A Portion to Seven, and a Portion to Eight

Daily Scripture Threshing for Saturday, October 23, 2021

Today’s Text: Ecclesiastes 11:1–10

Key Verses: Ecclesiastes 11:1–2 (ESV): “Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days. Give a portion to seven, or even to eight, for you know not what disaster may happen on earth.”

Is it possible or easy to throw your substance out on a flowing water so that you may find it again? Or does it sound reasonable? What does the scripture instruction to give a share to seven, or even to eight, for you cannot know what sort of disaster may come upon the land, means? God is aware of the stringent situations we are in. He is aware of how much we feel insecure and threatened by unknown future. God is aware that we are scared of putting all our eggs in one basket. Indeed, He wants us to be the best stewards of everything He has given us in His mercies. When He blessed our hard work, He wants us to be the best managers and stewards of the blessings; but He wants us to do so trusting Him rather than through indiscriminate accumulation or hoarding of wealth.

The lessons of this text is a double edged sword. It speaks in terms of investment and free will giving. The Jews have limited options when it comes to investment. So some of them would pile up their wealth. Some embark money doubling by loaning money at interest to fellow Jews, or practice hire-purchase which result in usury and extortion. God was not pleased with these. Therefore, he stirs Solomon’s heart to speak to our necessity. We must learn what our attitude to our blessings should be. We need to learn the divine model. Hence, the phrase "give portions to seven and eight" is an invitation to prudently and carefully go above and beyond in the administration of our God-given resources. Hoarding is never permissible by God. In a nutshell, put your blessings to productive use. If you cannot invest and recycle the resources; give them out to most unlikely people or places: that is the idea of water. God simply does not want us to set our heart on riches that we stick them at our bosom. Apart from Him, nothing else in this world is certain.

Quote for the Day: “Living one day at a time is an evidence that a believer’s trust is in the Lord.” (Simon Olatunji)

Prayer: Dear Lord, I give you my time and my devotion. I give you my hours of solitude, and I make it my choice to honor you with all I am and all I have, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

With all my love and prayers,

Rev Simon Wale Olatunji, Ph.D

The Darling Bishop (DaBishop)

[Daily Scripture Threshing is a devotional guide written for free distribution and edification of churches, families, homes, and individuals. If you are blessed by this, you can be a part of it by giving a one-time or recurring donation. To give through Zelle and CashApp, please use or call +1 (407) 360-8280. For inquiries, free spiritual counseling, prayer, or deliverance, please call +1 (469) 332-3443. For instant messaging and WhatsApp, use‪‪‬‬ +1 (817) 822-8441.

Send | Share | Subscribe | Support