Precepts Radio Letter (August 2008) (pdf version)
DUH!

Ecclesiastes 11:1-3:

Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days. Give a serving (portion) to seven, and also to eight, for you do not know what evil will be on the earth. If the clouds are full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth; and if a tree falls to the south or the north, in the place where the tree falls, there it shall lie. (NKJV)

We have an expression today referring to something so obvious you can’t miss it: Duh! I know we usually associate this word with a brainless woman (no offense), but it can also apply to certain sections of scripture, including this passage in Ecclesiastes eleven.

I remember one thing Peter said to Jesus when they were on the Mount of Transfiguration. Jesus had been transformed, Moses and Elijah had appeared with Jesus talking to Him, and the three disciples were in amazement looking at this once in a lifetime spectacle. Peter spoke up and said, “It is good to be here.” What an understatement! I am sure Moses and Elijah were tempted to say to Jesus, “Duh!”

In our passage before us, Solomon is using this form of satire to prove a point to us. We have no problem with the third verse, but we have a real problem with verses one and two.

A RHETORICAL QUESTION

Do you believe if a cloud becomes filled with enough water it will come down as rain on the earth? Of course you do. Do you believe if a tree falls in the forest and left alone, it will remain where it fell? Of course you do. You might be tempted to answer “Duh” to these questions because the answer is so obvious.

Why would Solomon make such a mindless statement? Because verse one is just as true and needs no thought. If you cast your bread on the water, it will return after many days. This statement expresses the certainty of God giving back finances to the believer who gives to the Lord.

BREAD AND WATER

What is bread and what is water? The answer is found in verse two: “Give a serving to seven, and also to eight, for you do not know what evil will be on the earth.” The bread is the portion of your finances you give into the work of the ministry. The water is the masses of humanity who are in need. Great numbers of people have always been seen as large oceans and seas in the Word of God.

God rarely asks you to give everything you own or to empty your bank account. Occasionally the Holy Spirit may lead you to do so, but most of the time God leaves it with you to purpose in your own heart what to give. Give a portion to seven and also to eight. If all of us would give our portion (tithe and offering) to the seven or eight (others we can help), nearly the whole world could benefit from our giving. God does not ask one person to meet every need. He asks us all to do our part, give our portion. He also does not ask us to meet the need of every person, only the seven or eight. God then promises He will send it back to us. According to the Word, more than we sent out always comes back to us, “good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over…”

EVIL IS IN THE EARTH

I will end with the promise of God that true givers never need to fear bad times on the earth. Evil is upon us now. We are seeing more famines, earthquakes, flooding, and violence on earth than at anytime in the past decades. Yet the generous believer can say with David, “I once was young, and now am old, but I have never seen the righteous forsaken or His seed begging bread.” Plagues may come to the earth, but will not come near my dwelling.

If bread gets to ten dollars a loaf, I will have pocket change enough to buy it. If gasoline goes up to twenty dollars a gallon, I will have the money to fill my tank. God is not taken by surprise at what is happening in the earth today. He is not wringing His hands in worry and fear. He will continue to supply all our needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Will God bring my offerings back to me on every wave and supply for me no matter how much evil comes on the earth? Of course He will! DUH!

Precepts

Regardless of the times in which we live, we never need to fear. God has already told us how it will end and we win! Thank you for giving into Bob Yandian Ministries so we can continue to give people truth that will bring hope and peace to their hearts—free from fear of the future. God has promised to prosper His people in whatever we set our hands to do. You can learn more about God’s provision by ordering this month’s single CD message by Bob Yandian, Standing at the Border of Abundance. (FN0503) To order, call 1-800-284-0595

Thank you for your faithful support,

Bob Yandian

P.S. Learn about why you have nothing to fear about the future by ordering this month’s exciting teaching, A Letter to the Church. (CDET11).