The Way of the Wind - Lesson 12

Memory Verse: 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. Ecc 11:5

Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days. Ecc 11:1

This verse starts the theme of sharing: share Christ with the world; share what we have with others.

He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor. Pr 22:9

Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? Is 58:7

If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother: But thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wanteth. Beware that there be not a thought in thy wicked heart, saying, The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand; and thine eye be evil against thy poor brother, and thou givest him nought; and he cry unto the LORD against thee, and it be sin unto thee. Thou shalt surely give him, and thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him: because that for this thing the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto. For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land. Deut 15:7-11

Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth. Ecc 11:2

Let our hospitality be liberal and generous be without boundaries.

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, When it is in the power of your hand to do so. Pr 3:27

We should give out of love, not from obligation. Very few people ever regret doing a good thing.

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. Ecc 11:3

Mal 3:10 - God will pour out a blessing on those that return to God what is His.

Full clouds represent life and blessing through rain. We are to be full clouds that shower blessings on others.

Matthew 25 - We are to be a conduit rain rain on the parched ground.

A tree is best measured when it is down - Carl Sandburg

What you take to grave with you is what meets you in the judgment. There are two ways in life: north or south. There is no changing teams when your life falls.

People typically die the way they live - sometimes there is a freak wind storm that blows a tree away from where it had been leaning, but most of the time a tree falls the way it has lived.

He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap. Ecc 11:4

There are times when we should be discriminating in our giving. While we should give, we should make sure it is not blown away by the wind. We should observe the wind. No pearls before swine. Matt 7:6

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. Ecc 11:5

Why does the wind blow? Temperature, pressure, earth rotation, terrain, convection, beating of birds wings: all those things affect the wind.

Like the wind, the way God's spirit works is unpredictable.

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. Ecc 11:6

Be generous at all times. Sometimes we reserve our generosity just for young because they are in their morning. We should give whether someone is in the morning or evening of their life.

Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you. Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit of lies: because thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men. Hos 10:12-13

Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. 2Cor 8:1-2

Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun: Ecc 11:7

The sun is indirectly the source of all life on the earth. Seeing the light gives life.

The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. Matt 6:22

But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. - Mal 4:2

Jesus in the sun of righteousness, the light of the world. It is good to behold the light of the world.

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. Ecc 11:8

We should rejoice in the blessing of giving. Make the most of this life because there is a time coming when we can't.

Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment. Ecc 11:9

This verse begins the conclusion and should be the first verse of chapter 12.

"Youth is wasted on the young" - George B.

Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity. Ecc 11:10

Because judgment is coming put away evil. But we can be happy and righteous at the same time through God's grace.

God Bless!