Cast your bread on the waters, for after many days you will find it Ecclesiastes 11:1-6 Ecclesiastes 11:1 Cast your bread on the waters, for after many days you will find it. Ecclesiastes 11:2 Divide to seven, and even to eight; for you do not know the evil that will come upon the earth. Ecclesiastes 11:3 If the clouds be full of water, they shall pour it out on the earth: and if the tree fall to the south, or to the north, in the place where the tree falls, there it shall remain. Ecclesiastes 11:4 He that looketh upon the wind shall not sow: and he that looketh upon the clouds shall not reap. Ecclesiastes 11:5 As thou knowest not which is the way of the wind, or how the bones grow in the womb of a pregnant woman, so thou knowest the work of God, which doeth all things. Ecclesiastes 11:6 In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening let not thy hand rest; for you do not know which is best, whether this or that, or whether one and the other is equally good. IN CONTEXT: THE IMPORTANT WOMAN WHO SOWED FOR THE FUTURE (THE WOMAN HOSTS AND FEEDS ELISHA AND HIS SERVANT) (BLS) BIBLE SIMPLE LANGUAGE 2 Kings 4:8-11 2Kings 4:8 - One day Elisha went to the town of Shunem. There, a very important woman insisted that he go to eat at her house. And every time Elisha passed by, he stayed at her house to eat. 2Ki 4:9 - Then the woman said to her husband, "Look, I know that this man who visits us when he passes through the town is a prophet of God.2 Kings 4:10 Let us build a room on the terrace. Let us put a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp for him, and so that the prophet can stay every time he comes to visit us. 2Kings 4:11 - One day Elisha came and slept in the room that had been built for him. a)THE PROMISE OF A CHILD FOR THE WOMAN 2 Kings 4:12-17 2Kings 4:12 Then he said to his servant Gehazi, "This lady has cared a lot about us, ask her what we can do for her." Also ask him if he wants us to speak well of it to the king or the commander of the army. When Elisha's servant asked her, the woman answered, "I lack nothing; I live quietly among my people. When Elisha asked his servant what they could do for her, Gehazi replied, "Well, she has no children, and her husband is old. Then Elisha said to her, "Call her." The servant called to her, and when she arrived, she stood at the door. 2Kings 4:16 Elisha said to him, "This time next year you will carry a son of yours in your arms." The woman answered, "You are a prophet of God, and I am your servant. Please don't lie to me. 2Kings 4:17 But the woman became pregnant, and the next year she bore a son, just as Elisha had told her. COMMENT: In the time of the prophet Elisha God knew the heart and the need of this woman, the heart because in her you can see a heart of hospitality and service and of caring for the well-being of Elisha and Gehazi servant of Elisha servant of God, she knew that Elisha was a servant of God and that she possibly saw Elisha's need for food and stay during the time Elisha was going to Shunem. Now, in doing this service, this compassion, this mercy, this good thing of feeding him and building a place to lodge him, she was doing it out of love, not realizing that this favor, this service, this good work would be a seed for the things that would come in the future. This woman provoked a gratitude in Elisha in such a way that he sent his assistant to ask her that there was something he could do for her, God put that feeling in Elisha's heart, Elisha wanted to bless her and because God saw a need in her that only God could supply’ it was to give her a child. She replied to Elisha's helper that she was fine, that she didn't need anything, but God used Gehazi to tell Elisha that the woman had no children and that her husband was already old and this showed Elisha that there was a great need in her and that need was a child. Elisha declares a word of faith to her that she was going to have a son. And so it was, she had a son. CONTEXT : Throw your bread on the waters, for after many days you will find it EXPLANATION: Here I see that this agrees with what the Shunammite woman did with Elisha, she threw her bread on the waters and after many days she found it, it is so important to put our lives at the service of God out of love and to serve our brothers and sisters because there is a work of God which he is doing because in the context verse 3 he speaks to us of when the clouds are full of water it is because it is going to rain we know that it does not rain all the time but there is a time where God sends us rain but if someone is like the other example he gives us in this same verse like the fallen tree that no matter which side it falls on regardless it is on the right or on the left after that it is doing anything that relates to someone does nothing, that is, he does not sow the seed and does not work the land how in the world he hopes one day or in the future to have a harvest. We do not know what may come on earth as the scripture says, because precisely because we do not know we must be prudent and get to work in doing what we have to do to serve our God and that we may be a blessing for other lives. We do not know the future that is to say what can happen, but if we can take advantage of the present by sowing in God for the future verse 2 says distribute to 7 and even to 8 because you do not know the evil that will come on earth, here it is talking about doing mercy to serve God by helping other people, to be merciful and to sow by doing something, working in the kingdom of God, now here he gives us this advice because God is good and He does not leave us without reward. There is a work that God is doing, there is a work that God is doing and many times we do nothing because we ignore that work that God is doing. the Shunammite woman did not know the future, but the Lord did, and He knew the situations that this woman was going to go through, first with her son, second with hunger, and third with her goods and property, but God who is good already had a blessing for her in the events that would come into her life. b) THE WOMAN'S CHILD DIES AND SHE RECEIVES A MIRACLE FROM GOD 2 Kings 4:18-37 2Kings 4:18 And the child grew up. But it came to pass one day, that he came to his father, who was with the reapers; 2Kings 4:19 And he said to his father, "Alas, my head, my head!" And the father said to a servant, "Take him to his mother." 2Kings 4:20 And when he had taken him, and brought his mother, he sat on her knees until noon, and died. 2Kings 4:21 And she went up, and laid him on the bed of the man of God, and shut the door, and went out. 2Kings 4:22 And she called her husband, and said unto him, I beseech thee, send with me one of the servants and one of the donkeys, that I may run to the man of God, and return. 2Kings 4:23 - He said, "Why are you going to see him today?" It is not a new moon, nor a Sabbath. [a] And she answered, Peace. 2Kings 4:24 And he caused the donkey to be saddled, and said unto the servant, Lead and walk; and do not make me stop on the way, except when I tell you to. 2Kings 4:25 So he departed, and came to the man of God, to Mount Carmel. And when the man of God saw her from afar, he said to his servant Gezi, "Behold the Sunnite." 2Kings 4:26 I beseech you now to go and meet her, and say to her, "Is it all right with you?" Is it going well for your husband, and your son? And she said, "Good." 2Kings 4:27 And when he came to the man of God on the mountain, he took hold of his feet. And Gehazi came to remove it; but the man of God said to him, "Leave her, for her soul is bitter, and the Lord has concealed the reason from me, and has not revealed it to me." 2Kings 4:28 And she said, Did I ask my lord for a son? Did I not say that you should not mock me? 2Kings 4:29 And he said unto Gehazi, Gird thy loins, and take my staff in thy hand, and go: if any man shall find thee, salute him not: and if any man salute thee, answer him not: and thou shalt put my staff upon the face of the child. 2Kings 4:30 And the mother of the child said, As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not forsake you. 2Kings 4:31 - Then he arose and followed her. And Gehazi had gone before them, and had put the staff on the face of the child; but he had no voice or sense, and so he had turned to find Elisha, and declared it to him, saying, "The child does not awake." 2Kings 4:32 And when Elisha came into the house, behold, the child lay dead on his bed. 2Kings 4:33 And he went in, and shut the door behind them both, and prayed unto the Lord. 2Kings 4:34 And he went up and lay down on the child, putting his mouth on his mouth, and his eyes on his eyes, and his hands on his hands; so he stretched himself out on him, and the child's body was warmed. 2Kings 4:35 And he turned and walked about the house to and fro, and then he went up, and lay on him again, and the child sneezed seven times, and opened his eyes. 2Kings 4:36 And he called Gehazi, and said unto him, Call this Sunnite. And he called her. And when she went in, he said to her, " Take your son." 2Kings 4:37 And so she went in, and fell at his feet, and bowed down to the ground, and then took her son, and went out. COMMENT : Here we clearly see the trial that came to this woman with her son, she was in pain by the death of her son but she remembers that it was Elisha who had given her a word where God was going to give her a son and so it was and now that son has died. She goes to the man of God and with the faith and certainty that God is going to perform the miracle for her. but here we clearly see God's hand for this woman whom God does not forget. c) NEHEMIAH PRAYS THAT GOD WILL REMEMBER HIM FOR GOOD NEHEMIAH 13:14-31 Nehemiah 13:14 Remember me, O God, for this purpose, and blot out not my mercies which I have done in the house of my God, and in his service.15 In those days I saw in Judah some treading in winepresses on the Sabbath day, carrying bundles, and loading donkeys with wine, and also with grapes, figs, and all kinds of burdens, and bringing them to Jerusalem on the Sabbath day.16 There were also Tyrians in the city who brought fish and all merchandise, and sold them on the Sabbath to the children of Judah in Jerusalem.17 And I rebuked the lords of Judah, and said to them, "What evil is this that you are doing, thus profaning the Sabbath day? 18 Did not your fathers do so, and did our God bring all this evil upon us and upon this city? And do you add wrath upon Israel by profaning the Sabbath day? 19 And it came to pass, when it was getting dark at the gates of Jerusalem before the Sabbath, that I ordered the gates to be shut, and commanded that they should not be opened until after the Sabbath; and I set some of my servants at the gates, that they might not bring in any burden on the Sabbath day.20 And the merchants and those who sold every kind of merchandise stayed outside Jerusalem once and twice.21 And I warned them, and said to them, "Why do you stand before the wall?" If you do it again, I will lay hands on you. From that time they did not come on the Sabbath. 22 And I told the Levites to purify themselves and come and guard the gates, that they might keep the Sabbath day holy. For this reason also, remember me, my God, and forgive me according to the greatness of your mercy.23 And I saw in those days Jews who had taken wives from Ashdod, Ammonites, and Moabites;24 And half of his sons spoke the language of Ashdod, because they did not know how to speak Judaic, but spoke according to the language of each people.25 And I quarreled with them, and cursed them, and smote some of them, and plucked their hair, and made them swear, saying, Thou shalt not give thy daughters unto their sons, and thou shalt not take of their daughters for your sons, nor for yourselves.26 Did not Solomon king of Israel sin because of this? Although in many nations there was no king like him, who was loved by his God, and God had made him king over all Israel, even foreign women made him sin.27 And shall we obey you to commit all this great evil of transgressing against our God by taking foreign wives? 28 And one of the sons of Jehoiada, the son of Eliasib the high priest, was the son-in-law of Sanballat the Horonite, so I drove him away from me. 29 Remember them, my God, against those who defile the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood and of the Levites.30 So I cleansed them from all foreigners, and I appointed the priests and Levites in their groups, each one in his service;31 and for the offering of wood at the appointed times, and for the firstfruits. Remember me, my God, for good. COMMENT: This prayer is beautiful, and I do not want us to confuse it with the prayer of the Pharisee which the Lord Jesus gave for example, here on this occasion something similar to the Shunammite but in this case Nehemiah is asking God with a humbled heart to remember all the mercies and work that he had done for love of his God and his brothers. He in this prayer is needed of the forgiveness and mercy of his God, this is precious because this man somehow had a little savings in the kingdom of God hallelujah. God knew the heart of this man of God and here God gives us a precious teaching that God is not going to bother when you ask him to remember you for good and not to forget the things you once did out of love for him and your brothers and sisters. this is precisely what Ecclesiastes 11:1-6 is teaching us. When we do something for others out of love and because we love Jesus. God does not forget. d) THE PROMISES THAT JESUS LEFT TO ALL THOSE WHO SERVE HIM Rewards promise by God Matthew 10:41-42 40 He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives him who sent me. 41 He who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and he who receives a righteous man because he is righteous will receive a righteous reward. 42 And whoever gives one of these little ones a cup of cold water only, because he is a disciple, verily I say to you, he will not lose his reward. COMMENT: These promises are for all of us, and this agrees and gives context to what Ecclesiastes 11:1-6 says, God is good, it is not in vain to work and do the will of God, everything we do for the benefit of the gospel, the kingdom of God and for love of neighbor and above all for love of our God will never be in vain. whenever it is in our power to help or do something for someone or to serve in the work of God it will never be in vain this is to throw your bread on the waters and after many days you will find it, whether monetarily, in service or any aspect of edification for the church and for others it is a sowing on the part of God and in God, for you who serve in the house of God, for you who serve in any area of the church God does not forget us e) PROMISE OF OUR GOD AND SAVIOR JESUS Mark 9:41 Mark 9:41 And whosoever shall give you a cup of water in my name, because ye are Christ's, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward. COMMENT: When each one of us does something for our brothers in the faith we are doing it for the Lord, and the Lord who is precious although in reality we are indebted to Him and He has called us to serve Him: But even so He has promised us beautiful rewards, so what brothers that it is not in vain to keep oneself for God, fearing God and serving Him is the most valuable thing we can do on this earth, serving our God, serving others when it is within our reach, always trying to be merciful to others, helping and blessing the lives of others. that one day we will have the reward from God. F) DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE JUST AND THE BAD MALACHI 3:13-18 Malachi 3:13 Your words against me have been violent, says the Lord. And you said, What have we spoken against you?14 You have said, "It is superfluous to serve God; what does it profit that we keep his law, and that we walk afflicted before the Lord of hosts?" 15 So now we say, "Blessed are the proud, and those who do wickedness are not only prosperous, but have tempted God and escaped."16 Then those who feared the Lord spoke every man to his fellow; and the Lord listened and heard, and a book of remembrance was written before him for those who fear the Lord, and for those who think in his name. 17 And they will be a special treasure to me, says the Lord of hosts, in the day that I do; and I will forgive them, like a man who forgives his son who serves him. 18 Then you will turn and discern the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between the one who serves God and the one who does not serve him. COMMENT: This promise is wonderful for all of us who serve and fear our God, it is not in vain, it is not in vain dear brother, it is not in vain to throw our bread on the waters, it is not in vain to work for the kingdom of God, it is not in vain to serve our brothers or sisters whether in the smallest thing we do, it is not in vain to pray for your brothers, it is not in vain when you remember others to help them, it is not in vain when we go to visit a sick person, it is not in vain when we give a plate of food to the hungry, it is not in vain when we support missionary works, it is not in vain when we fear God and out of that fear we try to do what God pleases, it is not in vain that we remember to pray for all the servants and handmaidens of God. it is not in vain when you clean the house of God, it is not in vain for every heart sing and plays an instrument for God. We have to continue to throw our bread on the waters even though sometimes it seems that it is in vain, IT IS NOT. God says we will be His special treasure, hallelujah! both the Shunammite woman and Nehemiah what they did, whether small or great, God did not forget them and after many days God remembered them. so let us not let our hands rest, let us not stop sowing the seed, let us not stop working and serving our dear Lord Jesus the Christ. g) THOSE WHO HAVE SOWN WITH TEARS, WILL REAP WITH REJOICING Psalm 126:5 They that have sown with tears shall reap with joy. 6 He that beareth the precious seed shall go about and weeping; But he will come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves. COMMENT: Many times we will cry sowing this seed, throwing this bread on the waters but one day, if one day the harvest will come, the harvest will come, the blessing will come, the reward will come from our God and that blessing will give us a joy and perpetual joy a beautiful blessing, it is not easy to wait on God but it will never be in vain because God does not keep anything, and it is not necessarily something material but something much more special of God, his presence, his love, his mercy, his forgiveness, his provision amen. CONCLUSION: May this meditation bring us a reflection on the great blessing of serving our God. In spite of the trials and tribulations we are going through, may this never discourage us from continuing to persevere in faith and our love, service to Christ Jesus our Lord. So, brother and sister, you who have been discouraged or perhaps disappointed in perhaps many things or people, remember that it was the Lord Jesus who saved you and who promised to be with you and to reward you for your love and dedication to Him. Let us remember the words spoken to us by the Lord through the apostle Paul. In the letter to the Colossians chapters 3 in verse 23 and 24: 23 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men; 24 Knowing that you will receive the reward of the inheritance from the Lord, because you serve Christ the Lord. Courage, servant of Christ, do not lose heart in the work of God, follow how great is your reward. Matthew 25:21-24 21 And his master said to him, "Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things; enter into the joy of your master." 22 When he who had received two talents also came and said, "Lord, you have given me two talents; behold, I have gained two more talents over them." 23 His master said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things; enter into the joy of your Lord. 24 But he who had received one talent also came and said, "Lord, I knew you that you are a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you did not scatter;