Practical Rules of Giving

[Ecclesiastes 11:1-6]

 Solomon gives up some practical rules of giving in this passage. 

1 Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.

• Your Giving should be Intentional
• “Cast” means to send or drive by force, to throw, to fling, to hurl.
• “upon the waters”  refers to people [Rev.17:1,15]
• “Thou shalt find it after many days.” [Luke 6:38] [2 Cor.9:6-10]
• God rewards and loves a cheerful giver

2 Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.

•  Your Giving should be Proportional
• “Give a portion” [2 Cor.8:12-13] “hath”, [Acts 11:29-30] “his ability”
• You should get with God and determine what you have to give, could be yourself [2 Cor.8:1-5]
• “Seven” is the number for completion, “eight” new beginning, Balanced (like a stock portfolio) You should give to beginning things such as a new missionary, and more established works as God directs.
• “knowest not what evil…” [Matt.6:34] [Ecc.5:13-14] greed, “fly away” [Prov.23:5] Prudence requires that you, if possible, store up for your retirement, but don’t send it all that direction, store up some in heaven [Matt.6:20]

3 If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth: and if the tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be.

• Your Giving should be Purposeful
• God is in control and has a purpose [Isa.55:10] [Prov.14:23] profit
• The rain and the tree, God puts them where he wants them.
• God has a purpose for every dollar and every minute he supplies you.

4 He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.

5 As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all.

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

•  Your Giving should be Faithful
• Too much observation – no giving, worry about loss
• Too much regard for the clouds- “saving for a rainy day” [Prov.20:4]
•  [Isa 55:8-9] your thoughts and ways are not his
•  “morning” youth or starting point, great time to start
• “evening” aged , don’t stop
• Give by faith trusting God for results