667

Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days. Ecclesiastes 11:1 – Have you ever fed bread to the ducks at a local pond? Have those ducks ever served you or took care of you in any way after you fed them? That’s the idea being shared in our verse. Give freely of what you have to others, even when the possibly of the returning that kindness back to you seems highly unlikely or even improbable. Don’t let the reason you give be because you expect something in return. Jesus set for us the greatest example of this. He gave and gave, served to the point of death, and didn’t asked for a returned favor. While we are blessed with people in our story that will serve us, we’ll find many that will take yet never return. With them, trust God with that situation. You just continue to serve them like God has called you to. Keep showing them Jesus, keep pointing them to Him with your life, and trust God to provide for your new lack due to giving out so deeply to those who will never do the same for you. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 2001